City of Kamloops

City of Kamloops ASK THE EXPERTS

The City’s Civic Operations Department receives many different questions on the various services we provide. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions and their answers.

Marcia Dick, Solid Waste Services Analyst

Does the City’s Recycling Program Actually Exist?

I have heard that recycling ends up in landfills (or worse) overseas. How much of the City’s recycling actually gets recycled?

The City is part of the provincial Recycle BC program, a non-profit agency that oversees collection, processing (sorting), and sale of material to end markets. Over 90% of material collected through the program is managed by recycling; 3% of material is not recyclable (flexible plastics) and is sold as engineered fuel. The rest of the material cannot be recycled.

What happens to my recycling? Where does it go after I put it in my recycling cart?

City trucks collect recycling from residents and deliver the materials to a sorting facility. Material is sorted and baled into commodities like metals, plastics, cartons, cardboard, and mixed paper, which is sold to end markets. Many of these markets are right here is BC—98% of plastics are recycled at a facility in the Lower Mainland. Metals are recycled in North America. Some paper is recycled in North America, but a lot of the end markets for paper are overseas.

It seems like I can’t put anything in my recycling cart. Soft plastics, glass, and foam packaging all have to go to a recycling depot. What’s the point of a recycling program if I can’t put anything in it?

The Recycle BC program is larger than other recycling programs in Canada, and the list of accepted materials is consistent across the province. While some communities have separate glass collection (the City is currently investigating glass collection as well), no other communities collect soft plastics or foam at the curb—these materials can only be effectively recycled at depots. See the complete list of accepted items at RecycleBC.ca/What-Can-I-Recycle.

What is (household) hazardous waste?

Can I throw hazardous household waste in the garbage if the hazardous container the waste was in is empty?

Many common household items contain hazardous substances that are dangerous if not properly managed. Items can be hazardous for many reasons—they can contain poisonous or toxic substances; they can react, explode, or catch fire easily; or they can be sharp objects that can cut or injure workers. Even when containers for hazardous substances are empty, they contain residual material that can catch fire or react with other material. When these reactions take place at landfills and recycling facilities, the outcomes can be very serious—there is a lot of materials in these facilities that can catch fire—and landfill fires are extremely difficult to manage.

What are the most common hazardous items? How do I get rid of them?

Batteries are one of the most common and dangerous items found in households, especially the rechargeable type (lithium) as the material can react with water and other metals and cause fires. Lithium batteries are found in an increasing number of household products, the most common being hand-held power tools, vape pens/e-cigarettes, laptops, cell phones, and hearing aids. Batteries are the leading cause of fires in recycling facilities, but thankfully, they are also easy to recycle. Many retailers and workplaces have battery recycling bins. Tip: lithium batteries must be protected by placing them in clear bags (available at battery collection points) or wrapping them with tape. Search the Waste Wise Kamloops app to find your nearest battery recycling location.

What are some other common hazardous items I should be aware of, and what should I do with them?

Flammable liquids must be safely recycled because they can release gases that will catch on fire/ignite or explode and act as a projectile. Even residual amounts of the following products can give off vapours that may ignite and cause fires or explosions: • compressed gas containers for: - propane (camping stoves) - helium (balloons) - carbon dioxide (Soda Stream) • flammable liquids like: - lighter fluid - paint and paint products - fuels (kerosene, methanol, diesel)

Use the Waste Wise Kamloops app to learn how to properly dispose of these items.

Jeff Putnam, Parks and Civic Facilities Manager

Why should we consider xeriscaping?

• To have beautiful surroundings (xeriscaping options are endless, and there are many plants to choose from) • To conserve water (50–80% of residential water is used in our yards) • To minimize pest problems (landscapes suited to our climate are healthier) • To be environmentally responsible (overwatering can cause water to run off lawns and carry pollutants into storm drains) • To save time (xeriscaped yards require less watering, less mowing, and less weeding) • To save money (minimizing the costs of delivering water to our homes and businesses benefits us all)

Can I have a lawn?

