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Smithrite wins recycling contracts for Coquitlam, Anmore

The company that now picks up curbside trash, green waste and recyclables in Coquitlam will continue with recycling collection after July 1.

The company that now picks up curbside trash, green waste and recyclables in Coquitlam will continue with recycling collection after July 1.

Yesterday, Multi-Material BC (MMBC) - the group responsible for recycling services around the province as of May 19 - announced Smithrite had won the contract to collect recyclables from blue boxes at Coquitlam's 29,000 single-family homes.

The city of Coquitlam will end its solid-waste and recycling contract with Smithrite on June 30 and transfer the hauling to BFI Canada starting July 1.

MMBC managing director Allen Langdon said he expects a smooth transition with Smithrite falling into line with the city's existing collection schedule.

As for what can be recycled, "pretty much nothing will change from the current system other than we're going to be adding a separate bin for glass collection," he said. "This is to make sure the glass doesn't contaminate the other materials."

Smithrite Disposal Ltd., a private company based in Coquitlam, will also handle Anmore's curbside recycling, MMBC said.

Port Moody and Port Coquitlam have in-house pick-up systems and, as a result, they have accepted MMBC's "collection incentive," meaning the two Tri-City municipalities will be reimbursed by MMBC for providing the curbside recycling service.

Meanwhile, Langdon confirmed MMBC has three providers identified to haul recyclables from Coquitlam's multi-family buildings.

"They're in the process of finalizing contracts with the buildings so we don't think there will be any disruption," he said.

Also announced on Tuesday were contracts for Emterra Environmental, which will do curbside pickup for the regional district of North Okanagan and the University Endowment Lands, and Alpine Disposal and Recycling, which will handle the regional districts of Kootenay Boundary and Central Kootenay.

jwarren@tricitynews.com