Debates of June 1, 2006 (day 3)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources again with respect to the recycling program that I asked him about yesterday and I think we had some clarification on it today. I just want to let the public know that there isn’t just a trash for cash on a per container basis. This method only applies to the smaller depots, Mr. Speaker, and that the larger centres that the smaller depots bring all their recyclable materials to is based on a weight basis, Mr. Speaker. So just for the public record, I just want to ask the Minister what clarification is he going to put out there and how is he going to alleviate any discrepancies that might arise between the small depots and the larger depots where the small depots are paying on a per container basis and the large depots are paying them on a weight basis? There is always some discrepancy there. So can the Minister just let the public know what his department is going to do to alleviate any more discrepancies? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when individuals come in with their recyclable beverage containers, they are compensated on an individual item basis, be it cans, bottles or other containers. The issue at hand is when you are dealing with the aluminum products, what has been done is we process these through the system. It has been estimated, for example, how much 500 aluminum cans would weigh crushed up and they pay on a weight basis. The concern, I understand from having talked further with the Member, is that there may be a discrepancy where the contractor may come in with what he says is 500 cans and the depot may say our weight may tell us there’s only 300, so we are only going to pay you for 300. So we are going to check back to make sure that that process is accurate, that the scales used are accurate, that the calculations that are done are accurate to ensure that everybody is fairly compensated for the work that’s being done and for this program. I committed to the Member that we would do that and not only for his community, but we’ll check to make sure across the system that everything is working as it’s supposed to. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just on the inspections part on the weigh scales, I don’t know who is going to do that. I don’t know if the government is going to send out an inspector every month to inspect every weigh scale at every depot to ensure that the mathematical conversion that the scale comes out with is correct and accurate.

On another point, Mr. Speaker, when you are in a community, you collect 10,000 cans, with or without the tabs, and you bring them to the depot and the depot weighs them and the conversion they are doing is with or without the tabs. These tabs can add up. When you add one million tabs, it makes for a pretty big bag and that could equate to about 10,000 cans in weight. So, Mr. Speaker, the mathematical conversion, is that adjustable? Do we have to start marking cans with tabs or without tabs and separating them? Why don’t they just keep it on a per unit basis right across the board and that way there is no discrepancy? If there is one, you have to sit down and count every item. Why don’t they just leave it at that? That’s just simple as can be. Why confuse the system with a bunch of mathematical formulas and calculations in the smaller urban centres? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the Member’s concern that he wants to ensure the system is fair, especially for the small contractor. But it would be problematic where volumes are very high like Yellowknife where they are processing hundreds of thousands of beverage containers to have individuals sitting there counting one can, another can. I think they’ve come up with ways through the recycling processes across the land in terms of weight and what that’s equivalent to in terms of the number of cans and such. So we will make sure that the process is fair, that it’s efficient and we don’t tie people up and that we can demonstrate that we’ve allowed for all these particular specifics that the Member has referenced. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is going to stop people from filling their cans with gravel, dirt and everything just to add a little more weight on them when they bring them into the recycling centres? That is what it’s going to come to and then the larger centres will say you are 50 pounds overweight, according to 1,000 cans. Then there will be another discrepancy on the other side of the coin. So it’s just more confusion than is warranted. If you want to pay a summer student to count cans, then do that. I don’t think it’s too expensive and it alleviates a lot of questions that will arise in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 24-15(5): Clarification On Recycle Return Compensation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I gather it’s a lot like going to the butcher shop and you buy a steak. You buy some by the pound and you want to make sure the butcher doesn’t have his finger on the scale.

---Laughter

I appreciate the Member’s concern. This is a relatively straightforward process. There’s a certain amount of setting up the system that’s operating in good faith here where we want to work with the communities to deal with a very important environment issue. Once again, we’ll make sure that we go back and double check to make sure everything is working as it’s supposed to. As to people slipping boulders into their bags and filling things with water to add to the weight, it’s within the realm of possibility, Mr. Speaker, but at this point, in my own mind as Minister, I would say it’s something we’ll look for, but it’s somewhat hypothetical. Thank you.