Glass Recycling Rising

Central Okanagan residents have recycled 12 tonnes more glass this Spring then they did to this point in 2006.

This despite the fact you have to take your glass jars and containers to recycling depots and bottle depots.

In February, the Regional District eliminated glass from those materials accepted as part of the blue bag curbside recycling program.

"We're very surprised at the numbers so far," says Regional Waste Manager, Carol Suhan. "When we made the change, I thought if we collected half as much as last year, we'd be pleased. For us to collected more is amazing."

She says in April of 2006, 16 tonnes of glass was collected in the blue bags. In April of 2007, nearly 20 tonnes of glass was collected.

More than 25% of the glass recycled in April came in the blue bags, and Suhan says they are still trying to educate people to the fact glass is not allowed in blue bags anymore.

"Our recycling hauler has been working with people who are still putting glass in with their recycling."

Suhan says a majority of the glass is showing up at the two bottle depot locations.

"It seems as if people are taking their pop cans, beer cans and beer bottles to the bottle depot and bringing their glass jars at the same time."

She says they have gone from one four-yard bin to two at the bottle depots due to the volume of glass being taken to those locations.