Kermit the frog was right, it isn’t easy being green, but it is important. With presents unwrapped and winter well underway, residents are being reminded to recycle seasonal staples.
Cardboard boxes, or boxboards, can be recycled in the bi-weekly pickup bin – so long as they are crushed. However, the Peace River regional district recommended residents get creative and reuse them. They suggested using boxes for storage as seasonal decorations come down.
Recycling-bound boxes must have any plastic wrap, foam, and tape removed before going into the blue bin. Bagged boxboard will not be accepted.
“Putting your materials into your blue cart is just the beginning. Once they reach the facility, materials are sorted, cleaned, and processed for use in manufacturing. Many of the items collected in B.C. stay in Canada and North America,” said the city of Fort St John.
“Christmas wrap, bags, ribbons and bows are garbage,” wrote the city in a Holiday reminder. “Artificial trees are not made of recyclable plastic, so they are garbage too.”
Real trees can be recycled at Centennial Park from Dec. 26 to Jan. 9, but all decorations, including tinsel, must be removed. The trees will be given a second life at Winter Fest and recycled after the annual celebration in February.
String lights and styrofoam blocks from packaging can be recycled, but it must be done at a recycling depot. They will not be accepted if placed in blue bins.
“Recycling your old or unwanted lights helps recover valuable materials and keeps hazardous components out of our landfill – a small action that makes a big difference for our environment,” explained the regional district.
The Chetwynd landfill and Hudson’s Hope transfer station accept “used oil, antifreeze, and associated containers,” according to the district, who said recycling these containers “(reclaims) the value of automotive materials like oil. This extends the life of a non-renewable natural resource and decreases pollution caused by improper disposal.”
Bin recycling is not an option for these containers because they are considered hazardous waste and subject to additional safety protocols.
