In the heart of Winkler, Gateway Resources is quietly doing some of the dirtiest — and most important — work in the region: sorting your recycling.
While blue bins and carts are rolled to the curb across the Pembina Valley, the real work begins once those containers arrive at Gateway’s doors. And according to staff, what’s inside isn’t always what it should be.
Sorting through the mess
“We sort everything by hand,” said Tyler Loewen, Recycling Manager at Gateway Resources. “So, if you weren’t willing to maybe touch it in your own household — if it’s that gross — think about what that might look like for us when it gets here.”
Loewen and his team aren’t exaggerating. From spoiled meat to animal carcasses, dentures to dirty diapers, Gateway has seen it all. And while some of the items might seem like an accident, many are part of a growing problem known as “wish-cycling” — putting something in the blue bin in the hope that it’s recyclable, even when it’s not.
“That’s called wish-cycling,” said Lonnie Derksen, Director of Operations. “Some people think something should be recycled, so they toss it in. But it doesn’t work that way. It just contaminates the rest of the load.”
Clean it, or it’s garbage
Contamination is one of the biggest challenges Gateway faces.
“Just because it’s paper towel doesn’t mean it’s paper,” said Derksen. “If you wipe your counter and throw it in recycling, that dirt or grease will contaminate everything around it, especially paper products.”
That’s why Gateway has a clear ask: rinse your containers.
“Dirty containers — rinse them out,” Derksen emphasized. “That’s really it. It’s simple.”
Loewen shared how an unwashed jug of milk or a peanut butter jar can turn into a real problem.
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“Imagine you take your milk jug out of the fridge, and it’s expired,” he said. “Now imagine that rancid smell times a thousand on a 40-degree day. That’s what we’re dealing with.”
And no — Gateway staff don’t wash your recyclables for you. If it’s too dirty, it goes straight to the garbage.
It’s personal for the staff
Gateway Resources employs many individuals with unique abilities, and for them, sorting recycling isn’t just a job — it’s something they’re proud to do well.
“We’ve heard from staff who are passionate about doing a good job,” said Loewen. “They want to sort things right, they want it to be clean. It’s frustrating for them when they see items that shouldn’t be there, or containers full of food.”
Derksen echoed that sentiment: “These employees take their work seriously. They are proud to be contributing to the community, and the public can show them respect by recycling properly.”
What happens after you recycle?
After Gateway sorts the material, it’s sent off to be repurposed, though the final destination depends on the material.
“Our paper actually goes to Northstar Fibre in Morden,” Loewen said. “They turn it into insulation, which is pretty cool.”
Other materials like aluminum, plastic, and tin are bundled and sent to buyers who transform them into new products, though Gateway doesn’t always know exactly what they become.
“The important thing is, they get a second life — but only if they’re clean and properly sorted first,” said Loewen.
How YOU can help
Derksen said the information people need to recycle properly is readily available.
“Check your plastics — they all have numbers on them. Stick to paper, tin cans, cardboard, boxboard,” he said. “We don’t take renovation supplies, rugs, or toilets — yes, we’ve gotten toilets before.”
Residents can visit the Gateway Resources website, as well as the City of Winkler and Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) sites, for up-to-date recycling guides.
And if you’re still not sure? Don’t guess.
“Just go look it up,” Derksen said. “We can all do better — and our whole region benefits when we do.”