OLF & Friends Open Canada’s First Ocean Plastic Depot in Powel River, BC
We are proud to announce that BC’s first Ocean Plastic Depot opened at Augusta Recyclers in Powell River on October 26, 2020!
Originally announced at PR Peak Oct 14, 2020
Ocean plastic depot to open in Powell River
Facility will divert landfill waste and reduce oceanic plastic pollution
One of the first large scale Ocean Plastic Depots to open in BC, Canada is now finished.
The Ocean Plastic Depot will target materials collected from cleanup efforts, as well as legacy equipment from the marine sector, to divert landfill waste and reduce oceanic plastic pollution. It will provide a designated location for these materials to be properly contained and select items recycled.
The infrastructure and ocean plastic diversion program is made possible through a partnership with the Ocean Legacy Foundation, qRD, Augusta Recyclers, Let’s Talk Trash and with funding from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
A second depot will be opening this year in Tofino, in partnership with the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District.
“Ocean Legacy is excited to launch this opportunity with the Alberni-Clayoquot and qathet Regional District to reduce the pollution in our coastal communities and protect our precious marine environments,” stated Ocean Legacy president Chloé Dubois. “This development will provide critical infrastructure to capture plastic wastes, divert them from landfill and responsibly recycle items to not only support innovative technologies but further implement pragmatic solutions to grow the Canadian plastic circular economy.”
“We hope this depot facilitates increased collection and further supports our many event coordinators and community volunteers to rid our coastline of marine debris,” stated McLennan.
The depot will accept a variety of abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), marine debris and legacy equipment, including some netting and rope, polystyrene foam (Styrofoam), hard plastic and select buoys. Marine debris collected will be sent to the Ocean Legacy processing centre in Delta, where it will be further sorted, cleaned and recycled.
To register and gain access to the depot at 7346 Highway 101, email Email Let’s Talk Trash, or call 604.485.2260. For more information, go to letstalktrash.ca, qathet.ca or oceanlegacy.ca.
oyster baskets barrels and other material from beach clean
a very large haul of ocean plastic recently collected