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If you’re not putting the right things in your recycling bin, the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is going to let you know.
The RDCO will be back on the streets this fall as part of their ongoing education and cart inspection campaign.
Peter Rotheisler, Manager of Environmental Services for the RDCO, says most residents are doing a good job of following the rules of what’s acceptable to put in the bins.
However, waste audits show that there’s still significant contamination going on in our recycling stream, which is an issue.
“Things like garden hoses, garbage, hazardous waste, electronics, scrap metals, textiles, even yard waste—items that have never been accepted in our recycling program are showing up and contaminating the recycling stream, “ says Rotheisler. “ If we don’t reduce and eliminate these unacceptable products from our loads, we face financial penalties from our contractor Recycle BC.”
The Central Okanagan is close to 18% contamination on average and that number needs to be at 3% or less.
Rotheisler says that inspection teams will look through various recycling bins and if they find items that don’t belong, they will leave a sticker explaining what you did wrong.
On the other hand, if you’re doing a good job they’ll leave you a sticker that tells you that.
Here is a list of some of the items inspectors will be looking for:
- Electronics, small appliances (depot only recyclable)
- Hazards such as syringes, propane tanks
- Garbage such as food waste, paper towels, Kleenex
- Textiles such as clothes, fabric, pillows
- Plastic Bags, Styrofoam, Glass (DEPOT ONLY recyclable)
- Soft plastics such as cling wrap, bubble wrap, chip and snack bags, zipper bags
- Bagged recyclables
- Non-packaging plastics such as toys, Tupperware type containers, laundry baskets
- Garden hoses, landscape edging, tarps
- Soft cover novels and hard cover books and textbooks
In some cases, carts won’t be picked up until the offending material is removed.
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