SIX NATIONS — Last Monday, A.W. First Nations Recycling began pick ups of household trash for recycling from Six Nations resident in what owners Mark Annett and Bill Warner hope to be a whole new era in garbage control for the Six Nations community.
In the middle of September Annett and Warner took over the recycling operations at the landfill from Public Works and began organizing neighbourhood pick-ups of recyclable garbage.
Each day of the week pick-ups will rotate through the five districts for those who are encouraged to use the new service, free of charge. Any costs that may be incurred in certain circumstances are covered by Public Works.
The first pickups began Monday in the Northeast quadrant of the reserve between Fourth Line, River Range Road, Oneida Road and Tuscarora Road.
Tuesdays, the South East, between First Line, Fourth Line, Oneida and Tuscarora Roads, Wednesday, Between Indian Line, Bateman Line, Second Line and Tuscarora Rd.; Thursday, between Second Line, Bateman Line, Fourth Line and Tuscarora, and Friday, between Forth Line, Sixth Line, and Tuscarora and including the Painter Road area.
People can also bring their recyclables to the landfill where A&W are set up to receive a variety of items, once destined to be buried. Now, along with the new disintegrator, which will be up and running in a couple of weeks, Six Nations overburdened problem is finally being addressed.
“It’s really quite simple,” says Annett. “What you do is separate your recyclables paper and cardboard, recyclable bottles, plastics, aluminum and tin can go together, clear and coloured glass, and we’ll come and pick it up from the roadside.”
They are also asking people to register that they are using the service. This information is for statistical reasons only.
“We are just gathering information because we want to eventually provide bins for people,” he explains. “Public Works also uses this information to lobby the government for better waste removal funding and accurate statistics are important for that.”
They will also come and take away appliances and large household items from the roadside on designated days.
Both Bill and Mark are Ironworkers by trade but during times of lay-off would scrap cars and other big items to support their families.
“We were back at the landfill and we could see all the stuff being buried, so we thought that would be worth at least a little money,” says Annett. “They recognized a need within the community and decided to try and do what they can to relieve the overextended landfill situation and make a few bucks in the process.
“I took a course in business development at Grand River Employment and Training with Cathy Smith and put together a business plan,” says Annett. “Initially, we sought funding through Aboriginal Business Canada, but they dissolved, so we put things off for another year. But we are up and running now and it’s going great.”
Annett says that he and his business partner Bill Warner are receiving very good feedback from the community.
Annett has also gotten his Ozone Depleation Course and learned how to recycle refrigeration systems, and air conditioners. Warner is taking a course in aerosol management and soon they will be able to recycle aerosol cans as well.
Against popular belief, plastic water bottles and pop containers are recyclable and can be made into a variety of other products.
They also take used back yard toys or lawn furniture.
“These items are put out for a few days so people can come and take them if they want them,” says Annett. “But after that, we take them to the Salvation Army or other agencies.”
By processing the waste into various marketable packages, they resell it to various green manufacturers who specialize in making new products from recycled goods.
“We are fortunate enough to have people at Public Works who are willing to work with us,” says Annett.
For special pick-ups or to find out more information call Bill or Mark at A.W. First Nations Recycling at 905-541-5105, 289-808-2685, or email awinc.fnr@gmail.com.
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