Yes! Lawns can add to the enjoyment of our yards, increase property values, and help cool our homes in the summer (which reduces the need for air conditioners), but most lawns are much larger than needed and consume large amounts of water in comparison to most other plantings. We suggest taking a good look at your lawn and asking yourself these questions: • How much of my lawn is actually walked or played on? • Is my lawn there because I don’t know what else to do with that area? • Are there areas that are difficult or dangerous to mow? • Could sections of the lawn be replaced by ground covers, shrubs, or ornamental grasses that need less water and maintenance? • Are there areas where hard surfaces like walkways or decks could make the living space more practical?

What are some water-saving tips?

Many beautiful trees, shrubs, and flowers have low water requirements, and if you group plants according to their water needs, you can create an oasis by concentrating higher water use plants together and less thirsty plants separately. Choose an irrigation method that will water the plants in each area most effectively without wasting water. Water when the weather is cool and calm. Early morning watering is best, followed by early evening. Also be sure to water close to the roots to minimize evaporation. Be sure to check out the plant list in the City’s “Creating a Xeriscape” brochure available online at Kamloops.ca/HealthyLandscapes.

Glen Cheetham, Sustainability Services Supervisor

Why act now on climate change?

The Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) outlines moves that will reduce emissions and increase our resilience to climate change impacts: • Actions to promote low-carbon development • Sustainable transportation options • Zero-carbon buildings • Circular economy and renewable energy • Enhance local ecosystems The CCAP’s target is to reduce community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030 and up to 80% by 2050.

What can I do?

Here are a few actions Kamloopsians can take to reduce their personal carbon footprint: • Replace vehicle trips with transit, walking, cycling, skateboarding, etc. when possible • Consider electric or hybrid vehicle options • Reduce home energy use - Unplug unused devices and use high-efficiency appliances - Make homes more energy efficient by upgrading insulation, doors, and windows and replace end-of-life natural gas furnace and water heaters with a low-carbon electric alternatives - See Kamloops.ca/RenovateSmart for energy efficiency information and incentives • Compost organic waste • Reduce food waste • Choose reusable over disposable items and repair rather than replace when possible (search “Repair Cafe Kamloops”) To learn more, visit LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/ClimateAction.

Where do our community’s GHG emissions come from?

Our primary sources of GHG emissions in Kamloops are from fossil fuel powered transportation (66%), energy use in buildings (29%), and waste decomposition (5%).

Jeff Putnam, Parks and Civic Facilities Manager

How do we manage our green space?

How do we keep our parks and green spaces looking so good?

The City maintains numerous parks and green spaces in all neighbourhoods, including approximately 16,000 trees. We have a team of experts who use various processes and technologies to keep our green spaces, plants, and trees healthy and looking fantastic for all residents to enjoy.

What guides the City in terms of the trees that are planted?

The City is guided by an Urban Forestry Management Strategy, and we have a crew of six full-time arborists who maintain our public tree inventory. On average, each tree receives general maintenance every six to eight years. The overall tree canopy in Kamloops (including public and private trees) is 15.6%, and our long-term goal is to increase the canopy to 20%. There is a significant amount of space available for new trees in the city; however, access to irrigation water is the limiting factor.

What does the City do to maintain its sports fields to such a high level of turf quality?

Kamloops has always had a great reputation for its excellent playfields, and the recent international recognition for Norbrock Stadium as “Field of the Year” by the Sports Turf Managers Association has been turning a lot of heads. The City has a state-of-theart turf maintenance program and a dedicated crew who take pride in their work. Our turf maintenance strategy is a year-round program that includes goose control, special mowing techniques, irrigation programming, top dressing with a compost/sand mixture, deep-tine aeration, regular field inspections, accurate line marking, infield shale grooming/edging, litter control, and much more.

Who do we call if we notice a problem or unsafe condition in a park, facility, or public space (e.g. a broken tree branch, a large pothole, sprinkler head not turning off, or excess litter)?

The Civic Operations Department has a central phone number that you can call, or you can email any time to report an issue. Please provide as much detail as you can regarding the specific location and what you would like the City to do to respond to your concern. Once your request for service is logged, it will be sent to the appropriate City team to take action, and you will receive an updated response in a timely manner. We always appreciate hearing from the public about any observed conditions in our parks and facilities. Contact us at 250-828-3461 or civicoperations@kamloops.ca.