Government steps up contributions to Whitehorse's recycling processors

The recycling industry in Whitehorse is about to pick up, as the territorial and municipal governments announced major increases in their contributions to the city's recycling processors.

Currie Dixon, the territorial government'scommunity services minister, says the Yukon government is providing up to $573,000 in subsidies to local recycling processors this year, based on the type and tonnage of recyclables. He says that's two and a half times more than what has been provided in the past.

Meanwhile, the city is chipping in $57,000 over and above its previous cap of $150,000 for diversion credits. It's also advancing its 2016 diversion credit budget, adding another$150,000 to the overall sum.

Dixon says the government is doing exactly what was asked of it.

In January, Raven Recycling and P&M Recycling told Whitehorse City Council they could not afford to process non-refundable materials like plastic, paper and glass without more support from municipal and territorial governments in the form of diversion credits payment for diverting material from the landfill.

"Both processors have provided input as to what that diversion credit level needs to be, so we've got a multi-stream process now for different types of materials," says Dixon.

It's unclear if this new funding will allow Raven to re-open its recycling drop off bins, which the non-profit closed in October, citing a lack of funding.

Temporary fix

Dixon says the increased funding is a temporary measure. He says the Yukongovernment is also working on raising deposits on refundables and establishing fees for other items such as electronics.

The city is also looking into other options, apart from diversion credits.In November, it contracted Morrison Hershfield, an environmental engineering firmto design a residential curbside collection program, at a cost of $100,000.

The city says it hasput out a request to hear from businesses interested in operating curbside blue bin collectioninWhitehorse.