The new year will bring changes to Columbia Shuswap Regional District recycling depots.
While curbside pick-up in Salmon Arm will remain the same, those who use any of the CSRD’s recycling depots will have to separate their recyclables into six categories.
Several items that are not, and will not be included in the curbside program will be permitted at recycling depots such as those operated at Bill’s Bottles and the Salmon Arm landfill. These include white and coloured Styrofoam, plastic bags and glass.
Plastics that can be recycled beginning Jan. 1 are grocery, salad, fruit and vegetable bags, dry-cleaning and bread bags, over-wrap from furniture and the outer wrap on diapers.
But this does not include plastic film such as Saran Wrap, zip lock bags or bubble wrap, says CSRD environmental services team leader Ben Van Nostrand. He says there will be changes to when people can drop off their recyclables as well. Hours will be restricted to when the operators of each depot are on-site.
The regional district’s residential recycling program is moving to a new, industry-led recycling program managed by Multi Materials BC (MMBC).
Similar to other return-to-depot programs such those for tires, electronics and paint recycling, the CSRD’s Solid Waste Management Plan dictates if there is an industry-led program in place, the management and costs associated with delivering the program should be the responsibility of the industry.
“MMBC’s obligations include funding many aspects of the depot-collection program, which is currently funded entirely through taxation,” says Van Nostrand. “Transferring to the MMBC model shifts the costs and responsibilities to industry, rather than the taxpayer.”
The MMBC program is for residential use only and businesses will have to find alternate collection options.
Check the CSRD website for information, depot locations and hours of operation. For more, call Van Nostrand at 250-833-5940 or Carmen Fennell at 250-833-5936.