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Wishcycling

Uncertainty around recycling can result in Wishcycling, which refers to putting non-recyclable materials into the recycling stream, hoping that they can be recycled.

Though Wishcycling often stems from good intentions to reduce waste, it can result in the contamination of recyclable materials, creating health, safety, and quality control issues. Materials such as glass and foam packaging can break down into unrecoverable pieces and get mixed in with the other recyclables, contaminating the materials and creating a potential health and safety risk for workers. Flexible plastics disposed of at the curbside get wrapped up in sorting equipment and intermix with other recyclables causing equipment failures and lower quality recyclables. Fortunately, common contaminants (listed below) are recyclable or compostable at CVRD recycling facilities, where they can be managed appropriately:

Have a specific material you’d like to dispose of? To learn about disposal options, type the name of the waste item into the Cowichan Recyclopedia search bar and choose the category it belongs to.

Land Acknowledgement
The CVRD is in the ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations including (but not limited to) Quw'utsun (Cowichan Tribes), MÁLEXEŁ (Malahat), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), c̓uubaʕsaʔtx̣ (Ts'uubaa-asatx), xeláltxw (Halalt), Spune’luxutth (Penelakut), Stz'uminus, Leey’qsun (Lyackson), Diitiidʔaaʔtx̣ (Ditidaht) and P’a:chi:da?aht (Pacheedaht) Peoples. Local First Nations Peoples have stewarded the lands of this region since time immemorial. The CVRD is committed to the ongoing journey of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the region by strengthening cooperation, collaboration, and relationship building.