GIRO joining Recycle BC to process three materials – Food Glass, Styrofoam and Flexible Plastics

GIRO recently made the decision to join the stewardship program Recycle BC.

Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper
recycling throughout BC. Through joining Recycle BC they are able to guarantee fixed rates for
recycling depots for each material. GIRO is partnering with Recycle BC for the following three
materials – Food glass (bottles and jars), Styrofoam and Flexible plastics.

GIRO has been a drop-off location for stretchy plastics and food glass (bottles and jars) for
many years. These are two materials that are not accepted in the residential curbside RDN
collection program and have to be dropped off at recycling depots. The food glass has not
carried a cost for GIRO, but the stretchy plastics have been at a negative value for over ten
years. It currently costs GIRO – $325 per Metric Tonne to drop off this material with a processor.

Recycle BC have now grouped together the stretchy plastics with other flexible plastics (e.g.,
crinkly wrappers and bags, woven plastic bags, stand-up pouches). This category is now called
Flexible Plastics and GIRO will be accepting these additional plastics as well as Styrofoam as of
March 1 st , 2025.

For additional information about which materials we will be accepting and how to prepare them
for drop-off please ask the recycling crew at GIRO on Wednesdays and Saturdays or visit
RecycleBC.ca.

Thank you
The GIRO Team