CSRD: Over a million beverage containers returned.

B.C.’s Return-It program is helping to divert material from landfills and Columbia Shuswap Regional District residents are above the provincial average in doing their part.

Neil Hastie, Encorp Pacific (Canada) CEO, brought CSRD directors up to speed last week on recycling.

He says Encorp recovers 84 per cent by weight of beverage containers sold in B.C. recycling more than 1 billion containers and 11,000 metric tonnes of electronics.

That the money is well spent is evident in the success of the program, he says, noting that in the regional district in 2008, 1.3 million beverage containers were returned, an average of 307 containers per person and a 27 per cent increase over 2007.

Columbia Shuswap residents also diverted 108,000 kilograms of electronics, an average of 2 kg per person, just below the provincial average of 2.5 kg per person.

In terms of climate change contributions, Hastie said recyclers in the regional district, including member municipalities, avoided 1,900 of metric tonnes of CO2 going into the atmosphere, the equivalent of removing 575 cars from the road.

Net economic benefits to the regional district total $525,000, Hastie told directors.

Province-wide, Encorp collected and transported to end markets 90,000 metric tonnes of aluminum, plastic, glass and fibreboard, 11,000 tonnes of electronics and 500 metric tonnes of milk containers.

Founded in 1994, Encorp is a not-for-profit, product stewardship corporation that operates a private depot collection network of 170 Return It centres in the province.

All of the money earned goes back into the system, stressed Hastie, who pointed out to the CSRD board that the corporation is not subsidized in any way.

Hastie noted that as well as beverage containers, product stewardship in B.C. includes tires, batteries, used oil, paint, household hazardous waste, used pharmaceuticals and some electronics.

As of July 2010, more electronics such as exercise bikes and telephones will be included. Mercury-bearing equipment will also be added next year, while more electrical products will be added to the collection system between 2010 and 2012.