Capital Regional District
Practice Makes Perfect
E
very year, residents in our region generate hundreds of tonnes of waste, including many objects that could have been recycled. By practicing the 3Rs of reduce, reuse and recycle we can significantly cut-down the amount of waste entering our landfill. Whether you live in a house or apartment, there is a Capital Regional District (CRD) program to help you reduce your waste and impact on the environment. If you live in a house within the capital region, the CRD Curbside Recycling Program picks up recyclables right at your curb. An unlimited amount of recyclables from your home can be placed at the curb in CRD blue boxes or blue bags. Please ensure you use the permitted containers that are less than 47 liters in volume, otherwise your materials will be left behind. Current curbside recycling schedules are good until April 30, 2012. New schedules will be mailed out in April 2012, so keep an eye out. When preparing your recyclables remember these simple tips:
CRD Blue Bags: • Include clean paper products only • Place materials loosely in the bag • Shred papers containing personal identity information and place within a paper bag, cereal box or other non-corrugated box, and then place in your blue bag
CRD Blue Boxes: • Clean containers and rigid plastic packaging before placing within box • Flatten metal and plastic containers whenever possible • Place materials loosely, no sorting is required • Plastic bags and Styrofoam are not accepted
Cardboard: *Maximum bundle size is 90 cm x 45 cm x 20 cm* • Flatten and bundle pizza boxes and cardboard • Only clean items accepted • Tie bundles with string or twine (no tape or wire) or cut and place within CRD Blue Bag If your recyclables were left behind, check the “tag” left by the driver to find out why. Materials that are contaminated, items not accepted or materials in non-conforming containers will not be collected. For more information on materials accepted or to find
out more about the CRD Curbside Recycling Program please visit Myrecyclopedia. ca – an online resource for residents of the Capital Region to identify how to reduce, reuse and recycle. The CRD introduced an apartment recycling program in 2000 that provides funding to apartment owners and managers to help pay for private collection services for recyclables. Since 2006, 37,000 free reusable recycling tote bags were distributed to apartment and condominium units in the region to help increase recycling participation. Don’t have a reusable recycling tote bag within your unit? Reusable recycling tote bags are available to all apartment and condominium buildings in the region, with five or more units. The bag is intended to remain within each unit, thus ensuring the next occupant has access to the same service. Additional tote bags are available for a nominal fee at the CRD office located at 625 Fisgard Street. When it comes to recycling, don’t forget about the Hartland Landfill recycling facility. This full-service depot, which accepts more than 80 different material types, is intended for residential quantities only and accepts loads up to a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 5,500 kg. The cost for entering the recycling facility is $6 per vehicle and the facility has recently launched several new pilot projects including Styrofoam and film plastics recycling. Please visit www.crd.bc.ca/hartland for more information including rates, hours and accepted materials.
Go blue. It’s the right thing to do. We’re happy to see so many people taking to recycling. It’s the right thing to do. Lifting recyclables in oversized containers has become an occupational health and safety concern for the people who pick them up. That’s why only CRD approved blue boxes and blue bags are emptied at the curb. This way we can all care for the environment, and the people who work every day to make it better. Find CRD Blue Box sales locations at www.crd.bc.ca/bluebox or contact the CRD Hotline at 250.360.3030.
www.crd.bc.ca COMMUNITY GREEN SCENE • FEBRUARY 2012 • 3