Reducing waste saves energy, time, money and valuable natural resources. Making small changes to reduce waste in our everyday lives makes a significant difference.
Waste reduction initiatives
Battery collection
Curbside battery collection
City of Thunder Bay no longer offers the curbside battery collection program. However, batteries can still be recycled at designated drop-off locations.
Year-round battery recycling drop-off locations
These following locations accept primary (single-use) household batteries throughout the year:
Brodie Resource Library, 216 Brodie St
County Park Library, 1020 Dawson Rd, County Fair Plaza
Mary J. L. Black Library, 901 Edward St S
Waverley Resource Library, 285 Red River Rd
Victoriaville Civic Centre, 111 Syndicate Ave S (next to the Cashiers, during regular office hours)
Button batteries can be dropped off at the jewelry departments at Walmart.
Residents should call businesses ahead of time. Some businesses may charge a fee to accept your items.
Why recycle batteries
It is very important to keep batteries from going into the landfill. Batteries release potentially toxic metals such as nickel, zinc, lead, mercury, lithium, cobalt and cadmium into the soil, water and air. When the same batteries go into recycling, useful materials are recovered and contamination is avoided. Battery recycling even lowers greenhouse gas production by reducing the need to mine new materials
Christmas recycling
Christmas tree chipping program
Each year, the City of Thunder Bay offers a Christmas tree chipping program after Boxing Day until Jan. 12.
Fresh-cut Christmas trees can be dropped off at several locations across the city to be chipped and added to the compost pile at the City's landfill. In the spring, when the compost is mature, it is provided to residents free of charge to enrich flower gardens and lawns.
Christmas tree drop-off locations
North
Brent Park (Balsam Street at Margaret Street)
County Park Tennis Courts (County Boulevard)
Grandview Arena (Madeline Street between Grandview Arena and Westminster United Church (not in arena parking lot)
John Jumbo Recreation Centre (Toivo Street)
Strathcona Golf Course
South
Delaney Arena (Legion Track Drive)
Kinsmen Northwood Centre (609 James St N)
Westfort Playing Field (off Neebing Avenue)
West Thunder Community Centre (915 S Edward St)
Residents should remove all ornaments and plastic tree wrap before dropping off trees at the collection site. Do not put trees out for curbside garbage/recycling collection.
During the holiday season, the average Canadian family sends 25-45% more waste to the landfill. Much of this waste is gift wrap and wrapping supplies. Glittery, coloured, and metallic wrapping paper is not recyclable. It is heavily saturated with dye and contains little fibre for recycling.
Residents are encouraged to wrap gifts using recyclable materials such as newspaper, old maps or brown kraft paper, or to use fabric bags, reusable gift bags, tea towels or scarves that can be used year after year.
More holiday recycling tips
Use Alternatives to Traditional Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper is not recyclable due to high ink content. Instead use kraft paper, newspaper, old sheet music or cloth to wrap your gifts.
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Bring your natural Christmas tree to one of the many Christmas tree collection sites, where it will be chipped and then added to the compost pile at the City's landfill site.
Use Reusable Items When Entertaining
Rather than disposable items, use reusable dishes, glassware, silverware and napkins.
Reduce Your Food Waste
Meal plan to avoid overbuying during the festive season and freeze leftover cooked meats and vegetables to use another day.
Send Your Holiday Cards Electronically
If you would rather send a paper card, use cards with less ink content rather than cards that are laminated, foil-stamped or that have metallic ink.
Composting at home
Composting is the natural process of decomposition and recycling of organic material into humus, which is a rich soil additive. Compost improves soil quality by providing important nutrients and helps retain moisture, which will improve plant health. Composting diverts organic material from the landfill. It is good for your plants and it can save you money by reducing the need for fertilizer.
City residents can purchase a composter at EcoSuperior, 562 Red River Rd., for only $45. Rain barrels are $75. Cash, cheque or debit are accepted. Make sure to have proof of address (any ID card or document with name and address). EcoSuperior will include all the information you need to get started.
Pumpkin compost drop-off bins
After the Hallowe'en celebrations are over, residents are encouraged to drop off their pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, and organic fall decorations to one of the pumpkin compost bins. Do not put candles, plastic bags or trash in the bins.
Pumpkin Compost Bins are in place starting Nov. 1, for approximately 10 days. Bins are available at the following locations:
Westfort Playfield - Neebing Avenue
Intercity Shopping Centre overflow parking, east side of Memorial
County Fair Plaza
This popular collection began in 1995 as part of Waste Reduction Week programs coordinated by EcoSuperior and paid for by the City of Thunder Bay. Since that time, nearly 400 tonnes of pumpkins have been diverted from the City's landfill to the composting facility. The pumpkins are blended with leaf and yard waste and wood waste to be made into compost. The compost is available to residents at no charge for pickup in the spring.
Hazardous product alternatives
Making your own household cleaning products is less expensive, safer for you and for the environment, and there is less packaging.
Make your own everyday cleaning products
All-purpose cleaner
1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 litres of warm water
Mix all ingredients together. For tough grease and grime, you can add a 1/2 cup of ammonia. Be careful though, ammonia when mixed with bleach produces deadly fumes.
Glass cleaner
1/2 cup white vinegar or lemon juice
1/2 cup warm water
Stir until mixed. Pour into a bowl or spray dispenser. This cleaner will effectively remove greasy fingerprints. Ball up old newspapers and rub on windows sprayed with mixture.
Toilet bowl cleaner
Mix baking soda and water and use a brush to clean the bowl. To disinfect, add a little borax and let it stand for 30 minutes and then scrub.
Drop 1000 mg of vitamin C in the bowl and leave overnight, then scrub. The bad news is that frequent cleaning is the answer.
Laundry detergent
1/3 cup washing soda
1 1/2 cups soap flakes
Add 1/3 cup of washing soda as water is filling washer. Add clothes. Then add 1 1/2 cups of soap. Use 1/4 cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle to soften clothes.
Carpet shampoo
1/2 cup of dishwashing detergent
1/2 litre of boiling water
Mix dish soap and boiling water. Let cool. Whip the paste into a stiff foam and apply to carpets with a damp sponge. Work into carpets, a small area at a time. Wipe off excess suds. Rinse with one cup of white vinegar mixed in 4 litres of luke warm water. Dry and vacuum.
Make your own garden products
Fertilizers
Instead of chemical fertilizers, use organic compost, and fish meal. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn instead of raking them. If you practice grass cycling, the nutrients from the clippings will be reabsorbed into the soil. When you think about it, if you fertilize your lawn too much it will grow faster and you will have to cut it more often. Do you really want to spend every Saturday cutting the lawn?
Pesticides and herbicides
Ant Control: Pour a line of cream of tartar, red chili powder, paprika or dried peppermint at point of entry. Garden Insects: Use organic gardening techniques. Strong hosing washes insects from plants. Pull weeds instead of using herbicides. The leaves of houseplants can be washed with soapy water and then rinsed.
Fly killers
Keep garbage cans clean. Wash and sprinkle dry cans with pure soap after they have dried. As an alternative, use flypaper strips available at hardware stores.
Tips for everyday chores
Oven cleaner
Commercial oven cleaners are corrosive to skin and eyes. The best strategy for dealing with ovens is to line the bottom with aluminum foil or a metal tray that can be removed and cleaned in the sink. Spills are easier to clean up if attacked before they are baked on. Sprinkle tough spots with dry baking soda and leave for 15 minutes. Then scrub with a damp cloth. Put baking soda on a wet sponge to clean the glass oven door.
Refrigerator freshener
Put a dish of pure vanilla or an open box of baking soda in the fridge.
Bathroom cleaners and disinfectants
Bathroom cleaners need to be able to handle soap scum and mildew. Many commercial bathroom cleaners are marketed as disinfectants that kill germs. A good general purpose cleaner and a scouring powder are all that is needed in most homes.
Drain cleaners
Use a plunger or mechanical snake and flush drain with 1/4 cup of baking soda followed by 1/2 cup white vinegar. Let stand for a few minutes then pour in boiling water.
A strainer in your drain may help prevent clogs from forming. Pouring boiling water down your drains once a week should help too.
Spot removers
For blood, mildew, butter, chocolate, coffee, mud or urine stains, dissolve 1/2 cup of borax in 2 cups of cold water. Dab on stain and let dry, then wash as usual. For stubborn stains, dab spot with a cloth dampened with 1 teaspoon of vinegar in 1 quart of cold water. If this fails, try straight vinegar. Club soda or immediate cold water is considered a safe and effective spot remover for most stains. Ink stains should be soaked in milk. Wine stains can be removed by pouring salt and then cold soda water on the stain immediately. Soak in milk before washing. Gum: Rub with ice and gum will scrape off. Grease: Use borax on a damp cloth.
Silver polish
Soak silver in 1 quart warm water with 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt and a small piece of aluminum foil.
Brass polish
Mix equal parts salt and flour with a bit of vinegar and rub. Polish with Worcestershire sauce. Don't forget to wear your gloves.
