Newspapers across the province are doing their part to ensure that recycling efforts meet the highest of standards in the industry.

A new stewardship plan has been developed by News Media Canada (NMC) to ensure continued high levels of newspaper recycling in B.C. The plan was prepared by several independent newspapers and five major publishers in B.C. including Glacier Media, Black Press Group, Postmedia Network, the Globe and Mail Inc., and Sing Tao Newspapers, which collectively produce 121 individual print news publications. Together, these NMC members account for both the vast majority of the publications, and overall newsprint tonnage, distributed in B.C.

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Prior to May 2014, newspaper recycling was not regulated in B.C., but with new regulations now in place, the NMC group of B.C. newspapers has developed a plan that they feel will safeguard and oversee the recycling process for newspapers in the province. The goal of newspapers is to comply with the regulation and to continue to deliver high rates of newspaper recycling in B.C.

“We are delighted to have found a way to comply with the regulation that recognizes the unique nature of the newspaper publishing business,” said Peter Kvarnstrom, president of community media for Glacier Media Group.

“This solution will insure the least adverse financial effect on a very challenging business while maintaining newspapers as a major driver of our current blue box system.”

As the plan has now just been made public, a full public and industry consultation process has been launched. The first stage of the process is making the plan available for all to review at News Media Canada’s website, www.newsmediacanada.ca. The consultation period dates, consultation events and contact information for submitting feedback, as well as updated information, can all be found on the website.

“Our intent is to gain Ministry of Environment approval for this plan to be in effect for a minimum of five years,” said John Hinds, CEO of NMC. “At the end of this term, NMC will evaluate the performance of the plan and the desirability of either continuing with something similar or embarking on a different approach.”

The Stewardship Plan is an arrangement that will result in newsprint continuing to be collected through the Recycle BC curbside multi-family and depot system, in the same way that B.C. residents have become accustomed to over many decades.

“The public can make a huge contribution to the success of this program by insuring every newspaper is recycled properly and is uncontaminated with other waste products,” added Kvarnstrom.