Canadian City Sets Diversion Records

A pilot program in Markham, Ontario has yielded a 65% diversion rate and almost 100% participation rate. The 6-month pilot program “Markham’s on a Roll,” included the use of Bonar Plastics Inc., Ridgefield, Wash., Two Can Automated Split Container.

About 588 homes in a residential area used the containers, placing their waste on one side of the 110-gallon container and recyclables on the other side. The container is wheeled to the curb and collected using a fully automated Heil 7000 split body truck. The recovery of recyclables with use of the two-can system has increased from 23% to 31%, and there has been less contamination in the materials collected. Use of the system also allows for one truck and one driver to be used for collection.

Kathy Onsurez, product manager for Bonar Plastics Inc., says use of the containers has been very successful. “It’s going to continue,” she says of the pilot program. The program was originally scheduled to finish in September, but will be extended another 6 months and then possibly expanded to the rest of the town.