By James Peters

TNRD eagerly anticipating Recycle BC switchover

Jul 25, 2018 | 1:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — As it counts down the days until a new recycling arrangement kicks in, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District is asking residents to get ready.

The TNRD has signed on with Recycle BC, meaning it will have a stable processor to take its recyclables starting on September 1.

It comes months after local processor Emterra began refusing TNRD recyclables, saying its Chinese market had dried up.

Manager of Environmental Services Jamie Vieira says beginning this week, TNRD eco-depot and transfer station users will be asked to sort their recycling.

“The Recycle BC model that we have to operate within requires separation into one of the six different material types,” says Vieira. “[Users are] free to sort it at home or else they just take the time at the depot and sort it while they’re there into the different categories.”

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“The change is that you used to come in and were able to put your mixed recycling into one bin where it all gets mixed together. The new change will be six separate bins that you’ll put your material in,” said Vieira.

The TNRD has accumulated a backlog of recyclable material since the market change in spring.

Vieira says dealing with the material ahead of the Recycle BC switch has been a piecemeal effort.

“We did have a large stockpile of recycling because of market issues. Those market issues haven’t gone away. We have been fortunate enough to find a few processors in the Vancouver area who will still take our mixed recycling,” said Vieira. “We have no market for our mixed recycling here in Kamloops or Kelowna; none of the processors will take our material.”

But with those short term issues still simmering, Vieira is glad to see the long term destination for TNRD recyclables finally made clear.

“It’s a sigh of relief because we know the end’s in sight, not having to deal with that on a day-to-day basis. Where we are right now is each and every week, we’re trying to find a processor willing to take this material. Recycle BC has the markets already established.”