Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Ashley Legassic

RECYCLING OFFENDERS

City of Kamloops to fine repeat recycling offenders

Jun 25, 2019 | 2:05 PM

KAMLOOPS — Homeowners who repeatedly violate recycling restrictions in Kamloops could now be faced with fines.

The City of Kamloops says in a news release that the sanitation section is implementing the new process this month in an effort to reduce contamination in recycling carts and bins.

In 2017, the city became a member of Recycle BC, and since then staff have monitored carts and bins throughout all neighbourhoods.

That process includes issuing warnings to households when items other than recyclables have been placed in containers.

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The city says based on levels of contamination in some carts and bins, it will now begin fining repeat offenders who are in contravention of the solid waste and recyclabes bylaw.

“The City will be targeting enforcement on the worst offenders—residences that contaminate recycling with garbage, yard waste, hazardous waste, and even items such as garden hoses,” said Glen Farrow, Streets and Environmental Services Manager. “This is not about one plastic bag or straw that inadvertently makes its way into a recycling container. This process will focus on repeat offenders. Fines of $100 will help offset the service level failure credits that the City may receive from Recycle BC.”

As part of the Recycle BC mandate, member municipalities are required to recycle specific packaging and paper products. The organization tracks and measures municipalities’ contamination rates, and implements failure credits when cities repeatedly do not meet requirements.

“A service level failure credit is similar to a penalty and would reduce the city’s budget for delivering the residential recycling program,” said Farrow.

The city’s free Waste Wise app allows residents to search for specific items for disposal to learn where they can be placed or taken.