If you’ve got glass, Styrofoam and plastic materials piling up at home, you can take them to a pop-up recycling event taking place this weekend.
The City of New Westminster is holding a recycling drop-off event on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the city’s works yard, 901 First St. Glass packaging, large pieces of Styrofoam packing material, soft plastic film and bags and other flexible plastic packaging will be accepted at the event.
“These events allow residents to drop off their bulky white Styrofoam packaging, glass packaging, plastic film and bags, and other flexible plastic packaging, in a safe and convenient drive-thru format,” said Kristian Davis, superintendent of the city’s solid waste and recycling branch. “The city aims to continue to host monthly events until the new regional recycling facility on United Boulevard is operational next spring.”
Last year, city council voted to partner with Metro Vancouver on a regional recycling facility on United Boulevard. Earlier this year, the city closed the recycling depot on the site next to Canada Games Pool, as that space was needed as part of the design of the future aquatic and community centre.
Davis notes that many Return-it depots accept recyclable packaging that is not accepted in curbside recycling carts, as well as refundable beverage containers.
For those planning to attend this weekend’s recycling drop-off event, items must be sorted prior to arrival. No take-out food packaging, meat trays, egg cartons or anything with inks, dyes or coloured foam will be accepted at the event.
“These events have been fairly successful but do require a lot of resources and haven’t gone on without their challenges. COVID-related issues have impacted staffing at times, and poor weather greatly impacts the level of attendance,” Davis said in an email to the Record. “Residents who have participated in past events have been doing a great job separating materials correctly into appropriate collection containers provided during the events.”
Davis said the city has been working with Merlin Plastics, a local New Westminster-based recycling processor, to recycle the plastic materials collected during the events.
For more information about the recycling events, call engineering operations at 604-526-4691. Details about Return-it depots can be found at www.return-it.ca.
A Metro Vancouver spokesperson told the Record the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre is on track to open this coming spring.
