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Test recycling depot opens for business

THE BINS making up the city’s new test recycling depot had hardly been put in place in the parking lot area of the former Terrace Co-op

THE BINS making up the city’s new test recycling depot had hardly been put in place in the parking lot area of the former Terrace Co-op late last week before people began arriving to put in material.

“We’ve known all along there’s a local demand for more recycling opportunities and we’re happy to see people respond,” said city official Tara Irwin  who is in charge of the project.

One large container at the former Terrace Co-op is divided into sections for cardboard, paper and recyclable plastics.

Two smaller bins are for organics and there’s one more bin for metal products.

The bins will be open 24 hours a day and are placed under a street light.

The city set up the depot with Geier Waste which will deliver the recyclable material once a week to Do Your Part for processing. It will also deliver organic kitchen waste and yard material to the city works yard for processing.

Bold Salvage is taking part by placing one of its large containers at the location for metals.

The depot will go through a six-month test period and costs are approximately $15,000.

Irwin did ask that people place the right material in the right bins.

“One of the largest cost factors in recycling is in processing so it will be important to minimize contamination,” she said.

“In general, anything people can do to help maintain the site would be appreciated,” Irwin added.

The bins will be picked up and emptied at least once a week.

Irwin did caution that glass cannot be accepted as there is no economical after use market for the product.

“We’re still working on that but glass is lower down on the recycling scale because it is inert and doesn’t breakdown,” she said.

Based on the review, the depot will be kept downtown and others may be opened in different parts of the city.