Blue or clear plastic recycling bags on their way out of the regional district

PENTICTON – The use of plastic bags to contain recycling materials is being phased out of the regional district’s recycling program.

Recycle B.C. announced in late 2017 they would require the phasing out of collection of recycling in plastic bags because there is no end market for collected blue and clear plastic bags, which means all the bags end up in the landfill.

According to a Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen staff report there is also a high cost associated with removing the blue bags on sorting lines and film plastic is the highest source of contamination in paper recycling, which then limits paper recycling potential.

The move to ban the bags comes on the heels of a 2014 ban that included all other plastic bags, sacks and pouches, due to the problems with such materials on sorting lines.

The regional district presently allows the use of clear and blue bags in the Village of Keremeos, Town of Oliver, Town of Princeton and throughout its rural collections.

The bags will no longer be allowed as of July 1, 2020.

Potential options being offered to regional district residents include the provision of one large cart for pickup or two medium cans. A third option includes customers supplying their own containers.

The district is planning a direct mailing to customers with a survey along with a description of the three potential options for recycling containers in the coming weeks.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.