Editor:
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) opted into the Multi-Material BC (MMBC) recycling program to advance the SCRD’s waste reduction and environmental stewardship goals.
As participants in the program, we will increase the types of packaging and printed paper materials that can be dropped off by residents to be recycled. With the market power of a province-wide recycling system, a stewardship program like MMBC can reduce the tonnage of packaging brought to market and offer greater accountability on how recycled materials are transformed into new products.
Most local governments in B.C. have signed on to the MMBC program. A few years ago, local governments requested that the province shift responsibility for packaging materials upstream to producers and away from local taxpayers. Prior to making the decision to join, we undertook due diligence and analysis of the program and concluded that it would benefit our community.
The SCRD is working with local recyclers to continue to operate our three recycling drop-off depots in Gibsons, Sechelt and Pender Harbour, and implement changes associated with the MMBC program. These changes will begin in June as soon as agreements with depot operators are reached. Depot users will find new recycling drop-off categories with clear information and new signage, and will be able to drop off new materials free of charge.
The MMBC program is intended for residential packaging and printed paper materials only. Commercial, institutional and industrial operations will no longer be eligible to drop off recycling free of charge at SCRD depots, and are encouraged to make separate business arrangements with local recyclers.
We are committed to working with local residents and businesses through the implementation and long-term operation of this new recycling program.
Anyone interested in learning more about the program can visit www.recyclinginbc.ca or www.scrd.ca.
Jeremy Valeriote, manager,
Waste Reduction and Recovery, SCRD
