TNRD – Recycling changes will mean more sorting, but more products

We’ll be able to recycle more products and save money, but we’ll have to do more sorting when the Thompson-Nicola Regional District joins Recycle B.C. this fall.

At its regular board meeting Thursday, (May 17, 2018) the TNRD board approved entering a five-year contract with Recycle B.C. for collection at 11 “official” depots and 16 “satellite” depots effective Sept. 1.

The TNRD will continue being responsible for hauling materials from the satellite depots for pickup.

Once the contract takes effect, residents will have to sort their recyclables into six containers at the depots. Environmental services manager Jamie Vieira said it’s expected people will need some time to adjust to the change, and an extensive information campaign will be launched.

The TNRD has been on the wait list for Recycle B.C. since 2014, and will save an estimated $634,000 with the move.

Vieira said that while requirements for removing contaminants from recyclables will be much stricter, and residents will have to do more sorting, a lot more products will be accepted, such as aerosol cans, clean pizza boxes, milk cartons, Tetra packs, Styrofoam and even Pringles containers.

However, industrial, commercial and institutional recyclables won’t be accepted by Recycle BC. Vieira said that will require further consideration.

New collection bins will be set up over the next few months using mega bags.

“Similar to how residents currently place their container glass and plastic bags in large white mega bags, they will also sort the rest of their recyclables into mega bags,” said the report.

Vieira told a meeting of the Solid Waste Management Committee that due to Recycle B.C.’s magnitude, it has greater access to markets for various recyclables. Since China stopped accepting recycled materials, the TNRD has been stockpiling its recycling.

“We have buildings full of recycling right now,” he said, describing it as a “precarious position.”

When the contract came to the full board Thursday, chair John Ranta, speaking as the mayor of Cache Creek, had concerns about a plan to move the location of the local depot away from the downtown area as part of the changes.

“This initiative to support the Recycle BC agreement for five years is going to result in a significant decrease in the amount of recycling that people take to depots,” he said.

However, the recommendation to join Recycle B.C. passed with strong support.

— Mel Rothenburger, Director, Electoral Area P