Plastic grocery bags and other film plastics will not be on the list of curbside collectibles when Multi Material B.C.’s new expanded residential recycling program hits the streets next month.
Starting May 19, Nanaimo moves into single stream collection of recyclables. Homeowners serviced in Nanaimo say goodbye to the blue bags for newspapers and other paper products and just stuff all recyclables into big yellow bags.
“The benefit to the residents of Nanaimo is that we’re going to be taking more than 10 new materials at the curbside,” said Charlotte Davis, manager of sanitation, recycling and public works for the City of Nanaimo.
Additional items that will be stuffed in the yellow bags includes paper bags, shredded paper, paper hot and cold beverage cups, milk cartons, juice and soup boxes, frozen dessert and ice cream boxes, empty aerosol cans and caps, plastic clam shell-type food packaging, plastic drink cups, and plastic garden plant pots and seeding trays.
However, homeowners will be driving non-deposit glass jars and bottles, Styrofoam packaging and plastic grocery bags to recycling depots. Nanaimo currently has three recycling depots that will take those items after May 19, including Alpine Disposal Recycling at 2250 McGarrigle Rd., Regional Recycling locations at 1805 Fremont Rd. and Nanaimo Recycling Exchange at 2477 Kenworth Rd.
Homes serviced by Regional District of Nanaimo recycling collection can no longer include textiles for recycling – Multi Material B.C. doesn’t take them.
No changes are being made to garbage and green bin collection.
Multi Material B.C. is an industry association of businesses that manufacture, sell or distribute printed paper and packaging in the province. As part of the new program, the association will compensate the city for providing the curbside recycling pick up services.
Brian Clemens, city director of finance, said when the new system is fully implemented the cost to each household for recycling and garbage collection should drop by $35 annually.