Big changes are coming to recycling in the Cowichan Valley this week.
The May 19 introduction of the new Multi-Material BC (MMBC) recycling program means the list of recyclable items accepted at your curbside is changing.
While recycling will still be picked up in yellow bags at the curb, and the pick-up days and frequency won’t change, there are some significant differences in what you can put in those yellow bags, beginning today.
Film plastics will no longer be accepted in curbside pick up. Instead, they will be accepted at the Junction Bottle Depot and the Peerless Road Recycling Centre.
Film plastics include:
• Clear or opaque retail bags for groceries or dry cleaning
• Clear or opaque bags for bread, newspapers and flyers
• Clear bags for produce and dry bulk foods
• Frozen vegetable/fruit bags
• Outer wrap for bulk paper products and soft drink and can flats
• Water softener, salt and garden product bags
• Outer milk bags and pouches
• Diaper and feminine hygiene product outer bags
• Pre-washed salad bags
A number of items have been added to the list of acceptable curbside products, including:
• Clean gable-top cartons (milk, milk-type beverages, cream, substitute eggs) — these will continue to be accepted in the organics bin
• Some aerosol containers
• Clean plant pots and trays
• Clean aseptic boxes for milk, milk-type beverages, soup, broths and sauces
• Clean paper packaging coated in wax — these will continue to be accepted in the organics bin
• Clean hot and cold drink cups — these will continue to be accepted in the organics bin
• Telephone books and other directories
Cowichan Valley residents have five local recycling depots that will take glass, film plastics and Styrofoam items, including Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) Recycling Centres at Peerless Road, Bings Creek, and Meade Creek, as well as Island Return-It bottle depots in Ladysmith and Duncan.
According to the CVRD, multi-family dwellings will continue to be managed privately, so those residents should speak with their service providers with regards to any changes to their recycling collection programs.
Information, including recycling locations and hours, can be found at www.recyclinginbc.ca or www.cvrdrecycles.bc.ca.
