The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) and the City of Grand Forks have agreed to close the unattended recycling bins in downtown Grand Forks.
The popular recycling bins are slated for removal on Feb. 1, 2016 from their location behind the Grand Forks Fire Hall, said RDKB Board Chair Grace McGregor in a release Thursday.
“We know that residents have grown to like the convenience of the bins downtown but because of the way waste collection services have evolved over time, it no longer makes sense to have this duplication of services,” she said.
In May 2014, the Province of B.C. added printed paper and packaging materials to the Recycling Regulation. MultiMaterials BC—an industry umbrella group—was formed to create a recycling program for these materials that they create.
Previously these types of materials had been part of a taxpayer-funded program operated by the RDKB. “Since MMBC took over responsibility for these materials, these bins are just a duplication of services that taxpayers don’t need to be funding,” McGregor said.
The city too, said that the recycling bins are no longer the best way to deliver recycling services.
Grand Forks Mayor Frank Konrad, the city’s representative on the RDKB board, said in the release that the writing has been on the wall for this bin.
“This last summer the fire department indicated they needed more turn-around space for a larger ladder truck. The bins were just in an awkward place and had to be moved from that site.
“We have also clearly heard from nearby residents who are just tired of having to put up with the noise from the recycling bin on their street,” Konrad added. “With the recycling bins moved to the landfill, we will no longer have random dumping of trash at the site.”
Small businesses will need to take their recycling to the Grand Forks Landfill—about a four-minute drive from the fire hall site, the release stated.
The RDKB is set up to accept large amounts of material straight into a compactor. Materials coming from small businesses are not included in the MMBC program and will continue to be provided by the RDKB.
Grand Forks city and rural residents are encouraged to use their MMBC-funded curbside recycling collection services.
“Curbside collection is by far the best way to get rid of your waste and recycling,” McGregor said. “Residents are already using the curbside service for garbage and green bin material; there is no reason why they have to make a special trip downtown just for recycling.”
All residents of Grand Forks are eligible for curbside collection services. McGregor encourages anyone who is unfamiliar with the curbside services to contact the RDKB at 1-800-355-7352.
