Stand-up pouches, crinkly potato chip bags and net bags for produce will be accepted at 116 depots across B.C. starting Monday - but drop-off points in Prince George will not be among them.
Instead, the closest depots that will accept so-called "other flexible plastic packaging" are in Vanderhoof and Quesnel under a "research and development project" led by Recycle BC.
It's the first of three rounds through which the program is being rolled out. Additional depots can voluntarily begin collection on September 1 and as of January 1, 2019, all Recycle BC depots in the province are expected to collect this type of packaging, according to the agency.
Materials that will be accepted under the project are:
- Zipper lock pouches for frozen foods like prawns, berries and prepared food and fresh foods like grapes, berries and deli meat;
- Stand-up pouches for baby food and hand soap refills;
- Stand-up and zipper lock pouches for items like dried fruits, granola, sugar, oatmeal, quinoa, dish detergent pods and grated cheese;
- Crinkly wrappers and bags for potato chips, candy, dried pasta, coffee and cereal;
- Cellophane for flowers and gift baskets;
- Wrappers for cheese slices, snack bars and instant noodles;
- Flexible packaging with plastic seals for fresh pasta, pre-packaged deli meats and pre-packaged cheese;
- Net plastic bags for avocados, onions, oranges, lemons and limes;
- Woven plastic bags for rice;
- Non-food padded protective packaging like plastic shipping envelopes, plastic air packets and bubble wrap.
Examples of materials that will not be part of the expanded program are plastic squeeze tubes, plastic-lined paper, paper-lined plastic, plastic strapping, six-pack rings, biodegradable or Oxo plastic and PVC-vinyl.
The Hart Return-It Centre at 6665 Hart Hwy. and PG Recycling and Return-It Centre at 2614 Peterson Rd. will continue to take foam, glass and plastic bags while Fraser-Fort George Regional District landfills and transfer stations will still take in paper, cardboard and various types of containers.
The Vanderhoof transfer station is found at 650 Dump Rd., and the Baker Creek transfer station is located at 4831 Nazko Rd., Quesnel.
