Negotiations for McBride recycling services continue
By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
Nearly eight months after recycling services were paused throughout the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, McBride residents still do not have local recycling services.
The Regional District began negotiations with Recycle BC in February 2024 after Cascades – the contractor previously responsible for administering recycling services – announced it would end its contract with the District. Cascades held seven contracts with the District, and the board decided to tackle other solid waste management services first, General Manager of Environmental Services Laura Zapotichny told The Goat at the time. This led to a pause in recycling services starting on May 31st, until three recycling depots became operational in September after months of negotiation.
In an email to The Goat, Manager of Communications and Culture Hilary Erasmus said the Regional District is in the midst of negotiations with Recycle BC, the service provider hired to take over recycling services throughout the district in February.
The crux of negotiations lie in whether or not McBride will become a principal depot or satellite depot, Erasmus said. At principal depots, RecycleBC is responsible for the cost of hauling recyclables to a sorting facility in Prince George and the cost of the majority of the bins. At satellite depots, the Regional District is responsible for hauling costs and the costs of all the bins.
The Regional District is advocating for McBride to become a principal depot to help offset the costs of operating its waste diversion program, Erasmus said. Staff will update the Regional District board on the outcome of negotiations “in the coming months,” she added, but there is not yet a clear timeline for when recycling services will become operational in McBride. In the meantime, the Regional District has recommended that residents haul their recyclables to the Valemount Transfer Station – where recycling services reopened on September 16th – or if possible, store their recyclables until McBride services are operational.
Correction: the previous version of this article erroneously characterized RecycleBC as a contractor, rather than a service provider which pays the Regional District for the recyclable materials collected at the sites. Additionally, the article said RecycleBC is responsible for hauling recyclables and providing bins at principal depots – in fact, it is responsible for the cost of hauling and covers the cost of some of the bins. The article was updated on February 6th to reflect these changes. The Goat regrets these errors.
