A push for increased plastic recycling is underway in British Columbia as the organization managing the recycling system urges residents to be more proactive in diverting plastics from landfills and litter. Currently, only 45 percent of plastic packaging used by residents is being recycled, highlighting the need for greater participation.
Recycle B.C.’s executive director, Sam Baker, emphasizes the importance of placing plastic packaging in the correct bins to ensure it is recycled and transformed into new products, rather than ending up in landfills. In 2024, residents recycled 31,362 tonnes of plastic packaging, with a remarkable 98 percent being recycled.
Introduced a decade ago, B.C.’s not-for-profit recycling system was a pioneering move in North America, shifting the responsibility of recycling packaging and paper from local governments to producers. The success of the system is measured by the recovery rate, with Recycle B.C. achieving 100 percent recovery of glass and 92 percent recovery of paper in 2024.
However, the recovery of plastics lags behind, with less than half of the rigid and flexible plastics used by residents being diverted for recycling. Efforts are being made to improve the recovery of flexible plastics, such as bags and wrappers, to raise the overall plastic recovery rate to at least 50 percent.
To address barriers to recycling, Recycle B.C. has introduced a new initiative involving pink boxes alongside blue boxes in select communities, making it more convenient for residents to recycle flexible plastics. This initiative has been well-received, with residents like Aubrey Smethurst in West Vancouver finding it easier to recycle and reduce plastic usage.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain, including a lack of understanding of the recycling system and the need to take certain items to special depots. Recycle B.C. is committed to increasing plastic recycling rates and encouraging more residents to actively participate in recycling initiatives.