Staff at the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and Recycle BC are working toward a Sept. 16 launch date for a revamped drop-off service for recyclable material.
Under the terms of an agreement between the parties, the Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot, the Valemount Regional Transfer Station and the Mackenzie Regional Transfer Station and Select Waste Landfill will act as "principal collection depots" for households without curbside pickup.
The service has been on hold since May 31, when Cascades Recovery stopped providing the service as its contract with the regional district ended.
In providing an update Thursday to directors' environment and parks standing committee, regional district environmental services general manager Laura Zapotichny said there remains plenty of work to do between now and then.
"We have been able to work with Recycle BC, bring them onto some of the sites that we have, go over requirements for storage, for moving materials, for accepting materials so still quite a bit of work to do, however we are anticipating that we'll be ready for Sept. 16 at the three locations," Zapotichny said.
The new service will allow expanded recycling that would include paper packaging, cardboard, cartons/paper cups, plastic/aluminum/metal containers, glass, flexible plastics and foam packaging.
So-called "megabags" stored in refurbished metal containers supplied by Recycle BC will be deployed at the sites to collect the materials. As well, at the Quinn Street depot, two 40-yard roll-off containers will be supplied by Recycle BC for cardboard and mixed paper product.
In addition, the Quinn Street and Mackenzie sites will be open seven days a week.
Hours at Quinn will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day, when they will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Previously, Quinn Street had been closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays between Nov. 1 and March 31.
The Mackenzie site is currently open Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and staff is looking at adding Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day.
The news drew an expression of gratitude from Mackenzie director Joan Atkinson.
"It's very exciting that our transfer station is going to move to seven days a week. It's a huge step forward," Atkinson said.
A covered shelter is also in the works at the site late spring-early summer 2025. The parties are also looking at establishing the service in McBride in early 2025.
The Vanway transfer station will remain in operation after the regional distrct agreed to a five-year licence to occupy with the City of Prince George. Directors also approved a five-year licence to occupy for Quinn Street on Thursday.
Zapotichny said an information campaign in the lead up to the launch date is also part of the effort.
In the meantime, residents who do not have curbside service remain encouraged to drop off paper and packaging material during business hours at the Prince George Recycling and Return-It Centre at 2614 Petersen Rd., and Hart Return-It Centre at 6665 Hart Highway. Those locations are closed on Sundays and holidays.
Cardboard compaction is still available at the Mackenzie, McBride and Valemount transfer stations.
