By Times Chronicle Staff
As of January 1, 2023 B.C. residents are now able to add more things to their recycle bins. An amendment to the B.C. Recycling Regulation expands the amount of material that people can put in their bins, or take to a recycling depot.
The change in regulations is focused primarily on things classified as packaging or single-use and are placed in one of three categories: paper, containers, or flexible plastics.
Some things that have been added and can be recycled with paper include: paper party decor, paper gift bags and boxes, paper lunch bags, and more.
Material that can be recycled with containers: plastic plates, bowls, and cups. Paper plates, bowls, and cups with a plastic lining. Plastic food storage containers, plastic cutlery and straws, aluminum foil wrap, aluminum foil baking dishes and pie plates.
Material that can be recycled with flexible plastics (at depots only): plastic sandwich and freezer bags, plastic shrink wrap, flexible plastic drop sheets, flexible plastic bubble wrap, flexible plastic recycling bags (blue, clear, or yellow used for curbside collection), and flexible plastic shopping bags.
This expansion of material that is able to be recycled is an effort to keep more things out of the landfills and environment, but they first have to be recycled correctly.
Remember to wash your containers and recycling, put them in the right bins and do your part to help the recycling system operate smoothly and prevent contamination.
A full list of materials that you can recycle can be found on the Recycle BC webpage: recyclebc.ca/materials.
You should also always check your town’s website to see what is eligible for recycling as there are variations from town to town.
On the Osoyoos town website, Osoyoos.ca, the information can be found under town services. On the Oliver town website, Oliver.ca, the information can also be found under town services.
