A new recycling pickup contractor will start collecting blue bins in the Capital Regional District in less than a month, after a period of service disruptions plagued the community last year.
GFL Environmental Incorporated (GFL) will start its six-year contract with the CRD on Jan. 2, 2024.
GFL is taking over from Emterra Environmental, which experienced repeated service disruptions in 2022.
Snow, extreme heat, labour shortages and labour disputes led to pile-ups in people’s driveways in the capital region that year.
The CRD warns that switching contracts means some residents may have their pickup days changed.
Anyone impacted by the changes will be notified by the Capital Regional District.
“We are committed to environmental sustainability and providing efficient waste management solutions,” said Russ Smith, senior manager of CRD environmental resource management, in a release Wednesday.
“This new contract offers increased collection capacity to reliably service the region, including future growth,” he said.
The CRD adds that while all accepted blue bin materials will continue to be picked up, between Jan. 2 and Feb. 1, glass pickup will not be available until the transition between contracts is complete.
The regional district collects recycling from about 132,000 single-family homes in Greater Victoria.
It notes that the collection is paid for by RecycleBC, a non-profit organization. Through the BC Recycling Regulation, makers of paper products and packaging are on the hook for the recycling costs of the materials, and not local taxpayers.
The CRD says GFL will be operating 25 collection trucks, including two electric vehicles and 23 CNG-powered vehicles.
In just one month, GFL Environmental will take over blue box curbside collection.
For more details and to download your 2024 collection schedule, visit https://t.co/EP6UDcRSYM #bluebox #recycling #CRDrecycling pic.twitter.com/N3FQLZkaIo
— CRD (@crd_bc) December 4, 2023
Adam Chan
