Recycling

The B.C. government brought in new regulations at the start of 2023 that expanded the list of items that can be recycled through blue bin and depot programs. Some are calling for more to be done in quelling the amount of single-use items making it to market. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Groups want plastic waste reduced at the source as B.C. expands recycling list

Environment minister says more single-use bans being looked at as more plastic regulations coming

 

School District 8’s recycling has been limited to just cardboard since 2020. File photo

‘It’s a logistical nightmare’: School District 8 struggling to restore recycling

The district has limited recycling to cardboard only since 2020

 

Plastic water bottles are pictured in a blue box recycle bin in North Vancouver, B.C., on May 7, 2019. British Columbia is increasing the types of items it accepts for recycling in its residential blue box system and at depots. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C.’s blue box recycling system to accept more items, primarily single-use plastics

Mattresses, EV batteries, syringes to be added over next 4 years: province

 

(Black Press Media Creative)

Christmas tree recycling is a good alternative to landfills

Taking down the Christmas tree is only one task after the holiday…

(Black Press Media Creative)
Christmas lights account for much of the light bulb waste found in landfills, according to Product Care Recycling. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

One way to support the Earth this holiday season? Recycle old decorations

Product Care Recycling is urging British Columbians to take care of holiday waste responsibly

Christmas lights account for much of the light bulb waste found in landfills, according to Product Care Recycling. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman and local MLA Brittny Anderson tour KC Recycling’s plastic recycling plant. Photo: Submitted

West Kootenay company partners to ‘Close the Loop’ for recycled plastic

KC Recycling is currently recycling over 2,000MT annually of polypropylene

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman and local MLA Brittny Anderson tour KC Recycling’s plastic recycling plant. Photo: Submitted
L-R: Faculty assistant Shawn Curran and Brad Pommen, aka “Mr. Technology.” Photo: Submitted

Innovation meets reuse in West Kootenay’s Metal Tech Alley

Lower Columbia businesses exemplify circular economy in action

  • Oct 24, 2022
L-R: Faculty assistant Shawn Curran and Brad Pommen, aka “Mr. Technology.” Photo: Submitted
Recycle leafblowers and other outdoor power equipment at depots across BC!

Save the great outdoors: recycle your electric outdoor power equipment—it’s easy!

For most of us, recycling household stuff is just part of the…

  • Sep 19, 2022
Recycle leafblowers and other outdoor power equipment at depots across BC!
Students from Revelstoke’s Arrow Heights Elementary and Begbie View Elementary on a recent Beyond Recycling field trip to a local farm, Track Street Growers, to see how a farm business operates. (Submitted)

Columbia Basin students get hands-on learning about the environment

Creston students from Adam Robertson Elementary School took part in the Beyond Recycling program earlier this year

  • Jul 22, 2022
Students from Revelstoke’s Arrow Heights Elementary and Begbie View Elementary on a recent Beyond Recycling field trip to a local farm, Track Street Growers, to see how a farm business operates. (Submitted)
Burnaby vet technician Jocelyn Marsh shows off part of her pill bottle return program. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

B.C. veterinarian has plan to eliminate millions of pieces of plastic from Canadian clinics

Very simple changes can have a large impact if adopted broadly, Jocelyn Marsh says

Burnaby vet technician Jocelyn Marsh shows off part of her pill bottle return program. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
A playground furnished with recycled rubber. (Photo/ Tire Stewardship BC).

13 B.C. projects set to build playgrounds, recreation areas with thousands of recycled tires

TSBC contributes over $270,000 for the grant recipients’ infrastructure upgrades

A playground furnished with recycled rubber. (Photo/ Tire Stewardship BC).
Grades 4 and 5 students visited the Kootenay Farms Food Hub for a tour. (Courtesy of Wildsight)

Creston students go Beyond Recycling to learn about waste

The Beyond Recycling program teaches students about the environmental impacts

  • Jun 7, 2022
Grades 4 and 5 students visited the Kootenay Farms Food Hub for a tour. (Courtesy of Wildsight)
Recycle BC is bringing in a deposit system for milk and milk-alternative containers. (Recycle BC art)

10-cent recycling deposit added for milk and plant-based beverage containers

Deposits can be redeemed by returning containers to Return-It collection centres

Recycle BC is bringing in a deposit system for milk and milk-alternative containers. (Recycle BC art)
In this Oct. 7, 2010, file photo, a Green Mountain Coffee single-serving brewing cup is seen in a Keurig machine in Montpelier, Vt. The Competition Bureau says Keurig Canada will pay a $3 million penalty in Canada for making false or misleading claims that its single-use K-cup pods can be recycled. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Toby Talbot, File

Keurig to pay $3 million fine for false, misleading claims on recycling of its K-CUPs

Keurig Canada has to change its packaging, publish notices about the changes

In this Oct. 7, 2010, file photo, a Green Mountain Coffee single-serving brewing cup is seen in a Keurig machine in Montpelier, Vt. The Competition Bureau says Keurig Canada will pay a $3 million penalty in Canada for making false or misleading claims that its single-use K-cup pods can be recycled. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Toby Talbot, File
Jennifer Bredl shared her festive dollhouse with the Second Hand Store and Sewing Centre in East Trail, a unique addition for the holiday season. Photo: Jim Bailey

Consider ‘new-to-you’ in the West Kootenay this Christmas

A great example is this wonderfully festive dollhouse on display at East Trail secondhand store

Jennifer Bredl shared her festive dollhouse with the Second Hand Store and Sewing Centre in East Trail, a unique addition for the holiday season. Photo: Jim Bailey
Curbside collection of organic materials is moving forward in Castlegar and Creston. File photo

Curbside collection of organics in Castlegar and Creston one step closer

Large grant means collections plans moving forward for 2022

Curbside collection of organic materials is moving forward in Castlegar and Creston. File photo
A previous Trash 2 Treasure event. This year’s event is being held Oct. 23. (Hope Standard file photo)

Turn trash to treasure this Saturday across the West Kootenay

Trash 2 Treasure day is Oct. 23

A previous Trash 2 Treasure event. This year’s event is being held Oct. 23. (Hope Standard file photo)
Electronic cigarettes are seen in a display case at a store in downtown Montreal, Wednesday, May 6, 2015. A study looks at the use of electronic cigarettes among Canadian teens and whether it might lead to tobacco use. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

E-cigarettes, mattresses, lithium-ion batteries soon to be recyclable in B.C.

Province working to expand recycling under extended producer responsibility five-year plan

Electronic cigarettes are seen in a display case at a store in downtown Montreal, Wednesday, May 6, 2015. A study looks at the use of electronic cigarettes among Canadian teens and whether it might lead to tobacco use. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Esquimalt, Nanaimo, Richmond, Rossland, Saanich, Surrey, Tofino, Ucluelet and Victoria all have plastic bag bans. (Pixabay.com)

B.C. cities will no longer need provincial approval to launch single-use plastic ban

More than 20 municipalities in B.C. are developing bylaws banning single-use plastics

Esquimalt, Nanaimo, Richmond, Rossland, Saanich, Surrey, Tofino, Ucluelet and Victoria all have plastic bag bans. (Pixabay.com)
Myles Peterson is making plastic panels that can replace plywood. Photo: Submitted

Young Castlegar entrepreneur turning plastics into building materials

Myles Peterson is making plastic panels that can replace plywood

Myles Peterson is making plastic panels that can replace plywood. Photo: Submitted