Recycling - Blue Bag

What to Recycle

Paying attention to what we put in our garbage cans at home can save us money.  More than 50 per cent of the garbage that we currently send to the landfill is recyclable.  Reducing waste conserves natural resources, energy and space in local landfills, protects the environment and saves future tax dollars.  Each time we head to the garbage to dispose of an item, we should consider if it has a place in our blue bags. (Blue and clear bags will be recycled after use).  Perhaps you have items that rather than tossing into the trash, others may find useful?  Check out the Okanaganreuses.com website if you are interested in buying, selling or swapping items valued at under $100.  Link to  www.okanaganreuses.com.  View our  Living Greener Calendar (18 pages, 3.8 MB) for more information on all of the recycling programs available in the Regional District of Central Okanagan.  You may also use the website online map system to determine your regular curbside garbage and recycling collection day.  Follow the link to the RDCO Web Maps and follow the directions.

The following materials are accepted in see-through blue or clear bags for curbside collection, as well as at the recycling depots. There is no need to sort materials for curbside collection; just throw all recyclables into the same bag!  However, items must be separated when taken to the depots.  Link to Recycling Directory

Please note: 
As of February 2007, Glass containers are no longer be accepted in the blue bag program.  We encourage you to recycle your glass containers at any of the four area recycling depots or bottle depots.  Metro Materials Recovery is accepting plate glass at a cost of $30 per tonne at its Cambro Road facility, off Sexsmith.

	Tin Cans all tin cans empty and rinse labels ok no beverage containers (return for refund)		Corrugated Cardboard clean cardboard no wax or plastic coating flatten boxes large cardboard boxes (maximum size 3' x 3') must be flattened, tied and placed under your blue bags
	Aluminum foil and food containers empty and rinse labels ok no beverage containers. (return for refund)		Boxboard & Heavy Paper cereal box type cardboard, brown envelopes, paper bags, cardboard, egg cartons, gift wrap, etc. flatten boxes and remove liners no waxed, plastic coated cartons or foil gift wrap.
	No. 1 - 7 Plastics & Containers all plastic containers with # 1 - 7 recycling symbols (simply remove lids, rinse and flatten) all plastic film like grocery bags		Books & Magazines all magazines, catalogues, hard cover and paper back books no plastic binders
	Newspapers all newspapers and flyers, including all inserts and ad mail do not bundle		Phone books all phone directories
	Writing Paper all white, neon, coloured paper and envelopes all computer paper, labels and envelopes with windows no carbon paper, used tissue, or paper towels all papers and corrugated cardboard are not accepted as garbage. Please recycle		Glass Jars & Bottles No glass containers are allowed in the blue bag curbside recycling program - please recycle your glass containers at local recycling depots or bottle depots.

Many other items can be recycled, from eyeglasses to propane tanks. For more information view our Living Greener Calendar also available from the Waste Reduction Office at 1450 KLO Road.

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How successful is the Blue Bag recycling program?

The Blue Bag program has been operating in the Central Okanagan since July 2000.  Each year the program has seen higher volumes of materials collected.  To learn just how successful the program is, view this fifth anniversary news release.  In early 2007, the number of plastics accepted by the blue bag program increased and residents overwhelmingly supported this expansion in service. Link to Plastics In the Bag news release.

Who participates in the Blue Bag recycling program?

The Blue Bag Curbside Recycling Program is only for homes on garbage collection provided by municipal or regional government.

Most multi-family complexes are not included in municipal curbside collection.  However, as of May 2006, new Bylaws require property owners and strata councils to provide onside recycling for residents living in multi-family complexes.  For materials not collected in your onsite recycling program, there are four recycling depots available for drop-off service.
If your complex does not offer recycling options, you can also talk to your property manager or strata council about setting up a recycling program, and then contact the following residential recycling haulers to make arrangements for pickup service:

• BFI (250) 765-0565 
• Lexco Recycling Services (250) 868-9465
• Metro Materials Recovery Inc. (250) 491-2242
• OK Environmental Waste Systems (250) 868-3211
• Orchard Valley Disposal (250) 868-2424
• Supersave Disposal (250) 861-9433
• Waste Management (250) 861-8788
• Valley Pro Recycling (250) 717-6056

Recycling Schedule

Recycling is picked up every other week. Place your recycling out for collection on your regular garbage day, once every other week. To find out your collection day and week, call OK Environmental Waste Systems at 250-868-3211or view a map of your area.  You may also use the website online map system to determine your regular curbside garbage and recycling collection day.  Follow the link to the RDCO Web Maps and follow the directions.

Regulations for Curbside Collection

• Recyclables can be co-mingled there is no need to separate
• There is no limit on the number of recycling bags you can place out for collection
• Bags must be tied and kept separate from garbage
• Place recycling out for collection by 7:00 am on regular garbage days
• Use see-thru blue or clear bags only
• Garbage and recycling are collected by different trucks
• Maximum weight is 23 kilograms and can be no larger than 95 litres
• No garbage or household waste  Link to Recycling Directory
• No glass containers.  Glass must be returned to a recycling or bottle depot 
• No beverage containers
• Cardboard and newspaper are mandatory recyclables and are not accepted at the landfill as garbage
• Curbside pickup is only for homes on garbage collection provided by municipal or regional government

Where to buy blue bags

Blue bags or clear bags are usually available wherever garbage bags are sold - Dollar Stores, grocery stores, convenient stores, Costco, etc.

