Recycling of suspended glass due to transportation, processing issues

Widespread flooding and road closures across the province have created transportation, storage and processing challenges for Recycle BC

Keep your glass jars and bottles – they will not be part of curbside pickups or in deposit until further notice.

Widespread flooding and road closures across the province have created transportation, storage and processing challenges for Recycle BC, the agency responsible for managing residential recycling in the province.

The ban on glass in containers and curbside depots will go into effect Monday and last until Recycle BC can safely resume operations, it said.

Glass collected in the Capital Regional District on behalf of Recycle BC is either made into new materials at a facility in Abbotsford or made into blasting material at a transformer in Quesnel.

CRD said both have been affected by flooding this week.

Recycle BC asks residents to store glass items at home until collection is restored. Glass continues to be banned from household waste and cannot be mixed with other recycling channels.

Residents of the Cowichan Valley Regional District of Duncan in Ladysmith have also told residents to store their glass – along with their foam packaging – until end-market processors resume operations.

Bings Creek, Meade Creek and Peerless Road recycling center depots will not accept glass and foam packaging.

“We ask residents to please hold on to the glass and foam packaging until we receive notice that the networks are restored,” said Doug Stevens, responsible for recycling and waste management operations. to CVRD, in a press release. “Please do not put these materials in curbside recycling bins, as they will shatter into irrecoverable pieces and create a health and safety hazard for workers. “

The curbside collection for all other materials, including paper, cardboard and mixed containers, will continue. Refundable glass beverage containers are not part of the Recycle BC program and can still be returned to bottle depots and retailers in the area.

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