This just out from Vancouver. I guess they are not that impressed by this argument published in the New York Times recently, saying recycling is mostly inefficient. Oh well, more opportunities for me to feel virtuous, aside from peeling the labels off my cans and putting cans in one place, labels in another.

The City’s recycling program is changing and expanding. Starting October 2015, the City will implement the first of three phases of separate glass collection, beginning with city-serviced Multi-Family buildings (apartments, condos and townhomes).

Phase 1 – City-Serviced Multi-Family Buildings
Starting: October 5 – December 31, 2015

Phase 2 – Single Family Residences + City-Serviced Multi-Family Buildings (on single family curbside routes)
Starting: January 11 – March 31, 2016

Phase 3 – Non-City-Serviced Multi-Family Buildings
Starting: May 1 – July 31, 2016

City-serviced Multi-family buildings will receive a new “glass bottle + jars” recycling cart shortly. Residents are asked to recycle all glass bottles and jars into this cart as soon as it arrives. Deposit glass containers (wine, spirits, coolers, beer and juice bottles) should still be returned to a depot for refund.

Additional updates to the expanded recycling program include:

* All newspapers and mixed paper are now accepted together and can be placed in the mixed paper cart.

* Paper cups, milk cartons, TetraPaks, empty aerosol cans (non-paint) and frozen dessert boxes can now be recycled in the mixed containers cart.

Residents can learn how to dispose of items for recycling with the online Waste Wizard tool. For a full list of items accepted as part of the City’s recycling program, or to find out how to recycle items not accepted in the City’s program, visit vancouver.ca/wastewizard<http://www.vancouver.ca/wastewizard>. By properly recycling materials, you help Keep Vancouver Spectacular!

The collection of separate glass supports the City’s contract agreement with Multi-Materials BC (MMBC) and aligns with the City’s commitment to Zero Waste as part of our Greenest City Action Plan.

Additional information regarding separate glass collection for Single Family Residences and non-city-serviced Multi-Family buildings will be provided as these changes are phased in. Stay tuned!

For more information on the City’s expanded recycling program and separate glass collection, please visit vancouver.ca/recycle<http://www.vancouver.ca/recycle>.