How We're Doing?

Since 1999, a number of areas have been tracked to provide a benchmark and indication of how our Waste Management programs are performing.  Here's how we're doing in the areas of Solid Waste, Recycling and Hazardous Waste.

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FAQ's

• Q. What day will my recycling be picked up?
  A. To determine what day of the week your recycling will be picked up, view a map for your area .
   
• Q. Why do we have to use blue bags instead of boxes?
  A. Basically, there are seven reasons why bags beat out boxes:
  • Bags hold more recyclables than boxes
  • Bags protect the materials inside, which means they are more valuable when sold for remanufacture
  • Blue Bag recycling is less expensive than blue box recycling even when the cost of bags is included
  • No litter - the blue bags keep the recycling safely contained
  • No administration costs to hand out or replace bins
  • Haulers prefer the Blue Bag program because its more efficient - the drivers don't need to sort at the curb or return to the plant when one bin gets full and the others still have room
  • Blue and clear bags make up only a fraction of one per cent of all materials collected for recycling - and they're recycled too
     
• Q. I live in a gated community and we don't have curbside collection for recycling. How can I recycle?
  A. As of May  2006, new Bylaws require property owners and strata councils to provide onsite recycling for residents living in multi-family complexes.  You can speak to your property manager or strata council about setting up a recycling program, and then contact the following residential recycling haulers to make arrangements for pickup service:
  • BFI (250) 765-0565 
  • Lexco Recycling Services (250) 868-9465
  • Metro Materials Recovery Inc. (250) 491-2242
  • OK Environmental Waste Systems (250) 868-3211
  • Orchard Valley Disposal (250) 868-2424
  • Super Save Disposal (250) 861-9433
  • Waste Management (250) 861-8788
  • Valley Pro Recycling (250) 717-6056
     
• Q. What do I do with materials that are not included in the blue bag program?
  A. Many other items can be recycled, from eyeglasses to propane tanks.   Check out the Okanaganreuses.com website if you are interested in buying, selling or swapping items valued at under $100.  Link to  www.okanaganreuses.com.  For more information, view a copy of our Recycling Directory, also available from the Waste Reduction Office at 1450 KLO Road.
   
• Q. How can I dispose of my hazardous wastes?
  A. Hazardous waste disposal information
   
• Q. What happens to the blue bags when they are emptied?
  A. The contents from the blue and clear bags are dumped onto a modern sorting conveyor and the bags are kept aside, baled, and shipped to market to be recycled as plastic film.
   
• Q. Where do my recyclable materials go?
  A. When we recycle, we reduce the amount of garbage going to our local landfills and turn our waste into new products like boxes, tissues or shampoo bottles - and conserve energy by doing so!  It takes less energy and natural resources to make new products from recycled materials than from new.
  The materials collected at our new recycling depots are sorted with the help of conveyor belts, screens and human hands at the Metro Waste Paper Recovery Plant in Kelowna.  These materials are then sold to mills and manufacturers to be made into new products.  Some of the revenue from the sale of these materials are put back into the program to help offset the costs to provide the service.
  Most of our paper, cardboard, metal and plastic is shipped to mills right here in BC.  Newspaper goes to Catalyst Paper in Port Coquitlam and is made into more newspaper.  Boxboard and cardboard go to Norampac in Burnaby and is made into new boxes.  Plastic is sent to Merlin Plastics in Delta and is recycled into non-food plastic containers such as soap and shampoo.  Recycled plastics are also used for fleece clothing as well as some carpets.  Our tin and aluminum goes to ABC Recycling in Burnaby and is melted into rebar and other metal products.
  Office paper and glass are both shipped out of province.  Office paper is sent to Harman Associates in Oregon and used for tissue paper.  Glass is sent to Vitreous Glass outside of Calgary and made into fiberglass insulation.  Recycled glass can also be used in reflective paints and sandblasting.
  The Bottom Line - recycling works!  It closes the loop, turning our waste into a valuable resource instead of filling up precious space in our landfills.
   
• Q. What is the right answer to the question I'm always asked at the supermarket checkout line, Paper or Plastic?
  A. From an environmental point of view, the correct answer is "Neither, I brought my own bag." While good arguments can be made about whether paper or plastic is more easily recycled, or which type of bag is made from the highest percentage of recycled material, reducing the need for a new bag is the most effective way to reduce waste and conserve natural resources.
   
• Q. Is everything in my blue bag really recycled?
  A. Yes. All items that are accepted into the blue bag program are recycled. Central Okanagan recycling programs can only accept materials for which there is a secure market.
   
• Q. Can I recycle Styrofoam?
  A. No. Styrofoam containers are not recyclable. To avoid disposing of Styrofoam in the garbage, try to steer clear of buying products that contain Styrofoam packaging. For example, choose eggs in a paper carton instead, or use a reusable travel mug for coffee rather than a Styrofoam cup. If you do have to buy products with Styrofoam, try to find another use for the material afterwards. Many preschools or daycares will take Styrofoam egg cartons or meat packs to use for arts and crafts. Mail Boxes, Etc accepts Styrofoam packaging chips for reuse.