The Comox Strathcona Waste Management unstaffed recycling depots at Campbell River’s Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex and at the Courtenay Country Market will close permanently on July 1.
Depots located at Campbell River Sportsplex and Canex Retail Store will also close effective July 2021.
According to a media release announcing the decision, there are excellent alternative options for recycling in each community.
Residents are encouraged to instead utilize their municipal curbside recycling service for those who have access, or to drop off recyclables at one of the local Return-It depots or at either of the waste management centres in the region. These facilities are all supported by Recycle BC, and accept any materials that can be recycled curbside, as well as glass, plastic bags, outer wrap and foam packaging.
“We want to uphold a great standard for recycling in our area, and these unstaffed depots were targets for illegal dumping that just don’t reflect the standard of service that we would like to see with our waste management service,” said Marc Rutten, General Manager of Engineering Services. “Thankfully, there are a number of Recycle BC supported options in our communities that allows us to recycle more items, more effectively.”
Not only do the alternative locations accept more streams of recyclables, but staff are present to observe and correct sorting errors, and to educate the public. By using these programs, residents ensure their material is properly recycled and will therefore be diverting a larger volume of material.
The two remaining CSWM depots (Quadra Island and Oyster River) will remain open as they are rural and provide the only local option for recycling in those areas.
The 12 Recycle BC Depots throughout the CSWM area as well as the extensive municipal curbside recycling services will be unaffected by these changes.
The Return-It depots in Courtenay, Comox and Campbell River were closed temporarily due to COVID-19, but have now reopened with adjusted operations to ensure the safety of staff and customers.
For depot locations near you, visit CSWM website.