Recycling cops watching

Photo: Contributed

Inspection teams will have an eye on your recycling bins this fall.

As much as 18 per cent of material put out in the carts cannot be accepted, adding cost and inefficiency to the system.

Peter Rotheisler, manager of environmental services for the Regional District of Central Okanagan, says most residents do a good job of following the rules. But waste audits show there’s room for improvement.

“Things like garden hoses, garbage, hazardous waste, electronics, scrap metals, textiles, even yard waste – items that have never been accepted in our recycling program are showing up and contaminating the recycling stream," says Rotheisler.

“If we don’t reduce and eliminate these unacceptable products from our loads, we face financial penalties from our contractor, Recycle BC. “We’re close to 18 per cent contamination on average. They dictate it needs to be three per cent or less. So we need to do a better job, and that requires continuous education and monitoring.”

Inspection teams will leave stickers letting residents know if they're doing a good job.  In some cases, carts won’t be picked up until offending material is removed.

Inspectors will be looking for:

• Electronics, small appliances (depot only recyclable)
• Hazards such as syringes, propane tanks
• Garbage such as food waste, paper towels, Kleenex
• Textiles such as clothes, fabric, pillows
• Plastic Bags, Styrofoam, Glass (depot only recyclable)
• Soft plastics, such as cling wrap, bubble wrap, chip and snack bags, zipper bags
• Bagged recyclables
• Non-packaging plastics, such as toys, Tupperware type containers, laundry baskets
• Garden hoses, landscape edging, tarps
• Soft cover novels and hard cover books and textbooks