You could soon be getting a visit from a municipal inspector who wants to make sure you are recycling the best you can.
The Town of Newmarket is launching its annual blue box campaign next week. Between Aug. 6 and 30, staff will be visiting randomly selected neighbourhoods and doing visual inspections of curbside recycling. They will then put on a hanger on the front door, indicating either the blue box was good or that there are items that do not belong.
“Results from last year’s campaign showed that 54 per cent of households visited had contaminated recyclables,” Mayor John Taylor said in a news release. “Reducing contamination will reduce the number of recyclables that end up in the landfill, reduce the environmental impact and reduce the cost associated with processing contaminated recyclables.”
The campaign has taken place for several consecutive years. York Region has prided itself on high waste diversion rates, with a 94 per cent diversion rate achieved in 2023.
The program is strictly educational, with no enforcement conducted by the municipality. However, the collection contractor GFL can leave blue boxes at the curb if contamination is found or set-out requirements are not met.
The municipality is reminding residents to remove all food residue from containers, do not put textiles in, do not overfill a blue box to the point of overflow and that cardboard boxes can be placed out beside the collection box if flattered and securely tied.
“It is integral that we all do our part to divert waste. Please familiarize yourself with what is recyclable so that we can continue to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Taylor said.
Residents can find more information at newmarket.ca/wasteandrecycling.
