Big changes coming to the blue box recycling program

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Pretty soon, you won’t have to throw that milk carton in the trash.

Starting May 19th, changes to BC’s blue box program will mean you’ll be able to keep 10 new items out of the garbage bin.

“Those materials include milk cartons, plant pots, aerosol containers, [and] aluminum foil packaging,” says Allen Langdon with Multi Material BC.

“At the end of the day… the goal is to try and divert more material away from landfills and to be recycled and made into either new packaging or new products,” he adds.

CFIB says this is bad news for taxpayers

A business group says all the additional costs of recycling will be passed on to small businesses, which will then pass it on to you.

“It’s bad for BC small business and it’s going to lead, ultimately, to higher-priced goods, which equals higher retail sales taxes,” says Mike Klassen with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

“It’s kind of a lose-lose for BC taxpayers. At the end of the day, this is really benefiting the people who are running the program,” he tells us.

“They’re going to be benefiting from the cost of all these commodities. Newsprint and plastic — that has an actual market value out there that they’ll be able to turn around and sell.”

“Residents and consumers should know this is going to cost them,” warns Klassen. “This is not a free ride for municipalities. In fact, municipalities are now going to be responsible for the additional cost of trying to separate glass out of the waystream because Multi Material BC is not going to be collecting the glass.”