Port Coquitlam is asking residents and businesses not to "wishcycle" to avoid significant fines for mis-sorted waste and soiled recyclables.
Contamination occurs when either the wrong items are placed in carts, or when recyclables are not clean and dry.
Residential curbside recycling is different than recycling. What may seem "recyclable" doesn't mean it goes in your blue recycling cart. Since 2011, the B.C. Recycling Regulation (part of the Environmental Management Act) requires businesses that supply packaging and paper product to B.C., to assume responsibility for the cost of collecting, sorting and recycling these materials.
In 2014, Recycle BC (formerly Multi-Material BC) was formed to help businesses meet their recycling obligations. Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling throughout British Columbia.
The City is highlighting resources available to help residents and businesses to reduce contamination in its blue carts by sorting waste properly, rather than "wishcycling" - or guessing where items go.
In Port Coquitlam's blue recycling carts, the top contamination problems in Port Coquitlam are:
- Clothes and textiles
- Hard plastics such as Tupperware, plastic toys, tarps, laundry hampers
- Hard and soft-cover books
- Bags of mixed garbage
- Scrap metal such as auto parts, chains, pots and pans, and hardware
- Electronics such as cell phones, computers, small appliances and light strings
City's Ambassadors
Port Coquitlam's Ambassadors help educate residents about bylaws and regulations and conduct audits of waste carts.
The curbside audits by Ambassadors over the years has been very successful in identifying and helping to resolve common problems including:
- Recycling carts contaminated with plastic bags and other soft and flexible plastics, garbage, food waste, scrap metal, electronics, glass and styrofoam.
- Green carts contaminated with plastic bags (including compostable bags), garbage and recyclable items
- Garbage carts contaminated with food waste, paper, recyclable plastics, electronics, scrap metal and glass.
Ask a question, request resources or book a free presentation for a group, strata or school via the ambassador outreach program at portcoquitlam.ca/ambassadors.
Resources
The Sort it Right! program provides a variety of user-friendly resources and tools, including:
- Sort & Report app - search for how to properly sort waste, create personalized collection schedules and alerts, report problems and more. Download for free at portcoquitlam.ca/sortreport.
- Sort it Right! online search tool - learn how to properly dispose of items at portcoquitlam.ca/sortitright.
- Sort it Right! Waste Sorting & Services guide - a user-friendly guide with detailed collection and sorting information. Pick up the latest from City facilities or download from portcoquitlam.ca/sortitright.
- Community Calendar and Waste Collection Schedule. Delivered to doorsteps or available at City facilities each December.
- In-person support - Contact 604-927-5496 or drop by Public Works, 1737 Broadway St. to speak to a staff member and pick up resources.
- Other online resources - portcoquitlam.ca/waste for a variety of information about the green cart program, recycling program and depots, and more.
Sort it Right
Residents and businesses can do their part to reduce the most common contamination problems in all three carts in Port Coquitlam by:
- Bringing plastic bags and soft and flexible plastics to a recycling depot if clean, and placing in the garbage if dirty.
- Bringing construction waste and treated or stained wood to the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre at 995 United Blvd.
- Putting food waste and food-soiled papers (e.g. napkins, pizza boxes) in the green cart, not the garbage or blue carts.
- Bringing Styrofoam containers and trays to a recycling depot, not putting them in the garbage or blue carts.
- Returning all electronics, power tools and small appliances through take-back depots (search returnit/ca/electronics for electronics and electrorecycle.ca for small appliances and tools).
It's equally important that recyclables are clean and dry. As carts are collected and their contents mingled together, food residue or liquid left in containers will contaminate large quantities of clean recyclables - all which will then be sent to the landfill.
The City is reminding residents to not bag recycling material as it must be put in the cart loose. Even if the material is clean and dry, if it's in a bag it will go to the landfill.
Residents are encouraged to go to portcoquitlam.ca/sortitright for a wide variety of waste-sorting information.
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Media Contact
Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email [email protected]