British Columbians are getting greener, according to a new report by Recycle BC.
The not-for-profit organization that manages residential packaging and paper recycling announced Tuesday it achieved an 83.3 per cent recovery rate in 2024, up from 79.6 per cent in 2023.
This means more than eight out of 10 packaging and paper products reportedly sold to B.C. residents in 2022 were recycled and reused in 2024.
“Ongoing investments and collaboration with our recycling network partners ensure high-quality material is sorted to industry-set specifications and marketed domestically as much as possible,” said Sam Baker, executive director of Recycle BC, in a Tuesday statement.
Paper recovery rates increased from 88 per cent in 2023 to 92 per cent in 2024, while plastic recovery rose from 43 to 45 per cent over the same period, according to Recycle BC's 2024 annual report.
The organization reported collecting 208,484 tonnes of packaging and paper in 2024, up from 201,033 tonnes in 2023.
Eighty per cent of the recycled materials were purchased and reused in North America, an increase from 73 per cent in 2023.
Meanwhile, 98 per cent of the plastic packaging collected last year—about 31,362 tonnes—was recycled.
Recycle BC also reported increased participation from First Nations communities, with 62 First Nations taking part in the program in 2024.
