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No more sorting beverage cans at Barriere Return-It Depot

Summer is officially here, and Barriere residents are now spending more time enjoying the outdoors. Whether the activity is hiking or camping in the forest, soaking up the sun at the lake, hitting a bike trail, or simply relaxing on the patio, many will be cooling down with a refreshing beverage in a recyclable can.

Summer is officially here, and Barriere residents are now spending more time enjoying the outdoors. Whether the activity is hiking or camping in the forest, soaking up the sun at the lake, hitting a bike trail, or simply relaxing on the patio, many will be cooling down with a refreshing beverage in a recyclable can.

Recycling is currently being modernized in Barriere by initiatives being introduced by Return-It, which manages the province’s recycling system for beverage containers with refundable deposits. Key among those advancements is a pilot program currently taking place at the Barriere Return-It Depot that enables consumers to return both alcohol and non-alcohol aluminum beverage cans together for recycling – without having to sort them – and receive one deposit amount.

In response to ongoing consumer feedback, other initiatives being introduced over the summer and into the fall include:

• Adding more Return-It Express Plus and solar-powered Express & GO contactless return stations

• Implementing a 10-cent unified deposit for all beverage containers, regardless of size

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of a hybrid compaction truck

• Partnering with the Salvation Army to expand Return-It’s popular textiles collection program

• Introducing automated sorting technologies and reverse-vending machines at Return-It depots

These and other initiatives are included in Return-It’s new Stewardship Plan which is up for consultation, and British Columbians are invited to share their feedback at www.returnit.ca/beverageplan2020.

Return-It recycles over 1 billion beverage containers a year. Plus, every plastic container is responsibly recycled in B.C. and Alberta, where they’re cleaned and broken down into plastic pellets that can be used to make new plastic bottles.

The not-for-profit organization is encouraging British Columbians to continue providing their feedback at www.returnit.ca/beverageplan2020, as it modernizes its recycling system to boost convenience, efficiency and safety.