Recycling booze and pop cans just got a little easier this week in Port Coquitlam.
Thanks to a pilot program to encourage and simplify recycling during the COVID-19 pandemic, the non-profit responsible for beverage container recycling is allowing consumers to return both alcohol and non-alcohol aluminum beverage cans together for recycling.
That means no more sorting because the cans can be returned as one stream with one 10 cent deposit amount.
Typically, consumers have to sort their tins, separating booze from pop and juice cans, because only some some Return-It depots have a license to manage alcohol containers and provide the consumer with a full 10 cent refund.
Currently, only nine Return-It Centres are offering this service, and the PoCo Return It at 2577 Kingsway Avenue, Port Coquitlam is one.
Return-It, which manages the province’s recycling system for beverage containers has a number of new innovations on the go to refine its service for the public.
It is expanding the number of express locations in B.C., using hybrid compaction truck to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, partnering with the Salvation Army to expand Return-It’s textiles collection program, and starting this fall will provide a 10-cent deposit for all beverage containers.
“Even in these unprecedented times, British Columbians agree that recycling is important,” stated Allen Langdon, president and CEO of Return-It in a press release.
“That’s why we are doing even more to help consumers easily return their empty beverage containers for recycling, with innovations that build on our success and provide new, convenient options for today’s busy lives. These changes are based on consumer feedback, and we want to keep hearing from British Columbians so we can continue to enhance our program.”
But in an effort to meet consumer needs, Return-It is asking for feedback via www.returnit.ca/beverageplan2020.
Consumers can also visit return-it.ca/nosortingcans for a list of the initial participating locations. This list will continually be updated over the coming weeks.
