Westman Recycling

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The Early Years (1989 - 1991)

1989:

Two outdoor recycling depots were held during this first year, and in November a "group of avid recyclers" (as described by Chair Joyce Agar) gathered to form a new organization: the Westman Recycling Council. Among the other early members were Linda Boys, Vern Gilbertson, Janet Kennedy, Dick Menon, Eldon Schmitz, Vic Sharpe, Angus Sneesby, and Donna Young.

1990:

The organization was incorporated in February. The Kiwanis Club of Brandon was an important early contributor of money and volunteer help. Materials were shipped from communities in the Westman area; our beginning as a regional recycling centre. A grant from Environment Canada enabled an education program along with a weekend depot with Bob Braun hired as a contract person to organize the expanded event.

1991:

A joint City of Brandon / Manitoba Environment grant enabled a year-long program of weekly depots on the Brandon Shoppers Mall parking lot. David McConkey was hired for a one-year contract as co-ordinator. (Eight years later, I'm still here!) The depot was open every Saturday in conjunction with Manitoba Soft Drink Recycling. Only the basicmaterials (newspapers, glass, tin cans, and beverage containers) were accepted. The ribbon was cut in June by Deputy Mayor of Brandon Jim Reid and Province of Manitoba representative Jim McCrae.

1991:

A joint City of Brandon / Manitoba Environment grant enabled a year-long program of weekly depots on the Brandon Shoppers Mall parking lot. David McConkey was hired for a one-year contract as co-ordinator. (Eight years later, I'm still here!) The depot was open every Saturday in conjunction with Manitoba Soft Drink Recycling. Only the basicmaterials (newspapers, glass, tin cans, and beverage containers) were accepted. The ribbon was cut in June by Deputy Mayor of Brandon Jim Reid and Province of Manitoba representative Jim McCrae.

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The Middle Years (1992 - 1995)

1992:

A proposal to the City of Brandon, Manitoba Environment, and Environment Canada (Environmental Partners Fund) for three-year start-up funding was approved. The depot expanded from an outdoor, one-day per week operation to a full-time permanent facility on 6th Street, where we still are located. Bob Braun and Tim Wiebe were hired to job share the position of production co-ordinator. (Bob worked here until last year; Tim is still with us.) We also began accepting materials such as newspaper which the City of Brandon collected at their depots around town.

1993:

The Grand Opening of the depot was held in January with Member of Parliament Lee Clark, Manitoba Minister of the Environment Glen Cummings, City of Brandon Mayor Rick Borotsik, and Brandon West MLA Jim McCrae in attendance. Continual improvements in techniques and equipment enabled us to handle growing volumes of material. We also began a very enjoyable partnership with CXY Chemicals, with many people visiting at our annual open house and enjoying a drink and a hot dog.

1995:

This was perhaps our most remarkable year. The Manitoba Product Stewardship Program (MPSP) was introduced and we changed our procedures and started weighing materials to conform to its requirements. The prices we received for many materials, including newspaper and cardboard, shot up dramatically. (Even though we now handle twice the volume of materials, we still have not matched the sales revenues we received in 1995!) On the strength of rising prices, we added greatly to our materials accepted to include: flyers, magazines, catalogues, office paper, cardboard, boxboard, milk cartons, and #2 plastic containers. (With only some minor changes since, this completed our list.) As well during the year, we became a registered, charitable organization.

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The Recent Years (1996 - 1999)

With the end of our three-year start-up period, we applied to the City of Brandon for an annual grant. MPSP revenues meant that the City could afford to make a larger contribution to our work. We were now receiving about one-third of our funds from the City grant, one-half from sales, and additional amounts from other sources.

In 1996, many of the prices we received had crashed, but fortunately that year the Pine Falls Paper Company opened a new de-inking facility and offered us a three-year contract. We signed the contract, which meant we had a stable market for our most important commodity - newspaper. (When that contract expired in 1999, we signed a new, five-year, contract.)

