Yesterday, Multi-Material BC (MMBC) released its first annual report, which is a requirement under the Recycling Regulation. The report contains information about the program’s performance in its first 7.5 months of operations (the 2015 report will contain a full year, but since the program launched in mid-May, the 2014 report covers launch to December 31, 2014). The 2014 report reflects results from the start of program operations in May until the end of December. The 2015 report, which will be published by July 1, 2016, will contain results for the full 2015 calendar year.
And BC residents are recycling! In our first year, MMBC collected 116,000 tonnes of packaging and printed paper. This number will be even higher in the 2015 report when it covers a full year of operations.
Other highlights from the report include:
- 1.24 million households received curbside and multi-family collection services;
- 20 BC communities are enjoying access to curbside recycling for the very first time;
- By the end of 2014, 96 per cent of BC households could recycle their packaging and printed paper at depots;
- By year’s end, MMBC had directed 93.5 per cent of collected packaging and printed paper to recycling commodity end markets – exceeding the regulated target of 85-90 per cent;
- MMBC finished 2014 in a strong financial position with all expenses covered, debt extinguished and significant progress made towards building the operating reserves needed to provide financial stability for the program’s commitments.
As with any recycling program, there is always opportunity to improve, and MMBC’s activities in 2015 will focus on stabilizing the collection system and adding additional communities as new stewards join the program.
The report is available here, and we think it reflects a great start to the MMBC packaging and printed paper recycling program.