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Chilliwack sorts out its recycling contamination issues with a game

Since it went live mid-December the game, Chilliwack Sorts, has been played 2,000-plus times
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A new game, Chilliwack Sorts, is out to conquer recycling contamination. (City of Chilliwack)

There’s a new video game out to conquer recycling contamination in Chilliwack’s blue bins.

City of Chilliwack has added Chilliwack Sorts to their online platforms as one way of getting a message across about the importance of sorting items correctly.

They decided to try it after RecyclingBC let them know that Chilliwack’s rate of contamination was higher than the provincial average – based on garbage audits of curbside collection.

“The game is a waste diversion tool to address the issue of contamination in a fun way,” said Tara Friesen, the city’s manager of environmental services.

Since it went live mid-December the game has been played more than 2,000 times.

Players make decisions to sort waste materials by dragging them into the correct bins for a chance to win fun items for their own digital parks.

The game was designed using the recycling rules set by RecyclingBC, which the curbside program adheres to. “Contamination” happens when non-recyclables like plastic bags or styrofoam, or garbage like broken glass or ceramics, are tossed willy-nilly into the recycling bin.

Residents can find the game on the curbside collection page, or on the City of Chilliwack app. Another way for residents to check is Chilliwack.com/wastewizard.

On behalf of the city, ReCollect uses web analytics to record non-identifiable information. The data is available for city staff to consider, like the list of “most misunderstood” materials.

Chip bags or chocolate bar wrappers were among the items that garnered the most wrong guesses.

“Some thought they’re recyclable, others thought they went with the garbage, but they are neither,” Friesen said.

They belong dropped off with other flexible plastic packaging at recycling depots, or London Drugs.

Education campaigns can target these particular items as an upshot to the data.

The game is for everyone, kids and adults alike.

“If kids play the game, and come to understand the rules, maybe they can help with sorting at home.”

Here are some reminders:

Items that go into recycling:

• Paper products and packaging such as newspapers and flyers, loose leaf paper, magazines, emptied paper cups and drink holders and paper food bags

• Cardboard and boxboard

• Rigid plastic packaging such as milk jugs, clamshell packaging, plastic cups, plastic plant pots, dispenser bottles and plastic trays

• Metal containers and packaging such as aluminum cans and lids, aluminum foils, metal containers and soup cans.

Items that shouldn’t go into recycling:

• Soft and stretchy plastic bags (e.g. shopping bags) and overwrap

• Foam packaging like Styrofoam

• Other flexible plastic packaging such as chip bags and zipper lock bags

• Hazardous materials (e.g. sharp items, gas canisters, batteries, etc.)

• Personal hygiene products like face masks, paper towels and tissues

• Scrap metal such as pots/pans

• Small electronics like toasters and blenders

• Clothing

• Books

• Tupperware containers

• Rigid plastic products, toys, car seats, chairs

• Glass bottles, dishes, window glass or ceramics

Glass bottles and jars go in the grey bin while glass should go in the trash.

The city reminds people to empty and thoroughly rinse out any cups and food containers.

Plastic bags, foam packaging, batteries, light bulbs and electronics can be dropped off for recycling at local depots.

RELATED: Recycling confusion tackled with education, research

RELATED: Tools in place to help people sort recycling

Do you have something to add to this story, or a news tip? Email:
jfeinberg@theprogress.com


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Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
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