A pop-up recycling service in Parksville has been well received since debuting in May. (Parksville Community Centre Society)

By Ian Holmes

valued service

Pop-up recycling depot in Parksville proves to be a hit

Oct 7, 2023 | 6:04 AM

PARKSVILLE — With a permanent solution absent for years, a pop-up recycling program serving the Oceanside region is gaining a loyal following.

Funded by Recycle BC and operated by the Parksville Community Centre Society, five additional pop-up depot dates are scheduled in south Parksville at 1080 Industrial Way, with the next one happening Saturday, Oct 7 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Society president Duane Round said nine previous pop-up recycling events at the site resulted in strong turnouts from people eager to get rid of various plastic, foam and glass products.

“People have been totally grateful of having this program, saving them from having to drive to Nanaimo or throw their products away where they end up in the landfill,” Round told NanaimoNewsNOW of the free of charge service.

Additional Pop-up Recycling Depot dates have been added in Parksville. (Recycle BC)

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Contracts between Recycle BC and the bottle depots in Parksville and Qualicum Beach to accept several recyclable materials free of charge expired early in 2020, leaving a gap in the community.

The closest permanent Recycle BC contracted facilities to serve the Oceanside Region are in Nanaimo and Courtenay.

Cardboard and paper products have been added to the Parksville pop-up depot’s list of acceptable items for the remaining dates.

“We’ve heard a lot from people dropping their product off over the summer that they would like us to be able take their excess product that they can’t put in their curbside blue bins,” Round said.

He estimated roughly 3,800 cubic feet of materials have been accepted from people in about 300 vehicles from people who’ve turned out for each event.

Around 30 volunteers make the pop-up recycling service possible, with Round noting those with mobility issues can have their items carried to the appropriate bins for them.

Round said it has been encouraging hearing from so many people taking advantage of the program praise the work they’re doing.

He said it’s their organization’s hope to offer more recycling events in the new year, if that’s the will of Recycle BC.

“We’ll re-evaluate it again at that time and hopefully continue this program going forward.”

Recycle BC is a non-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling throughout the province.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes