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Recycling prices crash 9 OAKVILLE BEAVER · Wednesday, March 4, 2009 Continued from page 1 materials doesn't only affect HRL. As part of a six-year contract that took effect in April, 2008, the Region receives from HRL 25 per cent of the revenue earned from the sale of its recyclables. "Our proceeds are less, no question," said Milton Regional Councillor Barry Lee, who sits on the public works committee. Halton also pays HRL an estimated annual price of $940,000, according to a 2007 regional report outlining the contract. Lee declined to comment on the specifics of the in camera meeting, but said HRL is not the only recycling company hurting from the market's downward trend. Revenues from recycling materials were "to the moon" in the summer of 2008 before crashing down to current levels, said Lee. According to trade group, Corporations Supporting Recycling (CSR), which publishes a monthly price index for recyclables in the Ontario market, the currently monthly average for a tonne of recyclables is $54, compared to an average of $150 in 2008. The lowest annual average since 2000 was when the composite index hit $95 in 2001. "This is sort of unprecedented," said Lee. Municipal councils across Ontario are advised to continue marketing their recyclable materials at the reduced costs instead of stockpiling them in hopes market prices might rise again, according to a joint letter from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Stewardship Ontario and Waste Diversion Ontario released in late January. Under Ontario's Waste Diversion Act, the companies that introduce the packaging and paper into the marketplace cover half of the net cost for municipal blue box programs. That means municipalities can recoup some money in 2010 and 2011, according to the letter. Lee admitted it would be difficult for Halton to find another provider to process and market its blue box materials under the current contract conditions. "Let's face it, if they (a company) can't make money, they're not going to be able to provide the service," he said. "You can't leave the blue boxes lying on the street." Calls to HRL's office in Burlington were not returned. The company, which is in the midst of changing its name to Emterra, provides waste management services to 25 Canadian municipalities, covering 10 per cent of the country's population, according to information on its website. The company has three "single stream" material recovery facilities for recyclables in Canada, including its operation in Burlington. The single stream facilities allow for residents to put all recyclables into one container, with no necessary separation of paper from plastics and cans. GRAND PIANO CLEARANCE SALE GRAND PIANOS $ from 4,995 Available at Reduced Prices! 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From 10 a.m. to noon, vendors of solar energy equipment will be available to answer technical questions and will display a variety of solar energy technologies. For more information, call 905-901-3501 or visit http://halton.ourpower.ca. WWW.PIANOS.CA Refer a friend and save! Safe Start: Beginner Driver Education CLASSROOM 25 hrs in-class Evenings & Weekends Small class sizes Use of interactive tools to keep students engaged closer to it with your first three months free at Herbal Magic.* Hurry, offer ends March 31st. Join now and get yourself back. Learn more at herbalmagic.com or at a centre near you. - 6 hrs simulation - Adverse Weather effects - Risk free environment - Focused on highway, urban & city driving SIMULATION IN-CAR LESSON OAKVILLE WEST 1500 Upper Middle Rd. W. (Sobey's Plaza @ Third Line) - 10 hrs private in-car lessons - Flexible scheduling & pick up - Professional & Skilled Instructors 905-469-4532 OAKVILLE EAST 380 Dundas St. E. 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