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City of Prince Rupert changing policy to encourage more recycling

The City of Prince Rupert will be making changes to its solid waste bylaws to encourage more people to recycle.

The City of Prince Rupert will be making changes to its solid waste bylaws to encourage more people to recycle.

Council has directed staff to come up with a new policy about what is and is not acceptable at the landfill within 60 days of the opening of a 24-hour recycling drop-off station at the current recycling centre, which is expected to open in late March or early April.

"I go out to the dump once or twice a week and there are just some things that should not be going into the landfill," said Counc. Gina Garon.

"We do have a the recycling station and I hope more people will use it once it is available 24 hours," said Counc. Nelson Kinney.

Along with a new bylaw, Counc. Garon said she would like to see council take other proactive steps to keep recyclable material out of the landfill.

"I really believe the regional district needs to educate the public of Prince Rupert about what they do take because they take a lot of stuff now that they haven't in the past ... it is actually incredible what they do take," she said.

"I would still like to see more bins or larger bins at the dump to allow more recycling on-site."

Counc. Barry Cunningham agreed that recycling needs to be accessible to more people.

"We can talk about recycling until the cows come home, but if we don't make it easy then people aren't going to do it," he said.