Smaller recycling bins now provided for no cost

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After a push from Stratford city council – and in particular Coun. Jo-Dee Burbach – Circular Materials will now be providing a smaller recycling cart for Stratford residents free of charge.

Within the next week, an online form will be available to request a 240-litre cart that is considerably smaller than the 360-litre carts that have been delivered in the last few weeks (and have been lampooned on social media).

However, if that smaller cart is still not suitable, the City of Stratford has placed an order for 120-litre carts, which are roughly twice the size of a standard blue bin and will be compatible with the new province-wide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) recycling program that begins Jan. 1.

These carts are expected to arrive early in the new year and will be made available to residents at a reduced, bulk-order price (compared to a retail price). Contact the city at 519-271-0250 ext. 5279 for more information about this option.

The EPR system is a new initiative that places the responsibility of collecting, managing and recycling materials upon the companies that make or import the products themselves. Circular Materials is the administrator for the EPR and Emterra is the local contractor collecting recycling from the curb.