Rossland Refactory awarded CleanBC Plastics Action Funds
By Rossland Telegraph
Kootenay Outdoor and Environmental Learning Society in Rossland is pleased with the recent announcement of awarded $14,000 by the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund, a British Columbia Provincial Government initiative.
“These funds will be used primarily to purchase materials to construct machines for manufacturing products from recycled plastic by the Rossland Refactory, an enterprise initiated by KOELS.,” said the Rossland Refactory spokesperson.
“We thank the Government of B.C. for their foresight in establishing this fund. This funding will provide an important boost to the recycled plastics manufacturing industry in B.C., which is an important component of the circular economy.
“We would also like to thank Alacrity Canada Cleantech team for their work administering the funds.”
Rossland Refactory is one of nine CleanBC Plastics Action Fund projects receiving money.
Recognizing the rapid growth of the use of plastics in manufacturing and the need to address plastic waste, $5 million encourages innovative technologies to turn used plastics into new products, support the circular economy for plastics and increase local processing capacity for recycling and create new jobs. The funded projects will replace or recycle over 20,000 tonnes of plastic per year.
“These projects show what British Columbians can accomplish when their great ideas and enthusiasm are supported by a government that’s serious about tackling plastic waste and reducing pollution of our land and ocean,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
“. . . we take another key step towards building a more conscientious and comprehensive B.C. recycling program that’s focused on transforming used plastic into an economic asset.”
Quick Facts:
- Global plastics recycling generates an estimated $75 billion a year through major companies committed to using more recycled content to reduce plastics.
- B.C. is a leader in creating extended producer responsibility (EPR) recycling programs. It has more programs than any other jurisdiction in North America.
- 315,000 tonnes of plastics, such as those in electronics, beverage containers and other packaging, are already captured annually in B.C.’s EPR programs.
- The fund supports what government heard during the 2019 CleanBC Plastics Action Plan engagement, including reducing plastic waste by increasing the use of recycled plastics in manufacturing. More than 35,000 British Columbians responded to the engagement, with 94% of respondents reporting they were concerned about plastic waste and 86% stating it was important to seek out products with more recycled content.
