Send this page to someone via email

You’ll soon be noticing another option at several B.C. recycling depots, allowing you to toss items like potato chip bags in a new category called ‘other flexible plastic packaging.’

The crinkly chip bags and other snack bags with a foil liner, stand-up drink pouches, and net bags for produce are among the items that will be collected by 116 depots throughout the province as of Friday, June 1.

This is all part of a pilot project led by Recycle B.C. to help determine how best to recycle these materials never before collected under the residential recycling program.

READ MORE: The biggest recycling mistakes Canadians continue to make

More examples of materials accepted as part of the Other Flexible Plastic Packaging program are below. Click here for a full list and more information.

Story continues below advertisement

Stand-up and Zipper Lock Pouches

Zipper lock pouches for frozen foods like prawns, berries and prepared food

Zipper lock bags for fresh foods like grapes, berries and deli meat

Stand-up pouches for baby food and hand soap refills

Stand-up and zipper lock pouches for items like dried fruits, granola, sugar, oatmeal, quinoa, dish detergent pods and grated cheese

Crinkly Wrappers and Bags

Bags for potato chips, candy, dried pasta, coffee and cereal

Cellophane for flowers and gift baskets

Wrappers for cheese slices, snack bars and instant noodles

Flexible Packaging with Plastic Seal

Packaging for fresh pasta, pre-packaged deli meats and pre-packaged cheese

Woven and Net Plastic Bags

Net bags for avocados, onions, oranges, lemons and limes

Woven plastic bags for rice

Non-food Protective Packaging

Padded protective plastic like plastic shipping envelopes, plastic air packets and bubble wrap

Examples of materials that will not be part of the expanded program are below.

Plastic Squeeze Tubes

Plastic-lined Paper

Paper-lined Plastic

Plastic Strapping

Six-pack Rings

Biodegradable or Oxo Plastic

PVC/Vinyl

Items in this new umbrella category are among the fastest-growing packaging types on the market and it’s one of the largest categories of packaging, according to Recycle B.C.

Story continues below advertisement

Part of the problem, the non profit says, is the combined materials involved in these soon-to-be accepted materials.

Recycle B.C. is working with a post-consumer processing company to try and find a solution to those challenges.

“Each day we move closer toward our ultimate goal of collecting all types of packaging,” Recycle B.C. managing director Allen Langdon said in a news release. Tweet This

“We’re excited to be developing a viable commercial process to recycle these common but tough-to-process items and ultimately to bring more recycling options to communities throughout the province.”

More depots will start voluntary collection of these materials as of Sept. 1 and Recycle B.C. expects all of its depots across the province to start collecting as of Jan. 1.

Recycle B.C. says anything collected during the project that can’t be recycled will be turned into engineered fuel.

WATCH: Recycling mistakes are costing Canada millions

0:47 Recycling mistakes are costing Canada millions Recycling mistakes are costing Canada millions