The regional district is working to get it’s ducks in a row or boxes or carts whatever the case may be before RecycleBC bans the use of plastic bags in 18 months.
Cameron Baughan, solid waste management co-ordinator, presented different options to a somewhat reluctant group of directors at the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen recently. The change impacts every municipality in the province, but RDOS oversees recycling and waste collection for the rural areas and Keremeos.
Baughen presented several options to the board including large carts similar to those used in Penticton, smaller box containers, or stickers residents can put on any size reusable container they choose.
Directors will be tasked on choosing a container option and if the regional district will supply the receptacles to residents free of charge or whether they will need to buy them.
Related: Regional district and city hoping to curb bad recycling behaviours
Rick Knodel, Area C (Rural Oliver) director questioned if a paper bag could be used instead of containers.
“Dragging one of these large carts a quarter mile to the end of your driveway for those in the rural areas can be quite onerous,” he said.
Baughen said paper bags are not an option from Recycle BC.
Although plastic bags can be used for the next 18 months, residents are now able to put their recycling in any reusable container on the curbside for pickup. Plastic bags are no longer recyclable as there is not an end market for the material.
Baughen will be presenting in communities throughout the Regional District over the next while. An online survey is also expected to be released shortly.
Baughen will take input received through presentations and the survey and present them to the board later this year.
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