A new Recycle BC depot will open in Quesnel on Dec. 1, 2018, in response to changes in the global recycling market, according to a Cariboo Regional District press release.
The new recycling depot, located near the Quesnel landfill, will be a controlled site with an attendant, and residents will be able to recycle a broader range of packaging and paper recyclables.
Current recycling drop-off depots at West Park Mall, Maple Park Mall, the sani-loop and the Quesnel landfill will close Nov. 29.
“Despite the City’s education campaigns regarding contamination in the depot recycling material, the recyclables from these locations continue to be contaminated and are non-marketable in the current global recycling market,” says the CRD press release.
In January 2018, China reduced the level of contamination they accept with recyclables. China will only import the cleanest recyclable material, which makes marketing the contaminated paper and plastic recyclable materials from Quesnel’s current depots extremely challenging and costly.
READ MORE: Recycling changes discussed by Quesnel City Council
Recycle BC is still able to market their recyclables due to strict rules, such as requiring attended depots, which produces a cleaner product. By establishing a full Recycle BC depot, the City and Cariboo Regional District recycling programs in Quesnel will be able to continue.
The Recycle BC depot will be located near the Quesnel landfill on Carson Pit Road, beside the re-use centre. It will be open the same hours as the landfill: Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There will be no changes to existing curbside collection for City residents, says the CRD release.
Quesnel residents who receive curbside collection can continue to use their blue boxes to recycle packaging and papers. Plastic bags, film, other flexible plastic packaging, glass and Styrofoam can be recycled at the new Recycle BC depot and should not be placed in curbside recycling bins.
You can find a list of acceptable recycling materials at recyclebc.ca/what-can-i-recycle or pick up a recycling guide at the new depot location. Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.