A change in the times is being reflected in what you’re putting in your blue box.

3,620 tonnes of recyclables were collected in North Bay in 2017.

A report delivered to council last week shows that’s up 71 tonnes from the year before.

However, Waste Management Co-ordinator Al Tomek says they’re noticing a shift in what materials they’re receiving.

“We’re seeing greater volumes of plastic, however we’re seeing less volumes of news print and what-have-you and that’s just because a lot of people are looking at their news online, and as opposed to getting flyers now, you can get an app and your flyers are on your phone,” he says.

Numbers involving cardboard were up while glass was down.

The city collects a comprehensive list of materials which exceeds current provincial regulations.

Overall, local residents are doing their part to divert waste from the Merrick Landfill.

Tomek says they’re busy, but their programs are running smoothly.

“We’re thankful to the residents of North Bay for recycling and using the Hazardous Waste Depot, we’re diverting quite a bit and we’re diverting the right type of material from our landfill,” he says.

A report to council last week shows over 10,500 tonnes of materials were diverted in 2017.

Other than 2016, that’s the most since 2000.

Along with private initiatives it includes several municipal programs, like Blue Box collection, the Beer Store refund program, home composters, mattress recycling and more.

Filed under: city-of-north-bay