A proposal to stop including glass in curbside pickup
Posted February 3, 2013 5:37 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A proposal from Multi Material BC, the non-profit organization in charge of developing a recycling strategy for Metro Vancouver, would see glass no longer included in regular curbside pickup.
The organization says that most glass comes in the form of refundable bottles and what is left for pickup is often broken, contaminated and not fit for recycling either way. Proponents argue it’s too expensive to continue for such little gain and that it contaminates other, more valuable recylables.
On top of that, BC doesn’t have a glass recycling facility. What is collected is often used for things like road construction, diverting it from landfill but not saving material.
“Most of the glassware that would now be put out into the bluebox would simply go into the garbage,” says Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie
Brodie also chairs the Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Committee and says he doesn’t think it’s the right move to eliminate glass collection.
“We’re trying to, as a region, to be leaders in getting people to recyle,” says Brodie, who has been in the mayor’s office for just under 12 years.
Multi Material BC is a non-profit that takes charge of recyling in the province starting in 2014. Input on the idea will be heard until March 1.
