McBride, Vanway on the verge of getting new recycling depots

Recycling depots at the Vanway and McBride transfer stations may be returning sooner than later according to the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. 

Recycle BC has made an offer to establish depots at the McBride and Vanway Regional Transfer Stations. 

The RDFFG Board of Directors will consider the service agreement at the next board meeting in March and if approved, the depots are expected to be operational this summer. 

When the two new sites open, they will accept:  

• printed paper, paper packaging, corrugated cardboard, cartons and paper cups 

• plastic containers, metal containers 

• white and colour foam packaging 

• plastic bags and overwrap, other flexible plastic packaging 

• glass bottles and jars 

Recycle BC operates a curbside recycling collection program for residents in Prince George, and with these two new locations, there will be a total of seven depot locations available for residents, including:  

• Hart Return-It Centre 

• Mackenzie Select Waste Landfill and Transfer Station 

• PG Recycling and Return-It Centre 

• Quinn Street Recycling Depot  

• Valemont Regional Transfer Station 

In addition, a one year contract with E-COMM was approved to provide 9-1-1 call answer services.

The estimated cost of the 2025 calendar year contract is $603,070 . 

The contract is for a service area that includes the Fraser-Fort George, Cariboo, Bulkley-Nechako Regional and, Kitimat-Stikine Regional Districts who receive 9-1-1 services through fee-for-service contracts.

During 2024 there were 104,476 9-1-1 calls handled for the service area. 

Starting next year, Fraser-Fort George 9-1-1, a service provided by the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, will take over answering emergency calls in this service area.

Lastly, the Board approved requests for Community Grants in Aid and Recreation Grants in Aid to the following:  

Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes) 

• Nukko Lake Recreation Commission for $1,025 for insurance 

• Salmon Valley Community Farmers Institute for $4,997 for start up costs 

Electoral Area C (Chilako River-Nechako) 

• Beaverly Community Association for $1,500 for swim program and transportation costs 

Electoral Area D (Tabor Lake-Stone Creek) 

• Buckhorn Volunteer Fire Association for $50,000 for fire fighting equipment 

• Buckhorn Recreation Commission for $2,500 for event expenses 

Electoral Area E (Woodpecker-Hixon) 

• Hixon Community Association for $40,000 for community hall improvements 

• Hixon Elementary School PAC for $5,000 for lunch and activity programs 

• Hixon Community Association for $13,050 for insurance 

Electoral Area F (Willow River-Upper Fraser Valley) 

• Cariboo Ferndale Community Association for $5,000 for snow removal 

• Shell-Glen Volunteer Firefighters Association for $15,000 for a hydraulic pump 

Electoral Area G (Crooked River-Parsnip) 

• Mackenzie Firefighters Association for $15,000 for auto extrication course 

• Summit Lake Community Association for $7,500 for operating expenses 

Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe) 

• Dunster Mushroom Society for $1,500 for Mushroom Festival expenses 

• McBride Curling Club for $2,753 for insurance 

• Valemount Community Sports Day Association for $3,500 for Valemountain Days event