From Blue Bag To Blue Bin

By Corey Fischer

Feb 25, 2019 | 6:00 AM

Spallumcheen is targeting this fall for a change from blue bag recycling to Recycle BC.

That’s the program used in Greater Vernon, Armstrong and much of BC.

Mayor Christine Fraser says council has approved the switch, saying more items will be able to be recycled, and it will be a cost savings.

“Recycling is changing, and we do know that some of the current recyclables you can put in a blue bag that aren’t being recycled anywhere, so they are just going straight into the landfill,” Fraser tells Beach Radio News.

Fraser says the township’s proposed Recycle BC contract features some changes.

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“But everything that can be recycled by Recycle BC will go in the blue bin, and our understanding is there will be a re-useable bag as well, and then anything over and above that, that they don’t accept, you’ll still be able to take to Interior Freight and Bottle Depot where they have the separated bins because they have a different market where they can sell the products.”

The change will also bring cost savings, as Recycle BC is paid for by the producers.

“That will be a huge difference for us because right now it costs the township about $130,000 a year for doing it with the blue bag program,” says the mayor.

Fraser says due to contamination with the blue bag program, almost 50% of items go into landfills, whereas the Recycle BC program has far less contamination.

Fraser says the township will hold public sessions on making the transition to the new program.

“People can come in and we’ll go through what the blue bin program looks like, and how you separate your recycling, along with information on our website, on radio, and in print on what the recyclabes are, and how you recycle,” says Fraser.

by Corey Fischer