♻️ We Need to Clean Up Our Recycling

♻️ We Need to Clean Up Our Recycling

Our latest Recycle BC curbside recycling audit found an incompatible material rate of 25.4%, up from 14.0% in the previous audit.

That means approximately one-quarter of the material sampled did not belong in curbside recycling.

The most significant issues included:
🚫 Unsortable material, including items placed in bags – 9.19%
🚫 Hardcover and softcover books – 4.03%
🚫 Scrap metal – 2.10%
🚫 Other flexible plastic packaging – 1.65%
🚫 Clothing and textiles – 1.27%
🚫 Durable plastic products – 0.92%
🚫 Plastic films and bags – 0.80%
🚫 Electronics – 0.50%
The audit also found containers containing food or other residue.

A few reminders can help us get back on track:
✔️ Place recyclables loose in your cart (never inside plastic bags)
✔️ Empty and rinse containers before recycling
✔️ Keep books, clothing, toys, storage bins and scrap metal out of your cart
✔️ Do not place electronics or small appliances in curbside recycling
✔️ Take flexible plastic packaging and other depot-only materials to an appropriate recycling depot
✔️ When in doubt, check before you toss it

The Hope Bottle Depot, located at 517A Corbett Street, accepts beverage containers, end-of-life electronics and small appliances.

Incorrectly sorted materials can contaminate otherwise recyclable items, create safety risks for workers and make the recycling process less effective.

We’ve improved before, Hope, and we can do it again. Let’s take an extra moment to sort carefully and help get our recycling headed back in the right direction. ♻️