Blue Bag recycling is coming to the Central sub-region

Starting in June, residents of the Central sub-region (i.e. Salmo, Nelson, Kaslo, and Electoral Areas D, E, F, and G) will be making the shift to Blue Bag recycling. The Blue Bag program will be a dramatic improvement on the previous system. Residents in this sub-region will no longer need to sort their recyclable materials at their respective recycling depot. Instead of a series of bins and igloos, each area’s recycling depot will receive one large bin for Blue Bags, one large bin for large or excessive cardboard, and an igloo for glass. Residents of Nelson will receive residential Blue Bag curbside pick-up in the same manner as garbage is serviced.

Participating in the Blue Bag program is easy. Simply collect recyclable materials together in any clear, blue-tinted, plastic bag (max. size 30”x 36” for residents outside of Nelson, and 26”x 38” for residents located within Nelson). Items that are accepted include mixed paper, food and beverage cans, cardboard (small volumes, flattened, and max. size 24” x 36”), newspaper, and rigid food-grade plastics displaying the numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, or 7. In order to protect workers, glass cannot be included in Blue Bags. This material must be taken separately to an appropriate end-point facility (if a deposit applies) or to an RDCK recycling depot.

“Moving to a Blue Bag system makes sense”, stated Josh Smienk, RDCK Director for Electoral Area E and the Chair of the Central Sub-region, the governing body that directs resource recovery efforts in the specific area. “The improvements we’ve made to the program will mean increased convenience and better service for local residents. It also means that more materials will be kept out of local landfills and a smaller carbon footprint”.

As part of the new program, the recycling depot located at the end of Baker St. in Nelson will be closed permanently. However, the transfer station located at 70 Lakeside Dr. will remain open.

Residents will be expected to provide their own Blue Bags. Blue Bags must be clear, tinted blue, and made of plastic with a max. size 30”x 36” for residents outside of Nelson, and 26”x 38” for residents located within Nelson. If Blue Bags exceed these dimensions or contain garbage, they will not be accepted. Acceptable Blue Bags are available for purchase at a number of local merchants. Any brand name will be accepted.

Residents of the City of Nelson can expect to see Blue Bag recycling in place for June 16th. Residents living outside of Nelson in the Central Sub-region can expect to see Blue Bag recycling in place for late June.

RDCK Website