Recycle & help Cochrane students win cash

Students from six Cochrane schools are competing to win $1,000 for their school’s sustainability initiatives and need help from area homeowners.

The 2015 Cochrane School E-Waste Recycling Challenge is on from now until October 23 with cash prizes for students who collect the most e-waste.  Cochrane residents and business owners are encouraged to collect old electronics and bring them to one of these schools:

• Manachaban Middle School
• Cochrane High School
• Mitford School
• Cochrane Christian Academy
• Ecole Notre-Dame des Vallees
• Holy Spirit Catholic School

Each school has a dedicated e-waste recycling station in the school where Cochrane residents can drop off old computers, monitors, keyboards, televisions, radios, stereos, digital clocks, vcrs, dvd and cd players.  The school that collects the most will get $1,000.

In addition to keeping unwanted items out of Cochrane’s land fill, organizers hope to create awareness and understanding of the dangers of improper disposal of electronics.  These items contain extremely hazardous lead, mercury or cadmium which are threats to our environment if buried.

Schools in general major consumers of resources, generating large amounts of waste and greenhouse gas.  However, schools also have the potential to be good stewards of the environment and part of good sustainability programs is learning how to be strategic players in making the world greener.

Complete information is available on the Town of Cochrane website at Cochrane.ca.  This contest is sponsored by the Town of Cochrane Eco Centre, CEAC, Bird’s Eye Technologies and GEEP.

Zero Waste

The Town of Cochrane is a leader in the collection of residential recycling and waste disposal with weekly service to the town’s single-family homes and multi-family complexes.  In addition to weekly pickup, the town has an Eco Centre for recycling and biohazards.  Materials accepted include:

• Antifreeze (coolant and windshield fluid)
• Bicycles
• Cardboard in large quantities
• Clothing
• Electronics including ink cartridges
• Eyewear
• Glass
• Metal
• Oil (motor oil, empty containers & filters)
• Paper and plastic

Now accepting foam products

The Eco-Centre is now equipped to accept products made of foam provided they are clean with no food residue, labels or tape.  Items include:

• Foam plates and cups
• Take out containers, meat trays and foam egg cartons
• Styrofoam (insulation, packing foam, foam peanuts in bags

The Eco-Centre is located at 50 Griffin Industrial Point.

The Eco-Centre offers services for special types of household and commercial waste, such as appliances (disposal fees apply), seasonal yard waste such as grass, leaves and small branches from April to November and kitchen compost.

Recycling Partners

In addition to the Eco Centre, the Town of Cochrane encourages all residents and business owners to adopt sustainable waste practices by supporting local enterprise such as:

• Home Reno Heaven
• The Cochrane Bottle Depot
• Homes Treasures 

More News

Last spring, town council approved a motion to implement an organics diversion program.  This includes collection of organic material from single-family and multi-family residential homes beginning in April 2017.

The Eco-Centre is open for yard waste drop-off. This service is for residential waste only.  Grass, lawn clippings, tree trimmings and leaves will be accepted until November 15, 2015. Pumpkins will also be accepted post-Halloween.  Hours of operation are:

Wed – Sat:  8 am to 6 pm

Closed Sun – Tues and Holidays

Christmas Trees will be accepted beginning January 2016