Kamloops, BC – February 15, 2024 – Public education continues for the expanded Mandatory Recyclable Material Bylaw at solid waste facilities in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD), and in March 2024, the TNRD will fully implement the bylaw.
Most items included in this bylaw are part of the provincial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program. Consumers pay advanced handling fees when purchasing products that are part of the EPR program, which cover costs for take-back programs at solid waste facilities in B.C. Other items included in this bylaw (cardboard, residential packaging, printed paper, and beverage containers) are easily recyclable and are made into new products when recycled.
The Mandatory Recyclable Material Bylaw was first implemented in fall 2022 and only applied to corrugated cardboard. Following a bylaw amendment approved by the TNRD Board of Directors in fall 2023, this bylaw now includes all materials regulated by the provincial Recycling Regulation EPR programs and several easily-recyclable items. The full list is as follows:
- antifreeze and antifreeze containers
- batteries, including lead-acid batteries
- electronics and electrical products (including metal appliances)
- flammable liquids and solvents
- fluorescent lights
- gasoline and diesel
- paint and paint containers
- pharmaceutical products and medications
- oil, oil filters and oil containers
- refundable beverage containers
- residential pesticide products
- residential packaging and printed paper (including mixed containers, fiber, styrofoam, flexible plastics, and glass)
- thermostats
- tires
- mattresses and box springs*
- propane tanks*
* These items are expected to be added to the Province of BC Recycling Regulation in 2024, and have been included in the Mandatory Recyclable Material Bylaw as a result.
Once fully implemented, penalties may be issued for non-compliance. Loads may be subject to a volume-based fine if they exceed the maximum allowable threshold of 10% of residential packaging, printed paper, cardboard, or beverage containers, or a unit-based fine if load contains any amounts of other EPR materials that are listed above. Volume-based penalties are 50% of what the disposal fee for the entire load would be, and unit-based penalties are $50 per unit. (For details, see Attachment “A”).
Enforcement will focus on all commercial, municipal, and residential loads. Enforcement will only be conducted by TNRD bylaw officers. Facility staff, such as scale attendants, will not have the authority to issue fines.
To assist haulers with informing customers of this bylaw, the TNRD has created educational materials and signage for haulers to display. These resources can be ordered free of charge. To access the order form, click here.
“The purpose of this bylaw is to make sure that recyclable materials are properly disposed of and kept out of our landfills. A similar bylaw is in place in other parts of southern B.C. and has proven to reduce landfill waste,” said Adriana Mailloux, TNRD Manager of Solid Waste & Recycling. “Through our public consultation before the bylaw was implemented in 2022, and again in 2023 before it was amended, we also know that there is generally very good support for a disposal ban. We appreciate cooperation and understanding of our customers.”
The expansion of the TNRD’s disposal ban is guided by the 2018 Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. The Plan sets a goal of reducing the TNRD’s annual per-person landfill disposal rate to 500 kilograms per person by 2028. As of 2021, the per-person landfill disposal rate of TNRD residents was 639 kilograms, which was 23% higher than the average in B.C.
For more information on mandatory recycling in the TNRD, visit: tnrd.ca/mandatoryrecycling.
Attachment “A:”
Load Limits for Mandatory Recyclable Materials
| Mandatory Recyclable Material | Maximum Allowable Threshold (Volume Based) |
| Old Corrugated Cardboard | Not to Exceed 10% |
| Residential Packaging and Printed Paper | Not to Exceed 10% |
| Refundable Beverage Containers | Not to Exceed 10% |
| Mandatory Recyclable Material | Maximum Allowable Threshold (Per Unit Based) |
| Antifreeze and Antifreeze Containers | Any Amount |
| Batteries, Lead-Acid and Household | Any Amount |
| Electronics and Electrical Products including Metal Household or Commercial Appliances | Any Amount |
| Flammable Liquids and Solvents | Any Amount |
| Fluorescent Lights | Any Amount |
| Gasoline & Diesel | Any Amount |
| Mattresses and Box Springs | Any Amount |
| Oil, Oil Filters, and Oil Containers | Any Amount |
| Pharmaceutical Products and Medications | Any Amount |
| Propane Tanks | Any Amount |
| Residential Pesticide Products | Any Amount |
| Thermostats | Any Amount |
| Tires | Any Amount |
Media Contact:
Adriana Mailloux, Manager of Solid Waste & Recycling
Thompson-Nicola Regional District
Tel.: 250 377-6294
Email: amailloux@tnrd.ca