New single-stream recycling facility to process up to 550,000 tonnes of
material per year from Southwestern Ontario and will increase diversion
CAMBRIDGE, ON, Nov. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Waste Management of Canada today
unveiled the largest licensed private-sector recycling facility in
Ontario to date at an official opening attended by a number of
dignitaries from all levels of government.
The 126,000-square-foot plant uses a state-of-the-art, single-stream
recycling process, and will accept both industrial and municipal waste,
with a significant focus on businesses. Up until this point, Ontario
businesses have not had access to high-quality single-stream recycling
services, resulting in a much lower waste diversion rate than
residential sources. This new facility will offer more convenient and
more cost-effective recycling solutions for businesses within the
service area. A single-stream process eliminates the need for
businesses to separate plastics, metals and papers prior to collection
and is expected to greatly improve participation by businesses, and in
particular restaurants, in recycling.
Waste Management of Canada's new Cambridge plant is equipped with the
latest technology and processes not found in older recycling centres.
Through the use of state-of-the-art equipment that includes a paper
magnet, optical sorter, electro-magnetic technology and various screen
sorters, the facility will be able to accept more waste than
traditional facilities and sort materials more precisely, enhancing the
amount recovered for reuse. This improved recycling process supports
Ontario's landfill diversion goals and extracts more value from the
waste coming into the plant.
"This new, state-of-the-art, single-stream recycling facility is the
first of its kind for Waste Management of Canada," said Brad Muter,
Area Vice President for Eastern Canada at Waste Management. "Our goal
was to target business customers in particular because they do not have
as many recycling options as residential consumers. One of the biggest
advantages of the single-stream process is the convenience it grants to
the customer. Material separation and decisions about what goes in and
what stays out are no longer required. Customers can send all their
materials together."
The Cambridge facility kicked off its official opening with a ceremonial
"blue box tipping" onto the plant's line by special guests Gary
Goodyear, federal Minister of State for Science & Technology, and Doug
Craig, Mayor of Cambridge. Also attending the official opening were a
number of area dignitaries including Councillors Gary Price, Karl
Kiefer, Donna Reid, Dan Glenn Graham, Nicholas Ermata, Bob Bell and Cam
Guthrie.
The facility has created approximately 80 new jobs, as well as indirect
economic benefits for both the local Cambridge economy and the wider
Ontario economy. Waste collected for the facility will come
principally from Southwestern Ontario, ranging from Niagara to Barrie,
and Sarnia to Oshawa.
Ontario Environment Minister Jim Bradley voiced his support for the
enhanced recycling opportunities the facility offers customers. "The
new plant has the potential to dramatically increase diversion of waste
to economic uses rather than taking up landfill space. It is also
creating new green jobs."
"Waste Management is proud to be investing in the Cambridge community,"
said Muter, "and also proud of its role in helping to increase waste
diversion and support sustainability goals in Ontario. This new
facility reinforces Waste Management's position as a leader in
innovation in our industry."
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management of Canada is the leading provider of comprehensive
waste management services, offering advanced residential, commercial
and industrial collection, recycling and disposal services throughout
Canada.
Waste Management of Canada employs 3,400 people at 116 operating
locations in nine provinces, servicing over 4.5 million residential
customers and 170,000 industrial and commercial customers. Waste
Management of Canada owns and/or operates 20 recycling recovery
facilities and 18 landfills.
A subsidiary of Waste Management Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas,
the company is backed by the knowledge, experience, and resources of
North America's largest environmental services organization. To learn
more information about Waste Management, visit www.wmcanada.com.
Image with caption: "Brad Muter, Area Vice-President for Eastern Canada at Waste Management, along with Gary Goodyear, federal Minister of State for Science & Technology, and Doug Craig, Mayor of Cambridge, kick-off the official opening of the largest licensed private-sector recycling facility in Ontario with a ceremonial blue-box tipping. The Cambridge facility employs a state-of-the-art single-stream recycling process, with a focus on waste diversion from businesses. (CNW Group/Waste Management, Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121116_C8777_PHOTO_EN_20847.jpg
SOURCE: Waste Management, Inc.