TNRD bans cardboard from landfills, including within City of Kamloops

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) is cracking down on cardboard being sent to landfills instead of recycling facilities.

A release from the regional district deems corrugated cardboard — such as that received in the form of boxes containing online purchases — ‘mandatory recyclable material’.

The bylaw comes into effect on January 1, 2022. Once in force, the bylaw will result in fines for any load taken to a landfill or transfer station containing more than 10 per cent cardboard.

Fines would total an additional 50 per cent of the disposal fee. For instance, an $80 load in violation of the bylaw would incur an extra $40 fine.

This applies to any TNRD transfer station or eco-depot, City of Kamloops landfill or even privately-owned facilities such as the Campbell Hill Landfill near Cache Creek.

The TNRD says similar bylaws are in place in most regions of the province.

Environmental Services Manager Jamie Vieira says cardboard is the only ‘mandatory recyclable material’ for now, but paper, plastic, glass and metal packaging may be added in the future.