Contamination Remediation Plan

2024 Contamination Remediation Plan (CRP)

Objective: To reduce the City’s contamination rate by 25% from April 1 to December 31, 2024.

The City of Abbotsford is on a mission to reduce its contamination rate by 25% by the end of 2024! For the City to successfully reduce its contamination rate and to ensure the curbside recycling program remains affordable and sustainable, all residents must do their part to recycle correctly.

The City participates in Recycle BC’s Packaging and Paper Recycling Program. Recycle BC is a non-profit organization responsible for recycling of residential packaging and printed paper in BC. As a collector for Recycle BC, the City receives funds to collect recycling materials on their behalf, which helps keep recycling affordable for residents and ensures more materials are recycled properly! All collectors are required to meet a contamination rate to ensure that more recyclable products can be used by manufacturers to turn into new items. Collectors with contamination rates that pose operational issues for Recycle BC are required to implement a Contamination Remediation Plan to avoid fines and penalties from Recycle BC.

What is contamination?

Material that is not accepted in your recycling cart under the Recycle BC program Packaging and Paper Product (PPP) collection program is referred to collectively as “contamination.”

**Examples of materials that are not acceptable in curbside collection are listed below:**
Materials	Examples:
Durable plastic products	Plastic toys, tarps, large long-term storage containers, laundry hampers
Hard and soft-cover books	Textbooks, notebooks and novels Except: Telephone books, magazines, and manuals.
Scrap Metal	Automotive parts, chains, pots, frying pans, hardware, screws and bolts
Electronics	Cell phones, computers, small appliances, light strings
Textiles	Clothing, rags, shoes, reusable fabric bags
Organics	Food and yard waste, paper towel and tissues
Ceramics	Bowls, plates, mugs
Glass	Drinking glasses, mirrors, glass bottles and jars, windows
Construction material and wood waste	Drywall
Household hazardous material	Hypodermic needles, used diapers, sanitary pads
Bagged items	Blue and black garbage bags
Flexible Plastics	Chip bags, candy wrappers, Ziploc bags, bubble wrap, toilet tissue overwrap

What can I recycle?

The best way to find out where you can dispose of your materials is by checking the Waste Wizard.

Items that are not recyclable but in good reusable condition can be donated. Make sure to check the Waste Wizard to find out where you can donate someone else’s next treasure.

Material:

Where accepted?

Paper

Paper packaging & cardboard

Plastic containers

Cartons & paper cups

Aluminum containers

Steel containers

Recycling Cart

Keep items soiled with food, grease and liquids out of curbside recycling. Common paper items we see in the recycling cart that should go in the compost cart are soiled pizza boxes and paper towels.
Recyclables should be loosely put in the recycling cart and not bagged except for shredded paper. Shredded paper should be contained in a paper bag or box.
Ensure recyclables are empty, clean and dry. Items don’t need to be spotless, a quick rinse is all you need! This will help reduce pests, odours and mess, and results in more material being recycled.

Glass bottles & jars

Flexible plastics

Foam packaging

Recycling Depot

Make sure to check the Waste Wizard to find out recycling depots that will accept your materials as some depots may have restrictions on accepting certain materials due to processing limitations.

The City will continue to provide resources to help you sort items properly for recycling and gain a better understanding of what is allowed in curbside recycling, compost and garbage carts. Educational information will also be provided in several ways including the curbside collection calendar, curbside collection app, utility notices, social media, cart stickers, postcards and more! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with #WasteTipWednesdays.

The Solid Waste team also participates in some key events around the City such as Canada Day. Be sure to drop by our booth and we’ll happily answer your questions about the City’s solid waste management.
In an effort to reduce the City’s contamination rate, City staff check recycling carts for items not accepted in curbside collection in several ways.

Our Recycling Ambassadors audit recycling carts on collection day before collection trucks arrive.

If your cart is perfectly sorted, your cart will receive a Star Recycler sticker that contains a QR code to enter a monthly draw to win prizes. For more information regarding the Star Recycler Program, visit: Recycling Stars Contest | City of Abbotsford.

If your cart contains non-acceptable items, your cart will receive a red contamination sticker that indicates the non-acceptable items observed. Your cart may be rolled back to prevent it from being collected and further contaminating the recycling stream. Repeat offences in contravention of the City’s Solid Waste Management Bylaw may also lead to fines.

Our Collection Drivers monitor recycling loads.

If your cart contains non-acceptable items, you will receive a postcard to inform you of the non-acceptable items observed.

All enforcement materials contain information on how to contact the City for help with your sorting needs. If you receive a contamination notice or your recycling cart was rolled back and you’re not sure what was mis-sorted, contact the City directly so we can walk your through the sorting process.
As we move through the 21st century, finding ways to reduce waste is an increasingly important part of minimizing our impact on our environment. By recycling more, we can be part of the solution.

There are many key benefits of recycling including diverting waste from landfills, conserving resources, saving energy, supporting a green economy and contributing to a healthy community. Recycling properly also helps protect the safety of workers at recycling depots by reducing the risk of accidents or exposure to harmful substances.

Let’s do our part in doing the right thing!

Alternatives During Canada Post Service Disruption

Related Contact

Solid Waste and Environmental Coordinator

Engineering & Regional Utilities

Contamination Remediation Plan

2024 Contamination Remediation Plan (CRP)