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From blue bins to blue carts: Sort ‘n Go!

A new Sort’nGo roadside waste collection service is coming later this year to residential properties (four or less units) in Tofino and Ucluelet. The service means two important changes for residents: The introduction of organics (food/yard waste) collection. The upgrade to an automated cart collection system.
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All blue recycling bins in Tofino and Ucluelet will be upgraded to a uniform, wheeled cart later this year.

A new Sort’nGo roadside waste collection service is coming later this year to residential properties (four or less units) in Tofino and Ucluelet. The service means two important changes for residents:

  1. The introduction of organics (food/yard waste) collection.
  2. The upgrade to an automated cart collection system.

New carts for automated collection

Updates to waste management by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) include moving to an automated cart collection service, and away from manual collection. With automated service, uniform carts are required to work with the mechanical arm of a truck, which lifts and empties contents — rather than the driver emptying carts manually. By transitioning to automated collection, we can protect the health and safety of valued workers, like our local driver Frank, while increasing efficiency and improving neighbourhood aesthetics with materials contained within standardized, lidded carts.

All blue recycling bins will be upgraded to a uniform, wheeled cart in keeping with the new green organics (food/yard waste) carts and black garbage carts. That means, three new carts per household will be delivered to homes in the fall, ahead of launch. Current bins and containers can always be reused for other r storage purposes or to collect materials for transferring into the bigger cart on collection day.

What can go in the blue carts?

Port Alberni residents now have more room for items to go out for curbside recycling, as the default blue cart per household is 240L, or 43H x 24W x 35D in. Items that go in the blue cart for collection remain the same, and should be rinsed free of any residue before pickup to avoid contaminating our recycling stream. Items should not be stuffed into carts, or nested/packed and should instead be left loose with no overflow outside or around the carts.

Do’s:

  • Mixed paper
  • Broken down cardboard and boxboard
  • Paper food packaging (i.e., soup cartons)
  • Paper beverage cups and lids
  • Tin and aluminum containers or foil food wrap
  • Plastic bottles
  • Plastic Containers/tubs under 25L (i.e., laundry soap, takeout food containers)
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Shredded paper (please keep tied in clear bag – note this is the only item in blue carts that should be bagged)

Don’ts:

  • Styrofoam
  • Plastic bags
  • Crinkly wrappers (i.e., chips and candy)
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Plastic straws
  • Squeeze tubes
  • Books

Items that don’t belong in the blue carts can be dropped off at Ozzard Environmental recycling depots in Tofino or Ucluelet (formerly Sonbird Refuse & Recycling). Materials that can be reused, such as books, can be donated to second-hand stores and reuse centres.

When will recycling be collected?

Recycling will be picked up every other week, alternating with garbage (organics collection will be weekly). More details on collection schedules for Tofino and Ucluelet, including which carts will be rolled out during launch week, are still to come.

Stay ‘In the Know’ with Sort’nGo

We invite you to join us on the Sort’nGo – ACRD Recycling & Organics Facebook Page, which has weekly tips, news and updates for west coast residents.

You can also download the Sort’nGo ACRD app and use the waste wizard to quickly and easily search where an item belongs.

Follow along for the latest updates on our web page at www.letsconnectacrd.ca/sortngo-west-coast.