The Comox Strathcona Waste Management Centre (CSWM) on Vancouver Island is launching a new marine waste eco pick up service next week.

Services Coordinator Stephanie Valdal says the centre will send trucks with large bins to communities to pick up marine waste that has been collected by individuals, community groups and First Nations. She adds that at this point the service will be by request and will be monitored to measure demand.

Image courtesy of the Comox Strathcona Waste Management service.

Spring is typically the time when community groups organize beach cleanup efforts to collect materials that have accumulated due to storm surges and the activities of the aquaculture industry and boaters, prompting launch of the pick up service at this time.

Local waste management depots on Quadra and Cortes islands have contracts with CSWM. Valdal says one of the first mobile pick up events is occurring May 27-28 on Quadra Island.

She adds that a partnership with the Ocean Legacy Foundation allows for most of the collected material to be recycled and not added to landfills.

Valdal talks about the expanding marine waste collection initiative in the interview below with CKTZ News: