News & Updates from the park

KPDC Introduces Recycling to Kilcona Park

Twenty-five pounds of beverage containers were diverted from Winnipeg landfills on Monday. It may not seem like a lot, but the recyclables were collected in just one day – and they were collected in only one part of the park – the off-leash play area.

Kilcona’s attractive new recycling bins made their debut at the KPDC – IAMS National Dog Day Party through a partnership between KPDC and the Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association.

The cheerful, bright blue beverage containers were well-received.  Large crowds, blistering heat and high humidity insured they were also well-used!

KPDC-IAMS National Dog Day Party Photo credit: Vince Pahkala

CBCRA’s new RECYCLE EVERYWHERE Program allows Manitobans to conveniently recycle beverage cans, juice and milk cartons, and bottles – no matter where they are.

Except for KPDC-sponsored events, there are no recycling bins in Winnipeg’s largest regional park. In the off-leash area, beverage containers are tossed into Kilcona litter baskets along with bags of dog waste all year round. Everything ends up in the dump.

Is there an amazingly simple solution to the problem? KPDC thought so – RECYCLE EVERYWHERE bins that CBCRA provides at no cost – a bonus for the club and Winnipeg taxpayers!

Recycling extends the life of our landfills and create more sustainable communities. Recyclables simply don’t belong in landfills.

KPDC supports recycling and, as the official off-leash area steward, made an offer to Winnipeg Parks and Open Space. The club would secure permanent recycling bins for the dog park and promote recycling; park staff would collect recyclables when they empty the litter baskets.

The City declined the offer, informing the club that they’re running a pilot recycling program at Kildonan Park. The City says, “Public Works position is to complete the pilot and assess it before installing bins in other parks. We will be mindful of locations like Kilcona when time comes to expand.”

Under the new partnership agreement with CBCRS, KPDC volunteers are responsible for taking collected recyclables to one of Winnipeg’s recycling depots.  For now,  recycling will only happen a club-sponsored events. Park-wide recycling will only happen if and when the City expands its recycling program beyond Kildonan.

Did you know that recyclables are being used to create all sorts of interesting and valuable things.

• Of course, recycled drink cans are used to make new ones but they’re also used to make airplane parts, building facades and bicycle.
• Recycled glass bottles have a future as countertops, flooring, tile, landscaping stones and bricks; and recycled drink cartons are transformed into cardboard boxes and tissue paper.
• Recycled plastic bottles are turned into patio furniture, benches and truck cargo liners. Recycling just five two-litre bottles produces enough polyester for a square yard of carpet fabric. Plastic’s also used to make recycling bins – coming full circle!