With concerns about climate change and global warming, governments have begun looking to set environmental standards to tackle this growing problem. In most cases, these governments have set up policies and targets to tackle greenhouse gas emissions; the province of Ontario is taking things a bit further. On May 18, 2016, the government of Ontario passed the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-Carbon Economy Act.  This act outlines Ontario’s plan to tackle climate change and lower emissions significantly by the middle of the century. What is…

What is a Tipping Fee? May 30, 2016 Definition A tipping fee or a gate fee is a fee paid by anyone who disposes of waste in a landfill. Usually this fee is based on the weight of waste per ton. This fee can be passed down to waste generator from landfill through fees or taxes. This fee serves in helping with the maintenance and other operating costs of a landfill. Tipping fees can vary depending on the space available in the landfill or if…

What is a Municipal Recycling Facility (MRF)? May 30, 2016 A Municipal Recycling Facility (MRF) is a location where waste is taken to be separated and processed before being sold to manufacturers for reuse. Households leave recyclable refuse out on the curb for collection. This waste is picked up by trucks which deliver the recyclable waste to the MRF for separation and processing. Depending on the system of streams used by the community-recycling program, the waste may be grouped to one stream or more though…

What is a Windrow? May 30, 2016 A Windrow is an elongated mound made from compostable material. Farmers commonly use these hills as a method of producing compost. In this process, farmers collect raw materials to form these mounds, making sure that they are peaked on top for rainfall to land evenly. These mounds have to be watched and regularly turned to ensure that the materials are distributed evenly and that there is no buildup of moisture. The advantage of using windrows is that they…

What are Secondary Materials? May 30, 2016 Secondary Materials are materials that have been used, recycled and sold for use in manufacturing. These products allow for less reliance on the search for new raw resources for items such as paper, aluminum and plastic. It is advantageous in the sustainable use of resources so that these materials can be maintained for longer periods. The use of secondary materials is not a new concept. Society has used secondary materials as early as 2000 B.C., where bronze was…