Contamination Reduction Plan

As the City of New Westminster continues to grow and evolve, finding ways to reduce waste is an increasingly important part of minimizing the City’s impact on our environment. Recycle BC has identified that New Westminster has an overall contamination rate of 9.09% based on audits completed from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023. Recycle BC mandates that the City’s curbside recycling program not contain more than 3% of contamination. If we are unable to meet this target, the City could face fines upwards of $480,000 per year. The City is taking action to track and reduce contamination.

RECYCLE RIGHT 

For the City to successfully reduce its recycling contamination rate, and to ensure the curbside recycling program remains affordable and sustainable, all residents must do their part to Recycle Right.

WHAT IS RECYCLE RIGHT? 

What is CONTAMINATION?

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

The cost of contamination

High rates of contamination means fewer items can be recycled and may end up in the landfill. This is harmful to our environment. By Recycling Right, we can decrease our carbon footprint and protect our planet.

If we don't work hard to reduce our contamination rate, the City could face significant fines, and it would impact our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of the City's Bold Steps for Climate Action

what does this mean for residents?

Additional costs to the City from fines could ultimately be passed along to residents through increased solid waste fees. Ongoing contamination could also result in bylaw fines to residents; carts that continue to be contaminated will not be collected and residents will be responsible for disposing of items.

how will we reduce contamination?

The City is dedicated to helping the community reduce contamination. To keep the recycling program affordable and sustainable the City has developed a Contamination Reduction Plan, which outlines the actions, commitments, timelines, and measurement tools we will use with the goal to significantly reduce our contamination now and into the future.

Promotion and education

The City is committed to helping residents learn how to properly sort and prepare items for recycling. City staff are available to help residents gain a better understanding of what goes in their curbside recycling, compost and garbage carts and what items can be dropped off for recycling or disposal and how to properly distinguish between commonly mis-sorted items. Educational information will also be provided in several ways including the curbside collection calendar, utility notices, social media, cart stickers, postcards and more!

Monitoring and Enforcement

The City is taking steps to address recycling contamination through a variety of measures.