Recycling: Be cart smart

Are you putting the right things in your recycling cart? The Regional District will be checking to see as they kick off a renewed cart inspection campaign later this month.

“Most people are doing a pretty good job when it comes to putting the right things in their carts,” says Peter Rotheisler, manager of environmental services for the Regional District, which oversees the recycling collection contract for all member municipalities in the Central Okanagan. “But we understand there’s still a little confusion out there, that’s why we’re heading out again, ramping up the education campaign.”

Rotheisler says crews will have a look through the cart, if they find items that don’t belong they’ll leave you a sticker telling you what went wrong. Or if you’re doing a good job, they’ll leave you a good job sticker.

Rotheisler adds where there are large levels of unacceptable materials, the cart will be tagged and the waste hauler instructed to leave the offending cart at the curb until the resident removes what’s not allowed before it can be picked up again

“Audits supplied to us by Recycle B.C., the contractors we collect the recycling for show some nasty materials are contaminating the recycling stream — things like electronics, hazardous waste, garbage, textiles, even yard waste,“says Rotheisler. “Our recycling program could become more costly if this keeps up, the contractors can fine us if contamination exceeds three per cent. “

Here’s a list of some of the contaminates inspectors will be looking for:

Electronics, small appliances (depot only recyclable)

Hazards such as syringes, propane tanks

Garbage such as food waste, paper towels, Kleenex