Recent Items – 2001
Oct. 16, 2001, By Mark Nielsen, Daily News Staff
From accepting a wider range of material to a new invention, there have been some changes at DC Recycling over the year since the last waste reduction week was held.
For one thing, the facility, located at 925-100th Ave., is now buying non-ferrous metals like copper and aluminum, which can come in a wide range of shapes and forms — like old barbecues, cast pots, screen doors and ladders.
As well, DC Recycling is accepting plastic bags and stretch wrap, and the full range of grades of plastic, while grades one and two continue to have their separate windows.
And effective Oct. 1, non-refillable bottles used for beer and coolers not filled in B.C. have been accepted for full refund of 10 cents for one litre and less and 20 cents for more than one litre.
“The only thing we will not take a full deposit on is the stuff that is brewed or filled in B.C., beer, wine, coolers,” said DC Recycling owner Dale Campbell.
Campbell also expects that DC Recycling will soon accept nickel cadmium batteries, used in such items as cameras, under an arrangement with the Rechargeable Battery Council of Canada. And he said that the business may also be accepting ink jet cartridges in the near future.
Meanwhile, Campbell has been working on a small-scale glass crusher capable of making a blasting abrasive that can replace the material traditionally used in sandblasting.
Not only has it passed the tests of some Prince George-based engineers, but Campbell said he’s already received two orders from other recycling centres for the machine.
“There are some on market but they need 100 tonnes of volume per day to make it pay. This machine will be economical for a small operator,” he said.
Sandblasters have been looking for an alternative ever since the Workers’ Compensation Board ruled that the silica in the abrasive is carcinogenic.
Meanwhile, DC Recycling is as busy as ever, with the full-time equivalent of eight employees, including Campbell, working there.
“They’re even bringing cardboard from Fort St. John down to us now, and we have got a bigger bailer that I can’t even get in the building we’ve got so much loose cardboard we have to bail up and clear up,” he said.