Recycle BC

Recycle BC (previously known as Multi-Material B.C.) is a not-for-profit organization which manages residential packaging and paper recycling in British Columbia.[2] The not-for-profit was created in 2014, after a 2011 law by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, transferring the cost of recycling from residents to producers.[3] Producers who sell products in British Columbia pay fees to Recycle BC for the packaging and paper supplied on a quarterly basis determined by how many kilograms of each material they sold in the province. Items collected are sorted and sold to end-markets for processing into new products.

Recycle BC
FormerlyMulti-Material B.C.
IndustryRecycling paper and packaging
FoundedMay 19, 2014 (2014-05-19)
HeadquartersNorth Vancouver, British Columbia
Areas served
1.8 million households in British Columbia
Key people
Tamara Burns (Director)[1]
Websiterecyclebc.ca

Curbside recycling

Recycle BC manages recycling collected from 156 communities which include 1.8 million households (98% of British Columbia's population).[4] In 13 of these communities, Recycle BC also manages the collection of materials directly from households. The remaining communities receive curbside and multi-family recycling collection paid for by Recycle BC. Items accepted by the program can differ depending on the community, but typically include paper, cardboard, plastic containers, metal containers, cartons, paper cups.[5] Some areas also have separate bins for the collection of glass bottles and jars; however, they are only accepted at depots in most areas. Collected plastics are processed within the province through a contract with Green by Nature.[6]

The three major newspaper companies in British Columbia (Postmedia Network, Black Press and Glacier Media) have refused to pay their fees, resulting in the provincial government sending the publishers warning notices in 2016.[7] In 2017, News Media Canada created their own stewardship plan, which uses operational elements of the Recycle BC system to recycle newsprint.[8][9]

A pilot project was conducted in Coquitlam from May – August 2018 to recycle squeeze tubes, making it the first city in North America to accept the item through curbside recycling.[10]

Collection done by Recycle BC

Recycling depots

Recycle BC has contracts with private companies which operate recycling depots and are paid by the kilogram per material type.[16] Most of these recycling depots also act as Return-It depots to collect bottles and cans with deposits. Most depots accept curbside recycling items; however, some only collect polystyrene foam, plastic bags and glass (in some communities).[17][18] In June 2018, a pilot program began at 116 depots in the province to collect flexible plastics.[19] Items accepted in this new program include cellophane, zipper storage bags, bubble wrap, chip bags. granola bar wrappers, net bags for produce, plastic shipping envelopes and woven rice bags.[20] London Drugs stores in the province also act as Reycle BC depots.[21]

Streetside recycling

In August 2016, Recycle BC began a pilot program with the City of Vancouver consisting of 31 sets of bins, including for paper and mixed containers.[22] They are located in the West End and the pilot program ran until the end of 2017.[23] As of July 2018, the bins were still in place.

Multiple cities have criticized Recycle BC for still not fulfilling its obligation to operate streetside recycling programs, as of October 2018, even though they have been obliged to do so since 2014. The organization claims that the streetside bins are too contaminated for the material to be recycled.

Criticism

Recycle BC grossly exaggerates the efficacy of its plastics recycling program. The annual report for 2019 claims: 

• More than 98% of plastics collected in BC are sold to end markets in BC with a local end market in Metro Vancouver where it is processed into pellets to be recycled into new packaging and products; ([24]). Whereas the general number for plastics recycling in Canada is estimated by multiple sources to be closer to 10%. [25] https://nationalpost.com/opinion/raymond-j-de-souza-we-can-finally-admit-that-plastic-recycling-has-been-a-sham-all-along

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Some residents in small BC communities have criticized Recycle BC for not collecting materials there, as it costs more than in larger centres. Some communities have also seen items which were previously taken in curbside bins (e.g. plastic bags) now having to be brought to a recycling depot. Books are also excluded from recycling in British Columbia, as the province decided not to make publishers pay for their recycling.[26] The town of Osoyoos has also complained to Recycle BC regarding their plan to eliminate blue plastic bags as a method for curbside collection.[27] During a comment period in October 2018, Recycle BC proposed expanding their program to include packaging-like products, which was supported by local governments and depots. However, they caved to the pressure by product manufactures and backed down from the proposal.

References
  1. Fraser, Wendy (3 May 2017). ""Love This Place, Reduce This Waste" set for May 13". Bridge River Lillooet News. Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  2. Sinoski, Kelly (26 March 2014). "Big changes ahead for recycling in Metro Vancouver". The Vancouver Sun. Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  3. "Environmental Management Act: Recycling Regulation", Government of British Columbia, 2004, archived from the original on 17 June 2017, retrieved 31 December 2017
  4. "About Us". Recycle BC. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  5. "New B.C. recycling program frustrates municipalities". CBC News. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  6. Pablo, Carlito (11 April 2019). "Metro Vancouver recycling companies hurting from China crackdown on dirty waste imports". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. Laanela, Mike (19 April 2016). "'Freeriding' B.C. newspapers costing recycling program millions". CBC News. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  8. "B.C. newspaper chains launch mass recycling plan". Business in Vancouver. 31 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  9. "British Columbia Stewardship Plan". News Media Canada. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  10. Strandberg, Diane (10 May 2018). "Squeeze tube recycling trial starts in Coquitlam". Tri-City News. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  11. Cleugh, Janis (18 March 2014). "Smithrite wins recycling contracts for Coquitlam, Anmore". Tri-City News. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  12. "Changes To City Of Langley Recycling Start May 19". Langley Today. 15 May 2014. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  13. Phillips, Bill (2 September 2014). "Curbside recycling starts today in Prince George". Prince George Free Press. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  14. "Who is MMBC?". Quesnel Cariboo Observer. Black Press. 11 July 2014. p. 6. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018 – via Issuu.
  15. "Board of Directors Minutes- Regular" (PDF), Regional District of North Okanagan, p. 5, 4 September 2013, archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2017, retrieved 29 December 2017
  16. "SCRD Recycling Depots to Join MMBC", The Local Weekly, 21 May 2014, archived from the original on 31 December 2017
  17. "MMBC FAQ" (PDF), City of Abbotsford, p. 2, 2014, archived (PDF) from the original on 9 January 2018, retrieved 30 December 2017
  18. Nagel, Jeff (15 May 2014). "B.C.'s bluebox recycling shift may bring some confusion". Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News. Black Press. Archived from the original on 2018-01-01. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  19. Meissner, Dirk (13 June 2018). "B.C. aims to recycle difficult plastic: chip bags, crinkly wraps". National Post. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  20. Huffman, Alexa (31 May 2018). "More than 100 recycling depots across B.C. to accept potato chip bags and other flexible plastic packaging". CHEK-DT. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  21. Ubels, Erin (31 October 2018). "Your Halloween candy wrappers can be put to good use, experts say". Global News. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  22. Judd, Amy (25 August 2016). "New recycling pilot project launched in Vancouver". Global News. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  23. Chan, Kenneth (17 July 2017). "Vancouver installing new large garbage and recycling bins on sidewalks". Daily Hive Vancouver. Archived from the original on 2018-01-01. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  24. https://recyclebc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RecycleBC2019-Final.pdf
  25. https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/the-passionate-eye/recycling-was-a-lie-a-big-lie-to-sell-more-plastic-industry-experts-say-1.5735618
  26. Klassen, Andrea (11 May 2017). "Under new recycling book ban, old tomes will not see new life". Kamloops This Week. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  27. "Council balks at plan to nix blue bags". Osoyoos Today. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
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