Three bags of recycling have been staring at Judith MacAusland in her Fredericton apartment since the new year.
She used to use the large community recycling bins at the Capital Winter Club and Willie O’Ree Place.
But by the end of December, because of a new multi-dwelling recycling program, the bins were gone.
“We have no place to recycle,” MacAusland said. “I’m just flabbergasted. We seem to be going backwards.”
Fredericton council passed a bylaw amendment that mandates multi-residential buildings provide on-site recycling services.
The bylaw change affected residential buildings with five or more units. City spokesperson Marley McLellan said in an email that residential buildings with fewer than five units already had curbside recycling.
Circular Materials is a not-for-profit organization responsible for implementing the extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products in New Brunswick. (Dan Taekema/CBC)
Circular Materials Atlantic said in a statement that participation in the multi-dwelling recycling program, which the organization runs, is “strong.”
About 70 per cent of multi-family buildings and 85 per cent of apartment/condo units receive the service, Circular Materials said in an emailed statement. Those without the service are encouraged to speak to building management, the email said.
For those left out, like Judith MacAusland, finding a place to recycle has been a confusing ordeal.
She spoke to the management of her apartment building on Bishop Drive. They did not sign up.
Then she and some neighbours wrote letters to the City of Fredericton and the MLA for the area, David Coon.
“I’ve just about given up,” MacAusland said. “Nobody gets back to you. Nobody says anything. It’s just a big joke.
“If you just get turned away from every place, where do you go next? It’s just like a gerbil wheel.”
She said she wished she could speak to her councillors about the program, but since the city handed off recycling to Circular Materials, it says it is not required to answer concerns.
A change of ownership for recycling
The change is rooted in the provincial government’s move to the extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products.
The cost of recycling is now covered by the producers of the materials, not taxpayers, and the service is managed by Circular Materials Atlantic, a not-for-profit and part of a national organization.
The program was expanded to apartments and condos last May, which led the city to remove the communal bins by year-end.
David Coon, MLA of Fredericton South, said he’s heard complaints about recycling and agrees with MacAusland and others who have concerns.
“It reduces the public accountability for what happens with the recycling system, because before you just go to the city and raise your concerns as a citizen,” Coon said.
“Now, it’s in this convoluted maze to try and make any kind of change to the system.”
MLA and Green Party Leader David Coon said its hard to enforce accountability when a third party is involved in recycling for the city. (Mikael Mayer / CBC)
“The ability to have an influence on recycling services has significantly diminished.”
The City of Fredericton declined an interview request and instead sent an email statement. It said it has received two calls about the removal of the communal recycling bins. “Both of which have been resolved without a notice to comply being issued.”
“The role of by-law is to investigate complaints and inspect properties to ensure the standards laid out in the by-laws are met through responding to calls for service. The first step by-law officers take when investigating a call is through education, mediation and then, if necessary, through enforcement and prosecution.”
The statement said if the availability of recycling were to change, staff would do an analysis and report to council with recommendations.
Circular Materials declined an interview request as well and also sent an email statement.
Part of it read, “we are not a government entity and we do not enact or enforce by-laws, and therefore we would not be in the position to provide an interview on this topic. Any inquiries regarding by-law enforcement can be directed to the City.”
CBC requested an interview with New Brunswick Environment Minister Gilles LePage but he request was declined.
In an email statement, spokesperson Jennifer MacNeil said the extended producer responsibility program makes producers responsible for managing their products after use.
“Producers have selected Circular Materials to run the program under a stewardship plan approved by Recycle NB,” MacNeil wrote. “Questions about collection services are best directed to Circular Materials. Questions about the removal of community recycling depots or local recycling bylaws are best directed to the City of Fredericton.”
As for MacAusland, she will try to get a ride with her son to the recycling depot, but knows others might not put in the extra effort to go out of the way to recycle.
“We’re just building a mountain of garbage and it’s appalling and yet this province has done nothing,” she said.
“I’m ashamed. I really am ashamed.”