More than 100 recycling depots across B.C. to accept potato chip bags and other flexible plastic packaging

More than 100 recycling depots across B.C. to accept potato chip bags and other flexible plastic packaging
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Starting June 1, 2018, Recycle BC is introducing a pilot project to collect a new type of material: Other Flexible Plastic Packaging. Credit: Recycle BC.

Starting June 1, 2018, Recycle BC is introducing a pilot project to collect a new type of material: Other Flexible Plastic Packaging. Credit: Recycle BC.

More than 100 recycling depots across the province will soon be accepting potato chip bags, net bags, stand-up pouches and other flexible plastic packaging items as part of an expanded program.

The expanded program, which starts June 1, is a research and development project with Merlin Plastics that will look into determining how best to recycle materials in the flexible plastic packaging category. The items are being recycled but there is no refund for people who bring the packaging to the depots. Any plastic collected during the project that can’t be recycled will be recovered and produced into engineering fuel.

“Each day, we move closer toward our ultimate goal of collecting all types of packaging,” Allen Langdon, managing director of Recycle BC, said in a statement. “We’re excited to be developing a viable commercial process to recycle these common but tough-to-process items, and ultimately to bring more recycling options to communities throughout the province.”

Examples of materials that are accepted as part of the expanded flexible plastic packaging program:

Stand-up and Zipper Lock Pouches

  • Zipper-lock pouches for frozen foods like prawns, berries and prepared food
  • Zipper-lock bags for fresh foods like grapes, berries and deli meat
  • Stand-up pouches for baby food and hand soap refills
  • Stand-up and zipper lock pouches for items like dried fruits, granola, sugar, oatmeal, quinoa, dish detergent pods and grated cheese

Crinkly Wrappers and Bags

  • Bags for potato chips, candy, dried pasta, coffee and cereal
  • Cellophane for flowers and gift baskets
  • Wrappers for cheese slices, snack bars and instant noodles

Flexible Packaging with Plastic Seal

  • Packaging for fresh pasta, pre-packaged deli meats and pre-packaged cheese

Woven and Net Plastic Bags

  • Net bags for avocados, onions, oranges, lemons and limes
  • Woven plastic bags for rice

Non-food Protective Packaging

  • Padded protective plastic like plastic shipping envelopes, plastic air packets and bubble wrap

Examples of materials that will not be part of the expanded program:

  • Plastic squeeze tubes
  • Plastic-lined paper
  • Paper-lined plastic
  • Plastic strapping
  • Six-pack rings
  • Biodegradable r oxo plastic
  • PVC/Vinyl

The flexible plastic packaging items can be returned to the following depots:

Depots accepting flexible plastic packaging on June 1

Additional depots will be added to the list on Sept. 1. As of Jan. 1, 2018, all Recycle BC depots in the province are expected to collect flexible plastic packaging. The items can not be added to curbside recycling collection.

To find a recycle depot close to you, visit the Recycle BC website.

Alexa HuffmanAlexa Huffman

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