Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction. Community recycling centres (CRC) offer residents an opportunity to dispose of their household hazardous waste, recyclable materials, garbage and reusable goods in an efficient and environmentally sound manner.
In 2005, Dillon was responsible for the preliminary design, detailed design, contract administration and construction observation services for the City of Hamilton, ON first CRC. Subsequently, in 2006 and 2007 Dillon was responsible for similar services for the City’s of Dundas, ON and Kenora, ON. Each of these three CRCs is located adjacent to a transfer station which allowed integration into the existing operations of the transfer station. Extensive environmental investigations were conducted and site remediation, including underground storage tank removal and soil excavation, was undertaken. Each facility is designed to accept ~ 8500 tonnes of materials annually.
In 2010, Dillon was responsible for the detailed design upgrades to all three of the transfer stations due to a significant amount of wear and tear and changes in legislation and the Ontario Building Code since the buildings’ original construction in the 1980s.
Features of the CRCs include:
- Recyclable materials are accepted in accessible outdoor bins
- Compost material and garbage are accepted in outdoor bins
- Materials appropriate for re-use and resale are collected from facilities and redistributed
- Unique traffic flows were designed to allow for convenient vehicular access to the weigh scales, bins and the main building
- The City of Hamilton’s CRC was designed with a reuse centre to allow residents the opportunity to donate to or shop for reusable items
- Household hazardous waste (HHW) facility accepts HHW from residents.
The Hamilton CRCs received awards of recognition from the Ontario Public Works Association and the Solid Waste Association of North America.