Photo: Shaun Penner

By Shaun Penner

Recycling

Recycling in GP: what can and cannot be mixed or recycled

Jun 18, 2019 | 1:55 PM

When and when not to mix your recyclables can lead to a bit of confusion for some people when it comes to simply trying to properly dispose of their recyclables.

The biggest reason for the confusion stems from the differences between dropping items at Aquatera’s Eco-Centre and the Blue Bag Recycling program, otherwise known as curbside pickup.

The difference, as pointed out by PR and Communications Specialist with Aquatera Sarah Martin, is that the materials collected curbside are sent to a different facility than those at the Eco-Centre. Materials collected curbside are sent to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that can automatically separate items such as paper, cardboard, metal cans and plastic (#1-7). Items collected at the Eco-Centre are sent to a facility which does not have that capability.

There are also issues in knowing what items can or cannot be recycled. Items that cannot be recycled include glass and plastic bags that do not have a recycling logo on them. Styrofoam can be recycled at the Eco-Centre but it cannot be including in a blue bag.

Another item that leads to a lot of confusion is soiled materials that you might think are recyclable, but in fact are not.

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“Probably the biggest misconception is recycling your pizza boxes,” said Martin. “People assume because it is cardboard that automatically it is recyclable, but unfortunately it gets contaminated with grease residue and cheese residue. So that automatically deems it contaminated.”

Another item that can “pop” up in blue bags is pop cans and bottles. Though those are acceptable to be collected curbside, Martin notes of a better way to dispose of them if you don’t have the time to sort those or take them to the bottle depot to collect the deposit.

“We also have the bottle donation program here in Grande Prairie. So, we do encourage residents to drop their bottles off at either of the Recycle Plus depots, I or II,” said Martin. “Those automatically go into the bottle donation program fund, which is given out every month to a different local organization.”

For anyone that may still be confused about where certain items can and cannot go, Aquatera says you can simply take a picture of the item in question, and they can tell you where it needs to go.

“Go through our Facebook and send us a message, or you can even post to our Facebook wall,” said Martin. “You can also email us at communications@aquatera.ca and we will be happy to look up that item and let you know how to properly dispose of it.”