Recycling - Blue Cart
What to Recycle
Paying attention to what we put in our garbage at home can save us money.
Our most recent survey
has found 37 per cent of the
residential 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.
Before heading to the
garbage to dispose of an
item, consider if it has a
place in your blue cart.
Perhaps you have items that
others may find useful? View our
Living Greener Calendar for all of the recycling
options and 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
(click Map Layers and
turn on the Waste Reduction
layer).
The following materials are accepted in
the blue carts for curbside
recycling
collection, as well as at the recycling depots. There is no need to sort materials
for curbside
collection; just
flatten and throw
all recyclables into
the blue cart!
Link to Recycling Directory
|
Tin Cans
- all tin cans
with
lids
attached
- empty and rinse
- labels ok
- no beverage containers (return for refund)
|
|
Corrugated Cardboard
- clean cardboard
only
- no wax or plastic coating
- flatten boxes
or cut up to fit in recycling cart with lid closed
|
|
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 foil gift wrap or waxed, plastic coated cartons (return wax coated milk containers to your local bottle depot for recycling).
|
|
No. 1 - 7 Plastics & Containers
- all plastic containers with # 1 - 7 recycling symbols (simply remove lids, rinse
and flatten)
-
all
stretchy plastic film
including grocery bags
|
|
Books & Magazines
- all magazines, catalogues,
and
books
without
hard
covers
- no plastic binders
|
|
Newspapers
- all newspapers and flyers, including all inserts and ad mail
- do not bundle
|
|
Phone books
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
Waxed Dairy Containers
-
wax coated milk and milk substitute containers are not accepted in curbside recycling
-
please return these to your local bottle depot for recycling
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
Back to Top
How successful is the
residential recycling program?
The residential
recycling
program has been
operating in the
Central Okanagan
since July 2000.
Each year the
program has seen
higher volumes
of materials
collected.
In early 2007,
the number of
plastics
accepted by the
residential
recycling
program
increased and
residents
overwhelmingly
supported this
expansion in
service.
Who participates in the Blue
Cart recycling program?
The Blue Cart 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
- 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
- Place recycling out for collection by 7:00 am on regular garbage days
- All recycling must fit into the blue wheeled cart designed for recyclable products and the lid must be closed
- Garbage and recycling are collected by different trucks
- 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, paper, newspaper, metal food containers, plastic household containers and plastic film 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 can I
obtain a larger
blue recycling
cart?
Please contact
OK Environmental
Waste Systems at
250-868-3211.
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.
Back to Top
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. 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
- 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 recycling cart program? What do I do with materials that are not included in the blue
cart program?
A. Many other items can be recycled, from eyeglasses to propane tanks.
Check out the Okanagan Reuses 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. 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
Cascades 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
cart really recycled?
A. Yes. All items that are accepted into the blue
cart 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.
The UPS
store and
Barefoot
Venus accept Styrofoam packaging chips for reuse.
|