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RANKIN INLET
The remnants of the highly successful recycling program in Rankin Inlet will finally be shipped south this month, thanks to a new project from the Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. (ACL).

The company has introduced an aluminum can recycling project on behalf of its member Co-ops across Nunavut and the NWT.

The program aims to help communities achieve a cleaner environment while reducing consumption of a non-renewable resource.

The Hamlet of Rankin Inlet collected more than three million recyclable beverage containers during a Government of Nunavut (GN) pilot project.

ACL is working in tandem with Nunavut Sealink and Supply Inc. (NSSI), the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet and Kissarvik Co-op in Rankin to transport the containers to the south for recycling.

ACL's majority ownership of NSSI on behalf of local Arctic Co-operatives will ensure economic benefits are retained in the communities by individual member-owners.

NSSI is a leader in the Arctic sealift industry, deploying a modern fleet of large-tonnage, seagoing cargo ships with heavy-lift capability.

ACL vice-president of merchandising and logistics Duane Wilson said ACL is owned by 31 community co-ops in Nunavut and the NWT.

He said when delegates attended ACL's annual general meeting in May of 2010, they passed a resolution directing their service federation to look into the practicality of returning recyclables as ballast on sealift.

"In part of our research and discovery surrounding this, we came across the report commissioned by the GN as a follow-up to its pilot project conducted in Rankin, Kugluktuk and Iqaluit," said Wilson.

"The report talked about the hurdles to recycling aluminum the GN had to contend with.

"Many of the hurdles the GN faced, especially in transportation costs, the Co-op system was well-positioned to overcome."

Wilson said the GN model involved crushing the containers, which meant it needed heated space, equipment and staff.

He said the model also had high transactional costs because it was based on paying individuals for items they collected.

"We looked at the experience the GN had, and the resources we had at our disposal, and we basically designed something we thought would work for our community Co-ops.

"In order to combat the high transactional costs of 10 cents a can, or whatever, we came up with a model that will pay a community group $1,500 for each sea can full of aluminum collected.

"It doesn't need to be crushed, so there's no equipment or staff required and we already have the containers."

The program is designed for a community group to apply to its local Co-op board of directors for the right to the proceeds from the collections.

Wilson said it's up to the communities to decide how the money is best spent.

"It's not for me to decide if the community of Rankin Inlet values a climbing wall in the gym over sticks, pucks and jerseys for the hockey program.

"That's for the community to decide, as is the method of collection.

"We're just putting the framework in place to transport the goods, and get them recycled so they're not in the landfills and the streets."

Wilson said the services-in-kind offered by NSSI, financial contributions from Co-operators Insurance and Arctic Beverages, and the 10-cent charge on plastic bags at community Co-ops all helped kick-start the program.

He said having the money from the plastic shopping bags directed entirely towards the recycling initiative addresses two environmental concerns with one program.

"The program provides an incentive to curb the use of plastic shopping bags while, at the same time, helping to rid the community of aluminum containers."

Wilson said staff members at the GN's Department of Environment connected the dots to get 17 containers of aluminum cans collected during the pilot project out of Rankin.

He said the workable solution came about due to talks between - and the co-operation of - ACL, the Department of Environment, Kissarvik Co-op, Hamlet of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Liquor Commission and NSSI.

"To be honest, we didn't even know those containers were there about three weeks ago.

"But the people at Environment must have been talking to the hamlet and knew who they needed to get involved in the project to bring a solution to this.

"And, together, we found a way to get it done.

"Our delegates made a point of the fact we're their service federation and they wanted us to look into this because it was important to them.

"That became our marching orders and this program, ultimately, came about as a result of that."

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