RDCO urges residents to cut contamination in curbside recycling
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Bluesky
-
Share on X
- Copy Link
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is reminding residents this fall to clean up their recycling habits and help reduce contamination in curbside carts. The push comes after member municipalities were charged penalties totalling $100,000 since 2023 due to high levels of contamination.
Recent audits by Recycle BC show contamination rates are trending downward, but the RDCO says common mistakes continue to impact the system. Items such as books, clothing, electronics and batteries are still being found in curbside carts, causing safety hazards and lowering recovery rates.
“Most residents try to do the right thing, but we still see common mistakes that contaminate recycling carts,” said Cynthia Coates, RDCO supervisor of solid waste.“These materials contaminate recycling loads, lower recovery rates and can lead to costly penalties, or worse, cause fires or explosions.”
The district is encouraging residents to check the RDCO website before tossing items into their blue carts, and to bring depot-only materials such as foam packaging, glass and flexible plastics to proper drop-off locations. Hazardous items such as batteries and electronics should never be placed in a cart.
