Vancouver residents living in apartments and condos will soon see some big changes to how recycling is collected at their buildings.
Recycle BC has announced that Vancouver recycling collection at multi-unit dwellings will transition to two new contractors starting on Monday, Feb. 16.
The not-for-profit organization in charge of B.C.’s residential packaging and paper product recycling revealed that Recycling Alternative will service the Downtown and False Creek area, while Emterra Environmental will service all other areas in Vancouver.
The previous service provider, Waste Management of Canada Corp., began collecting at the city’s multi-unit residential buildings in 2016.
Recycle BC
“We thank our current collection partner, Waste Management, for the long-term partnership, and look forward to welcoming the new contractors,” stated Recycle BC on its website.
“Both Recycling Alternative and Emterra Environmental may reach out to the participating properties in their respective areas to identify main building contacts and inquire about logistics details in order to ensure a smooth transition.”
Recycle BC also added that a new coloured bin will also be arriving in the near future at apartments and condos.
“This change will also bring some exciting new changes to recycling. Soon you’ll be able to recycle flexible plastics using your new pink cart, which will be arriving at your building in the coming weeks.”
Recycle BC
Examples of flexible plastics include plastic bags, flexible packaging with a plastic seal, crinkly wrappers, and protective and squishy cushion packaging.
Only apartments and condos with pink carts will be able to recycle the flexible plastics directly into the bins. Other Vancouver buildings and residences must drop them off at a recycling depot.
Only two Metro Vancouver municipalities — West Vancouver and Maple Ridge — offer curbside flexible plastics recycling.
There is no indication whether the program will be expanded to all Vancouver residents or other cities in the region in the future.
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According to Recycle BC, a property must meet several requirements to qualify for the apartments and condos service.
It must be residential with more than five units and have a centralized waste collection area.
If the property is mixed-use with both residential and commercial units, waste collection areas must be separated. Alternatively, commercial units can arrange collection of their recycling outside of Recycle BC’s program.