Environment and Parks
Preventing plastic waste, reducing emissions and creating clean-tech jobs are just a few benefits of the 14 new projects under the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund, as well as a boost of more than double the previous funding for further projects.
The Province is providing more than $8 million to recipients through two funding streams: reducing plastic waste through reuse, or increasing the use of post-consumer recycled plastic through processing and manufacturing. A third funding stream for Indigenous-led projects is continuing to accept applications. An announcement of funding recipients will follow. All projects must be complete by Feb. 15, 2024.
“Today, our government has invested in 14 new, innovative projects and committed another $25 million to a third round of funding for the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund," said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “This added funding will strengthen our ability to prevent plastic pollution and reduce our use of virgin resources to make plastic products by turning used plastic into an economic asset instead of an environmental burden.”
Phase 2 expanded upon the first round of funding for recycled plastics, with the addition of dedicated funding for businesses developing reuse systems and for Indigenous-led projects. The third funding intake will follow the same scope as the second round of funding.
“The CleanBC Plastics Action Fund encourages innovative technologies that point to a better way of making and using products,” said Mike Farnworth, MLA for Port Coquitlam. “From using recycled plastics to 3D-print modular homes and bathtubs, to increasing zero waste options, these companies are creating jobs and reducing our impact on the planet.”
To date, more than $12.5 million in government funding has been granted to 23 projects. This supports the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan’s goal of changing how plastic is designed and used – from temporary and disposable to durable and reusable. Under the fund, the Province supports up to two-thirds of eligible project costs.
“The funding we received through the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund is helping us expand our single-use mask, respirator and PPE recycling capacity,” said Mikhail Moore, president, Vitacore Industries Inc. “The first of its kind in Canada, our PPE recycling program effectively reduces the environmental impacts these items have on our landfills and oceans.”
Other CleanBC Plastics Action Plan strategies to support a circular economy for plastics include supporting municipal bans on single-use plastics, expanding producer-funded recycling programs and funding the largest shoreline cleanup of ocean plastics in provincial history through the Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative.
Quick Facts:
- Over their life cycle, reusable products generally produce fewer emissions, consume less water, and decrease waste, litter and pollution compared to disposable alternatives.
- B.C. is a leader in extended producer responsibility (EPR), where companies and producers are responsible for the collection and recycling of the products they create.
- 315,000 tonnes of plastics are captured annually in B.C.’s EPR programs.
- The recycling of new waste products is being phased in provincewide as part of a five-year plan, including electric-vehicle batteries, mattresses, compressed gas canisters and medical sharps, such as syringes and needles.
- The Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative has cleaned nearly 4,000 kilometres of shoreline, removed more than 1,000 tonnes of debris, and recycled or upcycled 65% of recovered shoreline materials.
Learn More:
The CleanBC Plastics Action Fund Phase 3 web page can be found here: alacritycleantech.com/plasticsactionfund-phase3
To read about CleanBC, visit: cleanbc.gov.bc.ca
A backgrounder follows.
