The spokesperson for the controversial new recycling program will be in Prince George today, selling the much-maligned printed paper and packaging system to government and business leaders.
Multi-Material B.C. managing director Allen Langdon will provide an overview of the new curbside recycling program at the Central B.C. Railway and Forestry Museum at 1 p.m.
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce-led event is aimed at giving members and small-business owners a fuller look at what the program beginning May 19 means for them.
In a recent letter to B.C. Environment Minister Mary Polak, B.C. Chamber of Commerce president and CEO John Winter said that the organization was no longer for the recycling program to be stopped or delayed, which was what they were calling for last summer.
"To unilaterally delay the program would result in many communities that have agreements with MMBC having no way to service the residential blue box program," Winter wrote. "Further to this, were the province to halt the transition to MMBC on May 19, this would like make the provincial government liable for breaking contracts signed by MMBC."
As of the end of last November, MMBC - the organization charged as responsible for managing the residential recycling of packing and printed paper - had reached collection agreements with 67 local governments, 13 First Nations and 90 private companies to proving recycling services for roughly 1.25 million households in 88 B.C. communities.
However, there were still areas of the program, specifically with how the program is applied to franchisees and community newspapers as well as the fee structure, the Chamber still wants addressed.
"We look forward to continuing our constructive dialogue on this issue as we find positive solutions that balance the regulator impact on business with everyone's desire to see a cleaner environment," Winter wrote.
New materials accepted under the MMBC program include milk cartons, foam packaging, plant pots, aluminum foil packaging as well as certain types of plastic film packaging and drink cups. The curbside collection is expected to begin in Prince George in early September.
Prior to making the pitch to the business community, Langdon will sit down with the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George environment committee in the morning to give a program overview.
Like the city, the regional district did not sign on with MMBC as a collector. But unlike the city, regional district residents won't have any MMBC-managed collection starting up.
Today, the committee will be considering a one-year contract extension with Cascades Recovery Inc. The current recycling services contract with the company expires at the end of May, but with no incoming MMBC collection, the regional district would be without a place for residents to bring recyclables.
The company has proposed changes to the program to save money in transportation and processing as well as shift the focus to rural areas that haven't had services in the past.
"The bins currently located in the city centre would be relocated to rural transfer stations that have not provided recycling services in the past," said a report by waste diversion program leader Rachael Ryder. "The list of materials accepted in the drop depot program would be expanded to include more residential plastics."
