By Daryl Major

City of Nanaimo says recycling could be left at the curb if wrong items found

Oct 27, 2016 | 2:16 PM

NANAIMO – It appears Nanaimo residents are a little too keen to keep things out of the garbage.

The city of Nanaimo says Multi Material BC has notified them of an increase in the amount of items in yellow recycling bags that shouldn’t be there.

“Our contamination levels have been as high as 14 per cent. They need to be 3 per cent,” said Nanaimo’s manager of sanitation and recycling Charlotte Davis. “The three most common things that are being put in the yellow bag when they shouldn’t be are plastic bags, glass and styrofoam.”

Multi Material BC is the province-wide company that pays the city to collect recycling. Davis says contamination of curbside recycling is a big problem because it can mean that whole loads have to be taken to the dump. Plastic bags, styrofoam and glass can only be recycled through the recycling depot because they have to be handled separately from other items, according to a city release. Unless things improve, Davis says the soaring contamination levels may result in the city being fined.

“The city, in our contract with Multi Material BC, we are responsible to keep contamination at 3 per cent or below. They could fine us if they wanted to. The fine could be up to $120,000 a year. So it’s a considerable fine.”

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Starting next week Davis says the city will be sending out a curbside recycling inspector in an effort to bring the numbers down and avoid being penalized.

“We understand that there’s some confusion out there,” said Davis. “So he’s going to be looking in your yellow bag. Having a little root through and if there are any items of contamination in there he’s going to leave you a sticker. Or if you’re doing a good job, he’s going to leave you a good job sticker. Also we’re going to be working hand-in-hand with our recycling collectors.”

Davis says where there are repeat offenders of contaminated items the contractors will be leaving the yellow bags at the curb.

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Other items the city says should not be placed in yellow bags:

• Books
• Electronics
• Chip bags
• Paint cans
• Batteries
• Textiles