Week 4 - Community Recycling in Victoria Part 1

The CRD has been collecting recyclables since 1989. Each year over 19,000 tonnes of potential garbage from the landfill (Heartland). As I have come to learn, recycling programs are not the same across North America, Canada or within provinces. I assumed that once a product was deemed recyclable in one area, that same product would be recyclable everywhere else but found that assumption was wrong. I have also come to notice that people are very unclear about what is recyclable and what is not recyclable within their same community. This blog will take a look at the Capital Region District (CRD) of Victoria B.C. recycling program, initiatives, and what is and what is not recyclable. I believe there is a lack of awareness for myself and within the community of Victoria regarding recycling. The residential blue box program is bi-weekly and has set limits to what can be recycled.

CRD Blue Bag - Accepted Items
First, I didn't even know that there was blue "bag" and that they were used to recycle paper.

• Newspapers and inserts (flyers)
• Magazines, brochures & catalogues
• Egg cartons
• Toilet paper & Paper towel rolls
• Cereal boxes
• Detergent boxes
• Kleenex boxes
• File folders
• Paper - Copy paper, Stationary, Mail, Envelopes

Tips

• shred all personal information (avoid identity theft) and store in cereal box
• Paper is banned from the garbage

Blue Box - Accepted Items

• Clean rigid plastic packaging: from consumer goods (e.g.: tools, electronics), food (e.g.: salads, baked goods), empty CD/DVD/VHS protective cases
• Clean rigid plastic containers Yogurt and margarine containers, shampoo/liquid soap bottles, cleaning product containers, pill/vitamin bottles, clean plant pots, plastic milk jugs
• Clean plastic & metal lids
• Clean glass bottles & jars
• Clean aluminum & tin cans
• Clean foil & foil plates (no food residue)

Tips
• Must Clean containers and plastic packaging
• Place materials loosely in CRD blue box. No sorting required
• Take lids off containers. Place them in your CRD blue box
• Flatten metal and plastic containers whenever possible
• Maximum container size: 10 litres
• No plastic bags (soft plastic)or Styrofoam
• No drink or milk cartons

Cardboard Materials Accepted

• Corrugated cardboard
• Pizza boxes
  • Remove and discard food residue, liners and inserts from pizza boxes
  • Turn pizza boxes inside out

Tips
• Flatten and bundle pizza boxes and cardboard
• Include clean items only
• Tie bundles with string or twine (no tape or wire)
• Maximum bundle size: 90 cm x 45 cm x 20 cm (36"x18"x8")
• Remember: All items must be clean
*Cardboard is banned from the garbage

Items NOT Accepted

No containers with household hazardous waste, motor oil or antifreeze
No sheet, pane glass or glassware
No hangers (plastic, wire or wood)
No plastic bags or soft plastics

No Styrofoam
No drink or milk cartons