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UQSUQTUUQ/GJOA HAVEN
A new program in Gjoa Haven is gaining steam by picking up recyclables from different places around the community.

Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. CEO Andy Morrison, left, and president Bill Lyall drop an aluminum can in a recycling bin in 2011. The company donates the use of sea cans for recyclables to non-profit groups or individuals. Using a grant from WWF Canada, Adam Malcolm has expanded on that and is providing free pickup to the community of Gjoa Haven, both for refundable and non-refundable recyclables. - NNSL file photo

Spearheaded by Adam Malcolm, a teacher at the high school, recycling in Gjoa Haven has been around for a while. But it's only recently the group has organized weekly pickups from individual locations.

"It's been a great year for our little recycling initiative. So far we've diverted two-and-a-half sea cans full of recyclables, including toxic batteries, electronics, fluorescent light bulbs and plastic from the landfill," said Malcolm.

"There will also be a pickup service in town all through summer."

In the future, Malcolm is hoping more grants come through so he's able to employ some students over the next year to do the pickups, giving them a chance to earn some extra cash.

"J.R. Porter is able to do the weekly pickup for the community because of a grant of $4,000 I secured from WWF Canada back in December," said Malcolm.

"I am optimistic that I will be able to secure more grant money to employ students in the future," he said.

Malcolm credits Duane Wilson of Arctic Co-op with first bringing recycling initiatives to Northern communities.

Wilson started a program that provided sea cans to individuals and groups who wanted to recycle pop cans.

The Co-op provides up to two sea cans a year and handles the delivery and sale of recyclables to a depot in the south.

Arctic Co-op then gives the individual or group that filled the sea can a cheque for $1,500.

In Gjoa Haven, when residents return a full bag of cans or cardboard, their name is entered in a draw. Their name is entered for each bag that's dropped off.

In this case, the money was split into three different amounts and given out earlier in May.

There's still a chance to recycle things that don't have refunds attached.

"As for recycling of plastic, batteries, electronics and other things, last summer while I was in Montreal, I met with Nadine Blacquiere of NSSI, a shipping company," said Malcolm.

"Their company is eager to support environmental initiatives like ours in the North. This year they have agreed to donate two sea cans to us for storage and delivery of all the non-refundable recyclables to a depot outside Montreal."

While there aren't any refunds given for batteries or electronics, by shipping them free of charge to facilities in the south, they stay out of the Gjoa Haven landfill.

"This is certainly not financially profitable for them. Storage and delivery will cost them several thousand dollars. I do believe that both Mr. Wilson of Arctic Co-op and Ms. Blacquiere of NSSI have a sincere wish to do good for the environment and the community. There are good hearts in business too," said Malcolm.

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