Furniture and floor polish
Dissolve 1 tsp. lemon oil into 1 pint of mineral oil. Polish unvarnished wood with olive, peanut or almond oil. Rub toothpaste on wood furniture to remove watermarks.
Rug and upholstery cleaners
To clean and deodorize carpets, vacuum; sprinkle liberally with baking soda then vacuum again. Or, clean and deodorize carpets by mixing together 2 cups of cornmeal and 1 cup of borax. Sprinkle on carpets, leave for one hour and vacuum. For tough stains, try cold soda water or blot repeatedly with vinegar and soapy water. Always test for colour fastness on a hidden section of carpet.
Litter box freshener
Place baking soda or borax in the bottom of your pet's litter box.
Lawn and garden greening
There are many ways you can help the environment in your own backyard.
Grasscycling
Grass clippings are not accepted in the City's Leaf & Yard Composting program, or picked up at the curb. When mowing the grass, leave the clippings on the lawn. Clippings are a natural, nutrient-rich fertilizer. Leaving them on your lawn saves you time, reduces waste and promotes a healthy, resilient root system. In turn, a healthy lawn helps to purify our air and limit stormwater runoff.
Xeriscaping
The goal of xeriscaping is a garden in which the plants can survive during dry periods without water or fertilizers. Water your garden only when necessary, and use a soaker hose for a longer period, rather than a sprinkler or running hose for a shorter time. Also, use mulch (chopped leaves, bark or pea gravel) to reduce water evaporation.
Pesticide-free gardening
Achieving a green and healthy lawn and garden without pesticides is not difficult, but takes a bit more planning. The key to a successful pesticide-free lawn and garden is using a variety of plants, and checking that they are naturally pest resistant. The next step is to provide conditions that will make the plants naturally healthy, which include appropriate soil, sun and water.
Spring Up to Clean Up
As the snow melts, litter comes to the surface in our neighbourhoods and affects the beauty of our community. Spring Up to Clean Up brings residents out to pick up litter and help make our city clean, green and beautiful.
Every year since 1997, thousands of community members volunteer their time to clean up Thunder Bay by picking up litter from local streets, parks, walking trails, and their own neighbourhoods.
The month-long event is funded by City of Thunder Bay and delivered by EcoSuperior.
20-Minute Makeover
Businesses wishing to participate in Spring Up to Clean Up are encouraged to take part in the "20-Minute Makeover" event. Choose a 20-minute period on the announced day each year), and do an intense clean-up of a specific area. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many workplaces are encouraging staff working from home to clean up near their home. You'll know that many workplaces across the city are doing the same! Contact EcoSuperior for your 20-Minute Makeover kit with clean-up supplies and bags, and be eligible to win great prizes.
Treasure exchange days
Treasure Days are here!! September 9 & 10, 2023
Are you searching for that special something? Want to get rid of an item you no longer need? Thunder Bay's Treasure Exchange Days are a great opportunity to exchange reusable household items, furniture, small appliances, toys, and more for free!
Treasure Exchange Days are held twice a year, during a weekend in June and in September.
How Treasure Exchange Days work
Clearly label items you wish to give away with the word "free." Place them at the curb after 5 p.m. on the Friday of the Treasure Exchange Days
Keep items that are not giveaways, like bikes, toys and tools well away from the curb to prevent misunderstandings
Over the weekend, tour your neighbourhood to see what great deals you can find at the curb
Remove all uncollected items from the curb by 7 p.m. on the Sunday of Treasure Exchange Days. Items left at the curb are subject to enforcement as per City By-laws.
If your treasures are not claimed by other treasure-hunters, consider donating them to such local agencies as the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvation Army Thrift Store, Canadian Diabetes Association Clothesline and others.
Each fall during the third week of October, residents of Thunder Bay take part in the nationwide Waste Reduction Week program to raise awareness of changes we can make to reduce waste. EcoSuperior Environmental Programs, the City of Thunder Bay and many community partners coordinate a dynamic range of activities.
Waste Reduction Week is funded by the City of Thunder Bay and delivered by EcoSuperior. For more information on Waste Reduction Week, visit EcoSuperior's website or call 624-2141.
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City of Thunder Bay
500 Donald Street E. P.O. Box 800 Thunder Bay, ON P7C 5K4
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Christmas tree chipping program
After the Hallowe'en celebrations are over, residents are encouraged to drop off their pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, and organic fall decorations to one of the pumpkin compost bins. Do not put candles, plastic bags or trash in the bins.
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