Our January plastic recycling event in Kits was so successful and popular that we have decided that there is enough demand for a plastic collection in February. However, to ensure that we will have enough plastics, please RSVP BEFORE February 10 if you think you will have plastics to drop off that day so that we can gauge the demand ahead of time.

Also, please notice that you may be able to drop off plastics ahead of time (if everything is sorted very well). The location will be in Kitsilano and we will send the exact address out to those who RSVP a few days ahead of time. In addition, we have set the date for the collection for Wednesday February 15, but this could change closer to date. Feel free to e-mail Malin at hansen@zoology.ubc.ca if you have questions regarding the collection.

Here is a brief summary from the January collection:

About 10-12 people contributed to the January plastic recycling collection. Many of those people also sat down to share a meal with neighbours. This is a great way to get to know your neigbours and get rid of all the plastics that build up at home. Many people expressed that saving plastic items that cannot be recycled through the city program, i.e. plastic bags, wraps, styrofoam etc. made them realize how much plastics they actually use and usually throw in the garbage. We, therefore, believe that these recycling events have several purposes. First of all, people may start to think about how to REDUCE the amount of plastics they use and REUSE as much as possible. Second, we allow people to recycle the items that cannot be reused. Third, the collection event seemed to spark an interesting and very important conversation about our use of plastics. There are many ways to reduce the amount of plastics used. If you have ideas, please share them with everyone!

The collection of recyclables went very smoothly. We had about eight medium sized transparent plastic bags set up, one for each plastic category (1. soft plastics, i.e. any plastic bags, wraps or packaging, 2) hard plastics, i.e. any hard plastics, but with metal parts etc. removed, 3) styrofoam blocks, 4) styrofoam containers, i.e. cups and food take out containers, 5) styrofoam peanuts and other "soft" styrofoam, 6) wax lined beverage containers, 7) milk cartons (separate from other beverage containers), 8) foil lined bags packaging and wraps). We manage to gather about 10 medium sized bags of plastics which was just about enough to make the collection worth it. The Pacific Mobile Depot (http://www.pacificmobiledepots.com) charges $5 per large bag and only pick up plastics from neighbourhood groups if there is at least $30 worth of plastics.

For the February collection event we will try to make the collection event smoother! Here is how you can help: BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: 1) Please RSVP on the Village Vancouver’s website. This is important because we may not be able to request the pickup until at least 10 people RSVP. 2) Sort your plastics into the above eight categories. If you bring items that you do not know how to sort, please put those into a separate bag as well. 3) Only bring items that are CLEAN, i.e. no food products left in any bags or containers, beverage containers will have to be rinsed well and aired out, ESPECIALLY MILK CONTAINERS). WHEN YOU ARRIVE: 1) When you arrive, put your plastics into the appropriate category bag. Ask organizers for help if you do not know how to sort when you arrive. 2) Everyone who brings plastics will pay a minimum of $3 for their plastics. If they fill more than one medium sized garbage bag, they will pay $5. This way we will be able to pay the depot at least $30 for the pickup and cover expenses of collection bags etc.  Again if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to e-mail Malin at hansen@zoology.ubc.ca