10 Things you can do to make a Difference!

Have any questions about Blue Bags and what they're all about? Here are some answers to some commonly asked questions.

1. Question: Why do we use blue bags and not the Blue Boxes used in many other cities?

   Answer: A The Blue Boxes are not right for our climate. Did you know that when paper gets wet it gets contaminated and cannot be used and recycled into new paper products? The Blue Boxes are wide open and would allow the rain and snow to get into the boxes. You can close a Blue Bag and therefore keep the 20% contaminant rate low.

2. Question: Why are the bags transparent blue?

   Answer: A Simply, it’s for the people collecting the bags to be able to see if there is anything that doesn’t belong in with recyclables. Many of us have gotten the telltale yellow tag on the bag telling us that something doesn’t belong. You can also use clear bags for recycling collection as well. Whatever you find more convenient to buy, but they can only be blue or clear bags.

3. Question: Blue Bags are expensive! Why would I want to purchase them?

   Answer: A Well there are a few options in this case if you are unsure about buying Blue Bags. You can go with clear bags instead which can be cheaper, but they are usually smaller or larger than the Blue Bags. If you decide you want to take your recyclables to the recycling depot you could buy separate Blue Boxes for each recyclable. When you bring your recyclables to the depot, you put them in the protected bins for each different type.

   So in the hopes of you buying Blue Bags and joining the cause, we've got some prices here of some local retailers that sell Blue Bags. You can buy them pretty much anywhere now and they are in the garbage bag section. You can also buy them at your local hardware store. So there is no reason why you can't purchase the bags on a typical grocery run or a trip to the hardware store.

4. Question: What happens to the Blue Bags once they get to Recool? I thought we were trying to prevent the need for more garbage, doesn't that add to the problem?

   Answer: A The Blue Bags get recycled and are sent out just like the other recyclables.

5. Question: So I hear more and more about recycling but I still don't understand the concept of it.

   Answer: A The concept of recycling is quite simple. We’re trying to reduce the amount of garbage we’re throwing away into our landfill. We want to be able to extend the life of it so we won’t have to build a new one. When you recycle you’re saving the earth. You’re creating less of a demand for new products and creating the demand for more companies to use recycled products rather than using making their products from new materials. Recycling is becoming the way of the future, as well as reducing and reusing as well. It all starts with a few simple Blue Bags and the list of recyclables and you’re ready to go!

6. Question: How long has Thunder Bay been Blue Bag recycling for?

   Answer: A Recool started up the Blue Bag recycling program in 1998. As of this year it has been 10 years since the citizens of Thunder Bay have been able to recycle. Only 25% of the citizens of Thunder Bay recycle right now, and our goal is to get that number up to 60% by 2010. So if you haven’t started recycling yet, we hope that you are going to now. It’s never too late to start!

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