Cornwall.ca — The City of Cornwall has experienced an increase in its waste diversion rate as residents continue to make use of the expanded recycling and leaf and yard waste programs.

Comparisons of tonnage collected in 2011 and 2013 show:

• A 15 % decrease in waste being disposed of at the City Landfill
• A 21 % increase in curbside blue box collection
• A 28 % increase in the overall amount of recyclable materials processed
• A 55 % increase in the amount of leaf and yard waste collected

The year 2013 was the first full year following a number of significant enhancements to the waste and recycling programs.

These included a move to a single-stream weekly recycling collection and the delivery of larger blue boxes to all single family homes, the  introduction of a multi-residential recycling program and the expansion of the curbside leaf and yard waste collection program.

“These changes are having the positive effect that we anticipated,” said Nicole Robertson, Solid Waste Supervisor. “By diverting more waste, we are helping the environment and helping to extend the life of the City Landfill.”

As of the end of 2013, the City’s overall diversion rate stood at 41.8 %, up from 29.1 % in 2011.

The changes are included in the Solid Waste Management Master Plan, which was approved in principle by Council in 2011. The Plan contains a series of initiatives to increase the diversion rate over a 5-year period. For more info, please click here.