City clarifies upcoming recycling changes

Feb 2, 2017 | 4:30 PM

KAMLOOPS – Nearly four years after Multi-Material BC began to take over residential recycling in the province, it has reached an agreement to add Kamloops to its service.

City of Kamloops Streets and Environmental Services Manager Glen Farrow says there will be little will change for the average resident.

“We will still be collecting recycling with the same trucks, same day, same collection routes. The simplicity of our system, one stop shop, co-mingled product mix, and we are thankful for that,” said Farrow. “The small tweaks to the system mean no glass or soft plastics in the recycling mix, so plastic bags and glass will have to go to the recycling depots.”

Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar says the city will gain $1.1 million dollars in revenue by contracting its services out.

“It’s about a million dollars in revenue but it’s also a saving of about $800,000 so really, it’s closer to two million dollars difference for us,” said Milobar. “It gives us flexibility moving forward to look at either reducing rates or expanding things like green-waste pick up that people have been talking about.”

Milobar says this year’s utility bills will remain the same.

Milobar notes the city has held several meetings with the province in the past year to ask for help in joining MMBC, so this week’s announcement is an exciting one.