The City of Kamloops sanitation section will be checking recycling carts and bins to better help reduce contamination.
“While this process has been in place since joining the Recycle BC program in 2017, continued high levels of contaminants in the city’s recycling program has resulted in increased efforts to combat this issue, including increased education, inspection and enforcement,” said the city’s Streets and Environmental Services Manager Glen Farrow.
The idea is to let residents know what can and cannot be included with packages and paper in the recycling bins. The city has signed an agreement with Recycle BC, but they’ve also agreed to keep contamination levels to three per cent or less.
“Meeting this target helps Recycle BC find end markets for the materials that are collected,” Farrow added. “One of the most successful strategies to reduce the amount of unaccepted material collected in the program is through an inspection and enforcement process.”
Recycling inspectors will inspect the bins prior to collection. Items like plastic bags, glass, and books that are not accepted will be tracked and if possible, removed from recycling.
“The resident is informed of the unaccepted items placed in recycling through a tag left on the cart,” Farrow said. “New for 2020, unaccepted items found in carts may be placed in clear plastic bags and left as an education piece for the resident. This tactic helps ensure that people understand what items are accepted and what is not.”
If a cart is found with a large amount of unacceptable material it will not be collected. In cases where there is misuse of recycling carts, a warning letter will be issued that could in a $100 fine if the misuse continues.
The City will also be checking multi-family bins and carts. Property and building mangers will be tasked to help educate tenants on ways to reduce contamination.
“This effort appears to be making a difference, as the contamination rate for multi-family bins and carts dropped from 26 per cent in the first quarter of 2019, to 11 per cent in the third quarter,” said Farrow. “The City hopes to see this number continue to decrease.”
You can find information on what is accepted in the city’s recycling program and what is accepted at recycling depots online.
