It may be time to find another use for that pickle jar around the home. Next year West Shore residents, as well as the rest of the Capital Region, may no longer be able to put glass out on the curbside to be recycled.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e invested a lot of time encouraging people to put it in the recycling B次元官网网址� This seems like a step backwards,B次元官网网址� said former Colwood councillor Judith Cullington. B次元官网网址淚 worry that too much glass will end up in the garbage.B次元官网网址�

The Capital Regional District, faced with concerns over glass contaminating other recyclables, is looking at three options involving curbside glass collection.

One of the options CRD staff have recommended to the environmental services committee would start in 2017 and see glass no longer accepted in the blue bins. Residents would have to take both refundable and non-refundable glass to facilities such as a bottle depot.

Glass containers have been collected as part of the CRDB次元官网网址檚 residential curbside blue box program since it began in 1988.

B次元官网网址淭he CRD made it easy when we got the blue bin,B次元官网网址� Cullington said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all been about how do we make it easier and I think people have responded.B次元官网网址� She pointed down her own street in Colwood, which was neatly lined with overflowing blue bins waiting to have their contents picked up. B次元官网网址淭hose are the kinds of results we want to see.B次元官网网址�

Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton said, B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to get this out of the landfill B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 quite a lot of glass that gets mixed in.B次元官网网址� Hamilton, a director on the CRDB次元官网网址檚 environmental services committee, added, B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 all about getting everybody on the same page.B次元官网网址�

The CRD entered into agreements last year with Multi-Material B.C. and Emterra Environmental to collect residential packaging and printed paper recycling last year after changes were implemented to B.C. recycling regulations. Those agreements, which are effective through April 2019, see MMBC pay roughly $5 million annually to the CRD to provide this service on its behalf. The CRD sub-contracts collection to Emterra. MMBC owns all materials picked up and has another contractor that processes them.

Glass containers collected curbside are supposed to be separated by residents to avoid glass particles contaminating other recyclables, and to ensure the quality of collected recyclables. If contamination is not consistently below three per cent (of the weight), then the CRD faces fines of up to $120,000 a year. Information provided to CRD staff by MMBC audits states that contamination is trending downwards, but is still estimated to be running at between eight to 10 per cent.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a small fine B次元官网网址� We donB次元官网网址檛 want to go there,B次元官网网址� Hamilton said. She noted the CRD has not been fined yet, but is proactively looking at ways to keep that from happening. B次元官网网址淓veryone would like the convenience of a one-dump site, but itB次元官网网址檚 not possible any more.B次元官网网址�

Some stores in the region already have their own no-charge glass return programs, she added. B次元官网网址淏efore we make any hard decisions weB次元官网网址檙e trying to figure out where we can direct people.B次元官网网址�

Hamilton pointed to older regulations that require some stores to accept packaging materials and already have programs in place to collect items such as soft plastics and cardboard. B次元官网网址淭his is just another aspect of it,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淲ould I make a special trip there just to drop off a pickle jar? Probably not.B次元官网网址�

But if her grocery store provided a place to drop off glass B次元官网网址� some already do have programs in place B次元官网网址� it would be quite easy, she said.

The three options recommended by CRD staff included continuing roadside collection and re-evaluating glass collection when the current agreements expire in 2019.

Option two was to work with Emterra to negotiate a change to the existing curbside program to eliminate glass collection. This would include compensation of up to $150,000 per year to offset EmterraB次元官网网址檚 glass collection capital investment.

The third option was to terminate EmterraB次元官网网址檚 contract, re-tender the contract without curbside glass collection and implement an awareness campaign to discourage residents from placing glass in their bins.

B次元官网网址淭here would be a period of education B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 not going to be an immediate cease and desist,B次元官网网址� Hamilton said. If glass pickup were to stop, she added, it probably wouldnB次元官网网址檛 happen until early 2017.

If it is going to cost twice as much to stop glass pick up compared to the fine, that would also be considered, she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to find the best way to balance it out.B次元官网网址�

However, Cullington pointed to the environmental costs of having more people driving to drop off their glass. B次元官网网址淲e have no way of capturing those costs,B次元官网网址� she said, adding the environmental impact of the recycling trucks can be measured.

She pointed out that some residents donB次元官网网址檛 have cars or donB次元官网网址檛 drive.

B次元官网网址淲hat are you going to do, carry your bottles on the bus with you?B次元官网网址� Cullington asked. B次元官网网址淚 really want to see a solution that will keep curbside pickup.B次元官网网址�

The CRD board will make the final decision on the matter, which has yet to be scheduled for consideration.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com