Moncton residents now have more options at recycling centre

An automated recycling depot in Moncton is about to add some new options that will allow people to drop offcorrugatedcardboard and used electronics andor electronicwaste.

Pierre Landry, the general managerofEncorp Atlantic,says the company's unmanned recycling centrescurrently take drinking containers only.

Butstarting in February, facilities will be added that accept the new material.

The process will remain similar to the current process for itsusers. By scanning a customer'scard, a door will unlock in the storage container and users simply drop off the materials.

The biggest difference is thatunlike drinking containers, users are not compensated for disposing their old VCR or the box it came in. Recycling, in this case, is its own reward.

The convenience of being able to drop things off on your own without having to wait for staff is nice.- Jason Rudolph, Dieppe resident

Landry says the company's goal is to develop a recycling centre environmentwhere the public can drop off a variety of materials for recycling and safe disposal.

"Most people have a lot of corrugated cardboard because it's a pretty common packaging material," Landry said.

"Used electronics, on the other hand, might not be as common, but materials found in them, like lead soldering, pose a much higher environmental hazard."

Newe-waste program coming soon

With the province's electronic waste program not due to come online until later this year. Landry calls it "somewhat complex."

A streamlined e-waste recycling facility fills a void, Landry said.

Dieppe's Jason Rudolph uses the recyclingcentre regularly. He says accepting new materials for safe disposal is a welcome addition.

"I think it's a great idea," Rudolph said as he visited theMountain Road centre.

"It's a good way to keep the neighbourhood clean, your house cleanand everything else."

Rudolph says he isn't disappointed he won't get any money back for dropping off a stack of cardboard. For Rudolph, time is money.

"The convenience of being able to drop things off on your own without having to wait for staff is nice," he says.

Landry says his company will likely have to pay to get rid of the additional materials but says the revenue generated from drinking containers will hopefully offset those costs.

At the end of the day, the goal is greener living.

"This might be a loss leader of sorts, where we will be able to attract more customers to this type of approach, this type of platform," saysLandry.

"And most importantly, it will be convenient and that will be a happy customer."

Landry sayshe hopes the program will help shape policies that will benefit the public, industry and government for decades to come.