Pink recycling bins for flexible plastics roll out in Vancouver

New pink bins and "four-stream" trucks are seen in this image handed out by Recycle BC.

Eye-catching recycling bins are appearing at condos and apartment buildings in Vancouver, with the aim to keep so-called flexible plastics out of landfills.

Pink bin collection officially begins Monday in the city, for waste like candy wrappers, produce bags and Ziplocs.

Flexible plastics were previously accepted at recycling depots, but now all apartments and condos in Vancouver that use Recycle BC for waste disposal will have a bin at home, according to the non-profit, which says about 4,500 pink carts are being delivered.

“What are flexible plastics? They’re your plastics that can be folded or crinkled, and these are now accepted and recycled in condo buildings in the city of Vancouver,” Recycle BC executive director Sam Baker said, in a video distributed to media. “So bundle them up, bring them down to your recycling room, chuck them in the bin, and we’ll make sure they get recycled.”

He said flexible plastics are sent to a facility in Metro Vancouver where they are turned into pellets that can be used to make new products like packaging, pails, plant pots and garbage cans.

“Our goal through all of this is to make recycling more convenient for residents. Resident participation is essential for the success of this,” Baker said, adding that the non-profit recycles more than 90 per cent of the plastics it collects and 99 per cent of that is processed in Metro Vancouver.

“We want to make sure that residents are aware of that their actions are resulting in real change and real impact on the plastics that are generated here in B.C.”

Examples provided of flexible plastics that can go in the pink bins include:

• Plastic bags (for bread, produce, bulk foods, etc.)
• Overwrap (for toilet paper, paper towels, beverage flats, etc.)
• Stand‑up and zipper‑lock pouches (for granola, grains, dried fruit, etc.)
• Crinkly wrappers and bags (cereal box liners, chip bags, pasta bags, etc.)
• Packaging with plastic seals (for deli meats, sliced cheese, etc.)
• Plastic net bags (for oranges, lemons, avocados, rice, etc.)
• Bubble wrap and other squishy protective packaging

RecycleBC says it’s goal is to collect 50 per cent of flexible plastics by 2027. It already picks up flexible plastics at apartments and detached homes in West Vancouver and Maple Ridge.

New trucks that can collect all four recycling categories are also part of the rollout. In addition, Recycle BC announced new contractors replacing Waste Management as of Monday, Recycling Alternative for downtown and False Creek and Emterra Environmental for all other areas.

More information on what can and cannot be recycled can be found on the Recycle BC website.