Article content continued

“Research suggests that curbside collection programs may not be the most effective way to recycle glass,” a city report says. “A depot program would lead to a lower capture rate, but lead to a higher percentage of glass actually being recycled.”

The results of the pilot project could lead to the removal of glass from the next recycling contract, the report says.

The report will be considered by city council’s environment, utilities and corporate services committee Monday.

About 90 per cent of glass is broken by the time it arrives for sorting in the city’s residential collection programs for single-family homes and apartment buildings and townhouses, the report says.

Dropping glass off at a depot would mean it arrives unbroken and can be properly recycled.

Plastic bags were removed from the recycling stream earlier this year because the international market for recycling so-called plastic film has evaporated. Also, the bags contaminate the rest of the recycling materials.

Glass poses a similar problem with contaminating the rest of the recycling material, mainly paper and cardboard. By weight, glass only accounts for four per cent of the collected material.

Plus, the international market for recycled material is now demanding higher quality with less contamination, the report says.

“Political decisions” are also influencing demand in addition to market conditions, the report adds.

Photo by Gord Waldner / The StarPhoenix

Specifically, the report mentions the trade sanctions between China and the U.S. without referring specifically to trade war enthusiast American President Donald Trump.