The basic patterns of our work were now established. We had become an organization which promotes the Three Rs in the community; with our main work being our recycling depot and progressing centre. We continually get better at what we do. Our volumes are now at 2,000 tonnes per year. Of this total, about 1,600 tonnes are from Brandon and 400 from the Westman region. We operate with a $250,000 annual budget, and we have learned to adjust to fluctuating prices for the materials we sell. We have about 10 employees.

Over the years, we have involved more than 1,500 people working here through programs such as the Fine Option and Community Service programs with the John Howard Society and the Making Welfare Work program with the City of Brandon Social Services Department.

Our Annual General Meetings have demonstrated our educational and networking efforts in the community. Speakers have included Brandon educator Mark Burch who spoke on the "Joy of Reducing," Jim Ferguson from Manitoba Environment, Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation General Manger Jim Fogg, Jill Papineau from the Pine Falls Paper Company, and Stan Kozak of Environmental Waste Reduction and Management. In 1994, we heard from a panel about "Innovations in Recycling in Westman," and in 1998 another panel discussed "Waste Reduction and Recycling in Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Settings."

At our annual meetings and other occasions, we have welcomed three Manitoba Environment Ministers: Glen Cummings, Jim McCrae, and Linda McIntosh. (We someday hope to host the new Conservation Minister, Oscar Lathlin.)

Our networking ranges from good relationships with our downtown neighbors such as the CMHA Re-Store, to involvement in organizations such as Resource Conservation Manitoba and the Manitoba Association of Regional Recyclers. We are linked to individuals, groups, businesses, organizations, the City of Brandon, Westman municipalities, and others who are interested in waste reduction and recycling.

We have grown from the small "group of avid recyclers" who met ten years ago. Over the years, we have helped to divert thousands of tonnes of material from being landfilled. This recycling has saved natural resources, reduced pollution, created local employment, and injected hundreds of thousands of dollars into the economy from materials which otherwise would have been thrown in the garbage! Our work has helped members of the public gain a better understanding of the environment and what they can do to increase their awareness and action.

