A recent Recycle B.C. audit of the Town of Comox’s recycling program shows residents are doing a fairly good job, though officials say there is still room for improvement.
The audit found 17 per cent of material collected from Comox residents was not compatible with the Recycle B.C. program.
The most common items found in recycling carts included durable plastic household products, textiles and clothing, scrap metal, books and bagged recyclables.
Items such as laundry baskets, plastic storage containers, toys, clothing, blankets, metal household items and recyclables placed inside plastic bags should not be placed in recycling carts, as they cannot be processed and can create challenges for sorting facilities.
To help improve recycling outcomes, residents are asked to:
- Keep recyclables loose in the cart
- Donate clothing, textiles and books to local reuse organizations
- Take flexible plastics, foam packaging and other specialty materials to Recycle B.C. depots
- Use local recycling depots for scrap metal, electronics, batteries and other materials not accepted in curbside collection
- Ensure containers are empty and free of significant food residue
The Town of Comox said every correctly sorted item helps reduce contamination and improve recycling efficiency.
