The Recycle BC Depot at the Columbia Valley Landfill is on the move later this month to help improve public access to the expanded recycling services this program offers.

“We have had support from the public on the opening of the Recycle BC Depot in the Columbia Valley; however, we have had feedback from users and through our recent Solid Waste & Recycling Services Survey that people would like to see a more accessible location closer to Invermere,” explained Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Environmental Services Manager Kevin Paterson.

“As a result, we have been working with the District of Invemere to incorporate the Recycle BC Depot at the Invermere Transfer Station next to the public
works yard on Industrial Road #1, and are excited to announce the re-located depot will be open in that location September 28.”

The Recycle BC Depot provides residents with the ability to recycle a wide range of items that are not accepted in the local yellow bin program, including: Styrofoam, #7 plastics, milk substitutes, zippered bags like Ziplocs and pet food bags, aerosol cans and more.

“It is really important for people to remember that the Recycle BC Depot is for residentially generated recyclables only and is a totally separate program from the yellow bin program or curbside recycling in Invermere. So, if people want to access these expanded recycling opportunities, they have to do it at a designated Recycle BC Depot,” stressed Paterson. “The Recycle BC Program requires depots to be run with very specific guidelines, including gated and staffed locations. As such, our yellow bin
program does not meet their program specifications.”

An added bonus of the Recycle BC Depot is that the RDEK is classified as a collector and is paid by Recycle BC for every tonne of recycling collected at the Depot. By contrast, the RDEK has to pay for every tonne it collects in the yellow bin system. All of the materials collected at the Depot are recycled and information on where materials are processed is available on engage.rdek.bc.ca/recycle.

The yellow bin system remains in place; however, it only accepts paper, cardboard, tin/aluminum cans, grocery/shopping bags and plastics #1-#6. “People will have to use the Recycle BC Depot if they want to access these new recycling opportunities as we do not have access to the same markets through our yellow bin system,” added Paterson.

The Recycle BC Depot will move from the Columbia Valley Landfill to the Invermere Transfer Station on September 28.

The RDEK has also opened Recycle BC Depots at the Kimberley, Cranbrook, Elkford, Sparwood and Fernie Transfer Stations.

Lead and above image: Bins and totes at the current Columbia Valley Recycle BC Depot will soon be relocated to the Transfer Station in Invermere’s Industrial Park. RDEK photos

RDEK

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