More recycling headed to landfills

By Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News Published: May 26, 2009

Businesses have begun throwing more recyclables into the trash because there’s suddenly less incentive for them to recycle. Central Okanagan Regional District waste reduction supervisor Peter Rotheisler says he’s alarmed at the increasing amounts of banned materials—such as plastic, mixed paper and cardboard—that businesses are sending to the landfill. The ban is hard to enforce on businesses because dumpsters are often shared by several companies. Therefore, tracing the recycling material back to a specific business is complicated, he added. “Since the container comes in bulk and it’s disposed of at a site where there’s not somebody picking through it to inspect for recyclable materials necessarily, those regulations aren’t easily enforced,” Rotheisler said.

The problem has been worsening since September when commodity prices for recyclable materials began to fall in the face of the global economic slowdown, he stated. “For instance with cardboard, processing companies (were once) willing to take it off (businesses) hands and give them money in some cases for it,” stated Rotheisler. “Now, because of the severe drop in the value of cardboard, businesses are faced with paying for the material to be recycled, cutting into their bottom line, which they’re not willing to do at this point—the cheapest option is to landfill it.” The news was an eye opener for the Central Okanagan Regional District board Monday night. Kelowna Coun. Michelle Rule wasn’t surprised though, after having received a tip from a concerned citizen, which she forwarded to Rotheisler. “It’s really disturbing that we’re requiring our residents, as a matter of fact they can be fined if they put recycling in their garbage, and yet we don’t have a policy for commercial (operations),” said Rule.

Chairman Robert Hobson said the board should have more information from staff, however, before attempting to resolve the problem. Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd said hospitals, schools, the college and the university should be included in staff’s report to ensure those institutions fall with any changes being considered. Staff will prepare a report and provide recommendations to the board at a future meeting. Amendments to the existing regional waste reduction bylaw are likely necessary, added Rotheisler. “To find solutions that businesses are going to come on board with and use is going to be tough.” Business recycling was already at the top of Rotheisler’s priority list and was to be dealt with once all the wrinkles in the new automated trash collection system were ironed out, the waste reduction supervisor stated.