Recycle BC has informed the Town of Osoyoos that it will be eliminating blue bags from its curbside collection in 2020. (Richard McGuire photo)

Recycle BC has thrown a wrench into the Town of Osoyoos’ recycling program by announcing they plan to eliminate blue bags for curbside collection in 2020.

Jim Dinwoodie, director of operational services (public works), told council last week that all curbside collection have to be placed in containers, although recycling is allowed to be comingled in one container.

“Unfortunately, the Town of Osoyoos has just entered into a new five-year curbside collection contract with Waste Connections Canada Ltd., which deliberately did not include the use of containers for curbside collection,” Dinwoodie said in a report to council.

“Numerous citizens have expressed displeasure with the poor maneuverability of large recycling containers as well as issues with the storage of these containers,” he added.

This means the town will need to renegotiate its contract and the cost of the service upgrade isn’t yet known, he said.

Dinwoodie’s report was brought to council for information, but council was not asked to make any decision at this time.

Dinwoodie told council that it probably makes the most sense to have Waste Connections manage the containers rather than have the town do it.

Containers break, get stolen or misplaced, he said, and it’s hard to keep track of them.

Having residents provide their own containers can be a problem for collections because the trucks aren’t designed to empty containers of different shapes and sizes, he said.

But the company didn’t budget for this type of truck being used in Osoyoos, because the town wanted to stay with blue bags, he added. This means the company may have to purchase more trucks that can lift the containers.

Recycle BC is also revising its service charges, with most costs increasing.

Dinwoodie said the only other option would be for the town to opt out of BC Recycle, but this would mean having to find another way to recycle.

China, the main market for recycled paper products, wants a contamination rate of no more than three per cent, he said, but the best the province has been able to do is 13 per cent.

“So they are losing that market and nobody knows where that new market is for this type of paper product,” he said.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times