By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle

Oliver residents are being asked to step up their recycling game as contamination rates remain unacceptably high as revealed by a recent audit.

The Town is asking residents “to take extra care” with what they put into their curbside recycling following a recent Recycle BC audit of Oliver’s curbside materials reported an incompatible material rate of 13.9 per cent, well above the program requirement of 5 per cent or less.

Recycling contamination occurs when materials are placed in curbside containers that are not accepted in the Recycle BC Packaging and Paper Product (PPP) program.

The audit identified items such as electronics and a variety of non-packaging, non-paper products as common contaminants in curbside recycling.

The contaminating items disrupt sorting, reduce the quality of recyclable materials, increase program costs, and in some cases pose serious safety hazards for collection and processing staff, the Town said in messaging to residents.

The Town also noted that “many residents recycle with the best intentions,”  not all recyclable materials are suited for curbside collection.

In late August the town’s new organics program (introduced in spring 2025) came under focus for its 40 per cent contamination rate prompting plans to address it through education and, potentially, fines for offending homeowners.

During a council meeting following the release of the August audit it was made clear that Waste Connections will be installing cameras on its trucks to photograph the material as it is dumped. Then, using artificial intelligence, the system will identify contaminants by property.

Oliver will continue working with Recycle BC to reduce contamination through education, monitoring, and supporting residents in learning how to make the right recycling choices.

“Reducing contamination will help keep Oliver in good standing with the provincial program and avoid penalties or loads that are rejected by the receiving facility,” the Town said urging residents to review the Recycling Program at oliver.ca/solidwaste .

According to Recycle BC:

1. Some materials are recyclable — but only at depots.

Items such as flexible plastics (e.g., chip bags, bread bags, overwrap, pouches) and foam packaging must be taken to a Recycle BC depot because they cannot be effectively sorted and processed at curbside facilities.

2. Some items are not packaging or paper at all with common examples found in Oliver’s audit include:

  • Durable plastic items such as toys, laundry hampers, tarps;
  • Electronics, appliances, and light strings;
  • Scrap metal and hardware;
  • Personal Hygiene Products;
  • Hard-cover and soft-cover books;

These items are considered Not Accepted Material, meaning they fall outside of the provincial PPP program.

3. Hazardous materials never belong in curbside recycling.

Items such as batteries, medical sharps, propane canisters, and flammable liquid containers can cause fires, explosions, and worker injuries. Even tiny amounts of hazardous residue pose significant risks.

4. Bagged recyclables and “nested” containers create unsortable material.

Recyclables tied in plastic grocery bags or items packed inside other items often cannot be opened or sorted at facilities, forcing them into disposal.

Residents can help:

  • Keep it simple: Only place accepted packaging and paper products in your curbside cart;
  • When in doubt, check it out – Visit RecycleBC.ca or use their “What Can I Recycle?” search tool;
  • Review the Town of Oliver Recycling Brochure at oliver.ca/solidwaste ;
  • Take depot-only items to a Recycle BC depot;
  • Never place hazardous materials in curbside recycling;
  • Do not bag recyclables — place items loose in the cart;
  • Rinse containers to remove food residue.