5 Environmental Impact

5.1 Environmental Report

The Government of British Columbia has adopted public policies intended to promote a low carbon economy. As a stewardship agency operating under a provincial regulation, Encorp compiles applicable data, analyzes and reports on the impacts of its stewardship activities.

In 2018, Encorp recycled 95,966 metric tonnes of used beverage containers. The energy saved through the recycling of these materials has been converted into tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) the common measure of greenhouse gases (GHGs), based on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM). The avoided emissions published in this report were calculated using the WARM version 13 [06/14]. (Refer to End Fate table in Section 5.2).

In total, Encorp’s activities in 2018 contributed to the reduction of about 102.6 thousand tonnes of CO₂ equivalent being released into the atmosphere, compared to 103.8 thousand tonnes in 2017. The decrease in reduction is primarily due to the change in material mix of material recycled.

While recycling has an overall net benefit in terms of energy and emissions savings, the recycling process itself requires energy and thus has GHG emissions associated with it. When estimating net savings Encorp calculates the GHG emissions specifically associated with its stewardship activities.

Since Encorp is not a manufacturing company, the majority of our associated GHG emissions come as a result of transporting materials as well as heating and powering our network of facilities.

Therefore, we define Encorp’s GHG inventory boundary from the point that empty containers enter into the Encorp system at either a depot or retailer, right through to when the materials are delivered to the end processors for recycling into new products.

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are estimated using conversion factors and methodologies developed by the World Resource Institute’s Greenhouse Gas Protocol (WRIGGP). The collection, transportation and processing services provided to Encorp are done through third party independent contractors and the emissions produced by those activities are classified as Indirect Scope 3 GHG emissions in accordance with the WRIGGP. As there is limited data available for Scope 3 emissions we accept that our information may be less accurate.

Emission calculations from electricity purchased were based on data gathered from a number of depots and processors in each region of the province. Results were used to estimate the energy use per metric tonne of material collected, then extrapolated to the total weight of used beverage containers collected in the province.

The estimated energy consumption in kWhs was then converted into the carbon dioxide emissions using the calculators offered by the WRIGGP. For estimated emissions inventory refer to the table below.

We attribute the reduction in emissions from all sources to changes in the mix of material collected and, therefore end market distribution.

Emissions Inventory Summary

5.2 Container Recycling End Fate Report

All containers collected by Encorp in 2018 were shipped to recyclers for further processing into new material in accordance with Section 8 of the Recycling Regulation.

Material Type	Fate of Material (2018)	Containers Sold (% of total)	Recovery % (by weight)	Energy savings	Weight diverted from landfill (mt)	Tonnes CO2 reduced
Aluminum	Aluminum cans collected were sold and shipped to a re-melt facility in the USA and turned back into sheet stock for new cans. Video: Aluminum Can Recycling Process	35.1%	80.6%	93%	5,202	52,447
Plastic	Plastic containers were sold to end markets in British Columbia and shipped to their two separate facilities in BC and AB to be cleaned and pelletized to become new raw material for manufacturers of various plastic products including new containers, strapping material and fibres. Video: Plastic Bottle Recycling Process	38.9%	75.8%	86%	10,719	12,659
Glass	Glass containers were processed in British Columbia and shipped to a manufacturing plant that produces fiberglass insulation in Alberta; a facility that produces new glass bottles in Seattle, USA; a facility that manufactures sandblasting materials in Quesnel, BC; and municipal sites that use crushed glass as construction aggregates. Video: Glass Bottle Recycling Process	16.9%	90.4%	34%	77,520	26,954
Polycoat	Polycoat containers collected were sold to ICF International and shipped to manufacturing plants in South Korea, Thailand and Japan for materials recovery and production of tissue paper from the recovered fibre. Video: Gable Top Cartons and Drink Box Recycling Process	8.0%	67.5%	53%	1,797	9,510
Pouches	Stand-Up pouches made of layers of plastic and aluminum foil, as well as the laminated plastic bags used inside bag-in-a-box containers were shipped to a manufacturing company in South Korea for production into composite decking.	0.5%	25.4%	53%	9	11
Bag-In-Box	Cardboard from the outer layer of the box was recycled by local processors.	0.3%	49.1%	53%	469	554
Bi-Metal	Other metal containers including Bi-Metal were sold to scrap metal dealers in BC for metal recovery.	0.3%	80.9%	82%	250	511
2018 Total		100%	87.0%		95,966	102,646
2017 Total			84.1%		93,828	103,810

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