April 21, 2010
COLDSTREAM, BC - The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) is pleased to announce the launch of Styrofoam recycling in the North Okanagan!
The Vernon and District Association for Community Living (Venture Centre) with financial support from the Kalamalka and Tri Lakes Rotary Clubs and the RDNO recently acquired an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Styrofoam densification machine. The unit, a “Recycle Tech XT200” is capable of reducing the volume of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Expanded Polyethylene (EPE) by a factor of 90:1. The unit can process approximately 90kg of material per hour and produces a dense, plastic resin that can be recycled.
For the unit to function properly and to maximize the value of the end product, the feed material must be clean. “The unit works best when all stickers, tape, plastic film, food, soil and other debris have been removed from the Styrofoam before it is fed into the machine” explains Karmen Morgan, RDNO Waste Reduction Coordinator. “Spray foam and extruded polystyrene insulation (rigid Styrofoam insulation) cannot be processed and will damage the machine.”
Residents interested in recycling their Styrofoam will have a number of options. Starting April 22nd (Earth Day), clean, bagged Styrofoam will be accepted at Interior Freight and Bottle Depot at 4205 24th Avenue and Venture Centre at 4240 Alexis Park Drive for a $3 per bag handling fee. The handling fee is required to cover the cost of receiving, inspection, storing and transporting the collected material and will ensure the material sent for processing meets certain minimum standards. The bags must be clear and no larger than large, lawn and leaf bags.
Styrofoam drop off areas will also be available at the Greater Vernon Recycling Disposal Facility (GVRDF) and the Armstrong Spallumcheen Recycling and Disposal Facility (ASRDF). Regular garbage tipping fees will apply for Styrofoam deposited at the GVRDF and ASRDF. “We encourage our customers to separate their Styrofoam and deposit it at the designated drop off location. By diverting Styrofoam from disposal, valuable landfill capacity can be preserved”, says Dale Danallanko, RDNO Recycling and Disposal Facilities Operations Manager.
To celebrate the launch of this exciting new program, the RDNO will be hosting a FREE Styrofoam Round Up during Canadian Environment Week! On Tuesday, June 1st, residents can bring their Styrofoam, free of charge, to the Real Canadian Wholesale Club parking lot from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. RDNO, Venture Centre and Interior Freight and Bottle Depot staff will be on hand to provide information about the new program and to answer any questions people may have. Collected Styrofoam will be processed and when sufficient quantities are available, the material will be shipped for further processing to make items such as picture and mirror frames, crown moldings, helmets, bike parts, and other hard plastic products.
The Styrofoam recycling initiative is a drop off service only. Despite there being many Styrofoam products with the recycling symbols, these items are not part of the Regional Curbside Blue Bag Recycling Program and must NOT be placed in Blue Bags for curbside collection. “Contamination is a big challenge when accepting items comingled in a single bag that is compacted in collection vehicles. As with glass, Styrofoam can be broken into smaller pieces and can degrade other higher value recyclables”, adds Morgan.
The RDNO is pleased to be one of first local governments in western Canada to offer a Styrofoam recycling program. A number of large retailers such as London Drugs, Best Buy and Future shop currently have Styrofoam recycling programs, however the RDNO will be the first Regional District to make the service available to the general public.
More information will be provided as details of this exciting, new waste reduction initiative are finalized. For more information contact the RDNO at 250-550-3700 or for more information on the Recycle Tech XT200.
For more information:
Karmen Morgan
Waste Reduction Coordinator
250-550-3743
Dale Danallanko
Recycling and Disposal Facilities Operations Manager
250-550-3744
