♻️ What’s Happening with Recycling in Brandon? Challenges and Improvements
Recycling plays a key role in building a sustainable future, but in mid-sized cities like Brandon, Manitoba, the system faces real challenges. From public confusion to infrastructure limits, many residents wonder: Is recycling in Brandon really working?
This article breaks down the current state of recycling in Brandon, the obstacles the city faces, and the recent improvements made to strengthen the local waste management system.
The Current State of Recycling in Brandon
Brandon offers curbside recycling for residential areas, with pickups every two weeks. Blue bins are used to collect commonly recycled materials like:
Paper and cardboard
Plastic containers (1–7)
Aluminum and tin cans
Milk cartons and juice boxes
The collected recyclables are processed by Progressive Waste Solutions, which separates, sorts, and ships the materials to various recycling markets.
Despite this structure, only about 40–45% of recyclable waste actually gets recycled due to contamination and incorrect sorting.
Key Challenges
1. Contamination of Materials
One of the biggest issues is recycling contamination. Items like greasy pizza boxes, plastic bags, or food-soiled containers often end up in the blue bins, ruining entire batches.
“When in doubt, throw it out,” says the city’s waste management guide — but that’s not always followed.
2. Public Confusion
Many residents are unsure about what can and cannot be recycled. For example, not everyone knows that:
Styrofoam is not recyclable in Brandon
Plastic bags should go to store drop-offs, not blue bins
Black plastic is non-recyclable
This confusion leads to mixed bins, which slow down the sorting process and increase costs.
3. Limited Industrial Recycling
While residential recycling is supported, Brandon still lacks stronger systems for commercial and construction waste. Many local businesses rely on private solutions or dump recyclables due to cost and logistics.
4. Costs and Global Market Pressures
Fluctuating global demand for recyclables (especially plastics and paper) has made it harder for small cities to find buyers. This affects what Brandon can process and export
Improvements and Local Efforts
Despite the challenges, Brandon has made several efforts to improve recycling:
✅ Community Education
The City of Brandon regularly updates its online waste sorting tool and runs local campaigns to educate citizens. In schools, workshops are helping young people become more aware of waste reduction.
✅ Clearer Labelling and Apps
The city now uses “Brandon Waste”, a free app that sends reminders and gives recycling tips based on your neighborhood.
✅ Expanded Depots
The Eastview Landfill site accepts electronic waste, batteries, household hazardous waste, and used oil — encouraging responsible disposal of non-curbside items.
✅ Pilot Programs
Brandon is testing small-scale organics collection to reduce food waste. Composting could eventually be a big step forward in reaching its sustainability goals
What You Can Do
Want to help? Here are 5 simple steps to improve recycling in Brandon:
Clean your recyclables – No food, grease, or liquids
Know what goes in the bin – Use the city’s guide
Bring bags and Styrofoam to store programs
Speak to your landlord/building manager – Push for proper recycling in multi-family homes
Spread the word – Share knowledge in your community
Recycling in Brandon is far from perfect, but progress is happening. With better public education, upgraded infrastructure, and strong community involvement, the city can move toward a greener, smarter waste future.
Want to make a difference? It starts with your blue bin.