British Columbia’s Gibsons Recycling Depot has struck a deal to continue to handle a portion of the recycling functions for Sunshine Coast Regional District on the province’s southern mainland coast, as the region inches closer to its zero-waste goal.
The 18-month deal is worth $297,000, reports say. It covers a total population of 25,599 residents living over more than 3,500 km².
The two groups previously operated with an interim agreement
The Sunshine Coast Regional District operated two drop-off locations before Gibsons Recycling took over.
Gibsons Recycling Depot offers recovery options over and above what the SCRD has specifically contracted them to provide, including electronic waste and glass.
According to Boyd, the contract also allows the recovery centre to keep deposits on recyclables. But combined with fuel, ferry rates and wages for the now 15-strong staff, “it’s mostly a break-even thing.
Gibsons director Gerry Tretick has described the new deal as the best temporary solution available while the regional district matures its zero-waste plans, a process he that could take up to a year.