Residents in the region can now recycle small appliances and smoke detectors.
“Essentially any small kitchen, bathroom or house cleaning appliance with plugs or batteries can be recycled at registered depots for free,” said Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen public works manager Doug French. “There are some exceptions so we advise residents to contact the Recycling Council of B.C. or the RDOS if they need more information.”
Items include end-of-life microwaves, irons, blenders, electric shavers, bathroom scales and vacuum cleaners. Old smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can also be recycled for free when replaced.
More than 120 small electrical appliances, ranging in size from electric toothbrushes to countertop microwaves, are accepted. Items that aren’t currently covered include large appliances such as stoves, power tools, lawn-mowers and industrial equipment — although these items are slated to be fully recyclable sometime next year.
Alarm Recycle is the smoke and carbon monoxide detector recycling program. These along with the small appliances can be recycled at J&C Bottle Depot in Penticton and the Campbell Mountain, Oliver, Okanagan Falls and Keremeos landfills.
To contact the Recycling Council of B.C. call toll free 1-800-667-4321.
The small appliance program website is www.unpluggedrecycling.ca and the smoke detector website is www.productcare.org.