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Home Contact Us About Us WRC History News & Events	About Us - WRC History > Early Years > Middle Years > Recent Years The Early Years (1989 - 1991) 1989: Two outdoor recycling depots were held during this first year, and in November a "group of avid recyclers" (as described by Chair Joyce Agar) gathered to form a new organization: the Westman Recycling Council. Among the other early members were Linda Boys, Vern Gilbertson, Janet Kennedy, Dick Menon, Eldon Schmitz, Vic Sharpe, Angus Sneesby, and Donna Young. 1990: The organization was incorporated in February. The Kiwanis Club of Brandon was an important early contributor of money and volunteer help. Materials were shipped from communities in the Westman area; our beginning as a regional recycling centre. A grant from Environment Canada enabled an education program along with a weekend depot with Bob Braun hired as a contract person to organize the expanded event. 1991: A joint City of Brandon / Manitoba Environment grant enabled a year-long program of weekly depots on the Brandon Shoppers Mall parking lot. David McConkey was hired for a one-year contract as co-ordinator. (Eight years later, I'm still here!) The depot was open every Saturday in conjunction with Manitoba Soft Drink Recycling. Only the basicmaterials (newspapers, glass, tin cans, and beverage containers) were accepted. The ribbon was cut in June by Deputy Mayor of Brandon Jim Reid and Province of Manitoba representative Jim McCrae. 1991: A joint City of Brandon / Manitoba Environment grant enabled a year-long program of weekly depots on the Brandon Shoppers Mall parking lot. David McConkey was hired for a one-year contract as co-ordinator. (Eight years later, I'm still here!) The depot was open every Saturday in conjunction with Manitoba Soft Drink Recycling. Only the basicmaterials (newspapers, glass, tin cans, and beverage containers) were accepted. The ribbon was cut in June by Deputy Mayor of Brandon Jim Reid and Province of Manitoba representative Jim McCrae. Top of page The Middle Years (1992 - 1995) 1992: A proposal to the City of Brandon, Manitoba Environment, and Environment Canada (Environmental Partners Fund) for three-year start-up funding was approved. The depot expanded from an outdoor, one-day per week operation to a full-time permanent facility on 6th Street, where we still are located. Bob Braun and Tim Wiebe were hired to job share the position of production co-ordinator. (Bob worked here until last year; Tim is still with us.) We also began accepting materials such as newspaper which the City of Brandon collected at their depots around town. 1993: The Grand Opening of the depot was held in January with Member of Parliament Lee Clark, Manitoba Minister of the Environment Glen Cummings, City of Brandon Mayor Rick Borotsik, and Brandon West MLA Jim McCrae in attendance. Continual improvements in techniques and equipment enabled us to handle growing volumes of material. We also began a very enjoyable partnership with CXY Chemicals, with many people visiting at our annual open house and enjoying a drink and a hot dog. 1995: This was perhaps our most remarkable year. The Manitoba Product Stewardship Program (MPSP) was introduced and we changed our procedures and started weighing materials to conform to its requirements. The prices we received for many materials, including newspaper and cardboard, shot up dramatically. (Even though we now handle twice the volume of materials, we still have not matched the sales revenues we received in 1995!) On the strength of rising prices, we added greatly to our materials accepted to include: flyers, magazines, catalogues, office paper, cardboard, boxboard, milk cartons, and #2 plastic containers. (With only some minor changes since, this completed our list.) As well during the year, we became a registered, charitable organization. Top of page The Recent Years (1996 - 1999) With the end of our three-year start-up period, we applied to the City of Brandon for an annual grant. MPSP revenues meant that the City could afford to make a larger contribution to our work. We were now receiving about one-third of our funds from the City grant, one-half from sales, and additional amounts from other sources. In 1996, many of the prices we received had crashed, but fortunately that year the Pine Falls Paper Company opened a new de-inking facility and offered us a three-year contract. We signed the contract, which meant we had a stable market for our most important commodity - newspaper. (When that contract expired in 1999, we signed a new, five-year, contract.) The basic patterns of our work were now established. We had become an organization which promotes the Three Rs in the community; with our main work being our recycling depot and progressing centre. We continually get better at what we do. Our volumes are now at 2,000 tonnes per year. Of this total, about 1,600 tonnes are from Brandon and 400 from the Westman region. We operate with a $250,000 annual budget, and we have learned to adjust to fluctuating prices for the materials we sell. We have about 10 employees. Over the years, we have involved more than 1,500 people working here through programs such as the Fine Option and Community Service programs with the John Howard Society and the Making Welfare Work program with the City of Brandon Social Services Department. Our Annual General Meetings have demonstrated our educational and networking efforts in the community. Speakers have included Brandon educator Mark Burch who spoke on the "Joy of Reducing," Jim Ferguson from Manitoba Environment, Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation General Manger Jim Fogg, Jill Papineau from the Pine Falls Paper Company, and Stan Kozak of Environmental Waste Reduction and Management. In 1994, we heard from a panel about "Innovations in Recycling in Westman," and in 1998 another panel discussed "Waste Reduction and Recycling in Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Settings." At our annual meetings and other occasions, we have welcomed three Manitoba Environment Ministers: Glen Cummings, Jim McCrae, and Linda McIntosh. (We someday hope to host the new Conservation Minister, Oscar Lathlin.) Our networking ranges from good relationships with our downtown neighbors such as the CMHA Re-Store, to involvement in organizations such as Resource Conservation Manitoba and the Manitoba Association of Regional Recyclers. We are linked to individuals, groups, businesses, organizations, the City of Brandon, Westman municipalities, and others who are interested in waste reduction and recycling. We have grown from the small "group of avid recyclers" who met ten years ago. Over the years, we have helped to divert thousands of tonnes of material from being landfilled. This recycling has saved natural resources, reduced pollution, created local employment, and injected hundreds of thousands of dollars into the economy from materials which otherwise would have been thrown in the garbage! Our work has helped members of the public gain a better understanding of the environment and what they can do to increase their awareness and action. Top of page