Recycling to return to McBride this summer
By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
After about a year of negotiation, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors approved a contract with Recycle BC for recycling services in McBride during its March 20th meeting.
The Regional District paused recycling services May 31st last year after the previous service provider, Cascades, announced it would no longer offer solid waste management services.
While recycling services in Valemount resumed in mid-September, the Regional District was locked in negotiations with Recycle BC for months in an attempt to have McBride become a principal depot, rather than a satellite depot.
According to Manager of Communications Hilary Erasmus, the only difference between a principal and satellite depot is that at satellite depots, the Regional District pays for the cost of hauling recyclables to the nearest principal depot. In McBride’s case, the Regional District will cover the cost of hauling recyclables to the Valemount depot, she said.
“Having recycling services back throughout the Valley is an important step forward. The only regret I have is that it’s taken this long.”
Dannielle Alan, RDFFG Area H Director
The contract approved at the March 20th meeting will make the McBride Transfer Station a satellite depot. Erasmus said the Regional District anticipates the McBride Transfer Station will reopen on July 2nd, though that date may change based on how long it takes to execute the new depots’ service agreements. The Regional District will communicate updates about the transfer station through its website, social media, and through print materials, according to Erasmus.
In an interview with The Goat, Electoral Area H representative Dannielle Alan said she was excited to have the contract signed.
“This has been a long time coming,” Alan said. “Trying to make sure we have the full services that we need while dealing with Recycle BC has been challenging, but everything that is being accepted in Valemount will be accepted in McBride.”
Accepted recyclables include foam packaging, glass, plastic bags, metal containers and plastic containers, according to the Regional District.
Alan said she looks forward to seeing recycling services return to McBride once new bins are installed, and added that the Regional District will save hundreds of thousands of dollars with RecycleBC compared to the former service provider.
“That’s part of the reason… taxes will be going down in Electoral Area H by 2.4 per cent,” she added.
The McBride Transfer Station’s designation as a satellite depot does not mean it will offer fewer services than a principal depot, Alan emphasized.
“Having recycling services back throughout the Valley is an important step forward,” Alan added. “The only regret I have is that it’s taken this long.”
