As a pilot project aimed at keeping soft plastics out of landfills nears its end, the Capital Regional District is targeting simplification of recycling for residents.
Now bundled as “flexible plastics”, things such as plastic bags, crinkly wrappers and zipper-lock packages aren’t part of routine recycling in the region.
However, a Recycle BC pilot project to assess the feasibility of a flexible plastics collection program for multi-family dwellings started last summer, providing bins to buildings in Victoria and West Vancouver, and ends this spring.
In October, the CRD Environmental Services Committee tasked staff with compiling a report on options for the collection of soft plastics from multi-family dwellings in the region. It’s an area residents struggle with, as identified in a recent CRD solid waste market research and engagement study.
People are ready, willing and well-versed in the basics of trash, compost and recycling, but still need a little help with things like soft plastics and foam – with 64 per cent of residents reporting “significant barriers” – including simply not knowing where and how to take them, as well as challenges getting to disposal sites.
Transport is an issue for multi-family buildings, staff agreed in a verbal report during the Feb. 19 committee meeting.
Recycle BC is responsible for collecting and recycling residential packaging and paper products in the province and offers financial incentives to private waste management firms to collect various material streams from multi-family dwellings on its behalf.
In turn, these private waste management firms offer a variety of waste management services for multi-family dwellings in the region, including recyclables collection, on a fee-for-service basis.
CRD staff is gathering a quote from its main service supplier GFL. Research also showed other private waste management companies in the region typically include paper, cardboard and mixed container collection in their recycling services. Other materials, such as soft or flexible plastics, must be dropped off at a depot or through one of a handful of companies that offer collection.
Of the 10 private companies offering recycling services to multi-family dwellings in the region, half include a flexible plastics option.
Director Jeremy Caradonna, a Victoria councillor, asked the report specifically include items discussed at committee including a balance sheet related to funds that come into and out of CRD from RecycleBC, information on what percentage is actually recycled, information on the impending GFL quote and the potential to offset costs of bringing on a new material stream.
“The more diversion we do, the better for the environment, and the longer our landfill can operate. Anecdotally, there seems to be a strong desire for the CRD to add this service, although additional consultation could better demonstrate demand,” Caradonna said.
The Environmental Services Committee agreed to have staff report back with the results of the pilot project.
Committee decisions are recommendations to the CRD board, which meets next on March 12.
