More Plastic Products Can Be Recycled

Recycle BC has added to its list of products that can be recycled.

As of June 1, stand-up pouches, crinkly potato chip bags and net bags for produce are items in the category of Other Flexible Plastic Packaging that will be collected by 116 depots in the province as part of a research and development project led by Recycle BC.

The items have to be taken to a recycling depot. They can’t be put into blue bins.

Interior Freight and Bottle on 24th Ave. in Vernon is one of the participating outlets, along with the three Columbia Bottle Depots in the Kelowna area.

Click here for the full list.

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Recycle BC says the project will determine how best to recycle materials in this category, which is one of the fastest growing packaging types on the market, and one of the largest categories of packaging not previously collected under the residential recycling program. The not-for-profit has partnered with Merlin Plastics to research a solution to recycle this type of packaging, which presents challenges due to the combined materials involved. Any packaging collected during the project that can’t be recycled will be recovered and produced into engineered fuel. The project will also be supported by Green by Nature, Recycle BC’s post-collection partner.

“Each day, we move closer toward our ultimate goal of collecting all types of packaging,” said Allen Langdon, Managing Director of Recycle BC. “We’re excited to be developing a viable commercial process to recycle these common but tough-to-process items, and ultimately to bring more recycling options to communities throughout the province.”

The program expansion is being rolled out in three phases, with the first round of depots beginning collection June 1, followed by additional depots voluntarily beginning collection September 1. As of January 1, 2019, all Recycle BC depots in the province are expected to collect this type of packaging.

Examples of materials that are accepted as part of Other Flexible Plastic Packaging:

Stand-up and Zipper Lock Pouches

Zipper lock pouches for frozen foods like prawns, berries and prepared food
Zipper lock bags for fresh foods like grapes, berries and deli meat
Stand-up pouches for baby food and hand soap refills
Stand-up and zipper lock pouches for items like dried fruits, granola, sugar, oatmeal, quinoa, dish detergent pods and grated cheese
Crinkly Wrappers and Bags

Bags for potato chips, candy, dried pasta, coffee and cereal
Cellophane for flowers and gift baskets
Wrappers for cheese slices, snack bars and instant noodles
Flexible Packaging with Plastic Seal

Packaging for fresh pasta, pre-packaged deli meats and pre-packaged cheese
Woven and Net Plastic Bags

Net bags for avocados, onions, oranges, lemons and limes
Woven plastic bags for rice
Non-food Protective Packaging

Padded protective plastic like plastic shipping envelopes, plastic air packets and bubble wrap

Examples of materials that will not be part of the expanded program:

Plastic Squeeze Tubes
Plastic-lined Paper
Paper-lined Plastic
Plastic Strapping
6-pack Rings
Biodegradable or Oxo Plastic
PVC/Vinyl

To learn more about the Other Flexible Plastic Packaging program and to view a list of depots, please visit RecycleBC.ca/FlexiblePackaging