B.C. expands blue box recycling to include plastic straws, cutlery

British Columbians can now step up their recycling game, as the B.C. government added more plastics and packages to the list of what can go in the bin.

This comes after the federal law that aims to completely eliminate single-use plastics from the market.

But until then, the province says recycling just got easier.

“People throughout British Columbia will now find it easier and convenient to recycle a wider array of single-use plastic items and packaging products in their residential blue-box or at participating recycling depots,” a statement from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy said.

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Aman Singh, the parliamentary secretary for environment, says this will help keep plastic out of the water and landfills.

“Our government is working to ensure that people in B.C. can help to keep their communities and the environment healthy,” Singh said in the release.

In the blue box, locals can now pop items including food items like plastic plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, aluminum foil and baking sheets.

Also included are hangers and thin metal storage tins.

People can also head to the depot and recycle items including plastic sandwich and freezer bags, shrink wrap, and flexible bubble wrap.

“This expanded materials list will allow more material to be recycled, keep it out of landfills and stop it from littering the environment,” Tamara Burns, executive director with Recycle BC said.

The ministry adds that the province regulates the biggest number of residential packaging and products in Canada, and the changes came into effect immediately.

“Residents play a key role in recycling this material by enabling it to be collected – by putting it into their bins or taking materials to a depot,” Burns added.