The Atlantic Provinces represent just under two and a half million people, or just over 8% of this country's population. As a potential source of container glass for recycling, if every glass bottle were returned for recycling that would total 70,000 tonnes of glass per year.
While they are not getting that kind of volume out of the Atlantic area, Consumers Glass furnaces in Scoudouc have consistently used the highest percentage of recyclable glass to make new glass containers in Canada; winning an award in 1995.
Oscar Robichaud, Consumers Glass' Atlantic Regional Recycling Coordinator, a quick man on the draw with a joke, is an ardent supporter of glass recycling. " One day when I was at a game for my son I saw some people start to drop good glass containers into the garbage, I couldn't believe it. With all that I do to push and promote recycling in this area, these people still do not know that all glass containers are recyclable. Unbelievable! I want that glass to come back to me!"
Owner operator Murray Cruickshank attributes his company's success as a key processor of recycled glass for Consumers Glass on a three-legged strategy - proprietary sorting technology, a unique recycling system and great conscientious staff. "We have a desire to give 100% service and product, a total quality approach." This makes Neighbourhood Recycling Oscar Robichaud's number one Atlantic processor.
Cruickshank sources recycled glass from a variety of Canadian and US locations; of these, curbside is his least favorite. Murray's hope for curbside programs is to have a public more knowledgeable in separating recyclables into the box and waste into its place.
However, only 10% of his sources come from curbside. The Atlantic provinces are covered with deposit systems. These systems are reported to come at a higher cost to the public and appears to limit the growth of other container glass being returned as the public are steered to recycle only what is under deposit. Murray's operation employs 50 people, 15 of whom are dedicated to recycling glass. Congratulations to Neighbourhood Recycling for continuous dedication to quality!
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