Split-Compartment Trucks: How Do They Work?

Did you know Port Alberni's collection trucks can actually pick up both recycling and organics or organics and garbage (depending on your collection week) without contaminating the separate streams?

These automated City trucks have split compartments (if the trucks look new, it’s because they received a facelift with Sort’nGo decals!) The truck driver will flip a switch to activate either one compartment or the other depending on which cart is being emptied.

Once the truck reaches the landfill, materials are emptied into their appropriate transfer station bins — recycling or compost is then hauled to the proper processing facility, while garbage is disposed of at the active tipping face.

Because the compartments are separate in the truck, the three streams get collected, dropped off, and sorted independently. This means we can't mix garbage, recycling and organics in the carts — which will lead to contamination. Help us keep our streams clean and sort smarter with the Sort'nGo ACRD app: https://api.recollect.net/r/area/ACRD

Not sure what belongs? Play the sorting game on the Sort'nGo ACRD app (or desktop version here: acrd.recycle.game) and if you receive a certificate of completion between now and December 15, email a screenshot of your certificate to sortngo@acrd.bc.ca or save it as a PDF and mail it to the ACRD office at 3008 5th Ave, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 2E3. All certificates we receive between now and December 15 will go into a draw to win a free year of waste service! Learn more at: 3008 5th Ave, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 2E3. