New blue boxes will allow residents to separate paper and containers
Recycle BC, the not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper recycling throughout the province, will begin directly managing curbside recycling in the Boundary Region of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB), on July 1, 2017. Communities in this service area include Grand Forks, Christina Lake, Eholt, Greenwood, Midway, Kettle Valley, Rock Creek, Westbridge, Beaverdell and Carmi.
Formerly called Multi-Material BC, Recycle BC provides recycling services to over 1.7 million households through curbside, multi-family and depot collection. The program is funded by the businesses that supply packaging and paper to BC residents, meaning residents don’t pay for the service.
The RDKB has been part of the Recycle BC program since 2014, and has been receiving a financial incentive to provide curbside collection to residents in the Boundary Region. In 2016, the RDKB Board of Directors made a decision to transition collection services for this area to Recycle BC, which has contracted Alpine Disposal and Recycling Ltd. as its collection partner in the region.
Residents will notice the following changes to the program:
RECYCLING CHANGES COMING TO THE RDKB
- Each household will receive two new blue boxes in June 2017.
- Residents will be required to separate paper and containers using the new blue boxes. Curbside pick-up of separated material in the new blue boxes will start July 3, 2017.
- Residents are asked to no longer set their material out in plastic bags, starting their first scheduled collection day in July.
New recycling guides and schedules will be delivered to residents with their new blue boxes, which will include detailed sorting instructions.
“We look forward to serving the people of Kootenay Boundary, and we’re committed to a smooth transition of service,” said Allen Langdon, Managing Director of Recycle BC. “Residents can expect the same high-level of service they receive today, and can continue to recycle the same materials, just in a different way. We’d like to thank residents in advance for separating their paper and containers, which will help us keep more materials out of landfill.”
Residents can continue to recycle the same accepted materials. The following can be recycled with containers: plastic packaging, metal cans, cartons (such as those used for soups, milk and milk alternatives), plastic plant pots, and empty aerosol containers. The following can be recycled with paper: paper packaging, printed paper (including magazines, flyers, envelopes and home office paper), boxboard and cardboard. Plastic bags and overwrap, foam packaging and glass should continue to be brought to Recycle BC depots. A full list of materials that are accepted and a searchable list of depots is available at RecycleBC.ca.
Residents will be notified of any changes to collection schedules, pick-up times and the customer service phone number through the new recycling guides, which will be delivered with the blue boxes in June, and the service area web page at RecycleBC.ca/Boundary. The web page will also include frequently asked questions and answers. Residents can also check their schedule, set up service reminders, search materials and find their nearest depot using the Recycle BC mobile app, which can be downloaded at RecycleBC.ca, Google Play or the App Store.
For information on green bin and garbage collection visit RDKB.com.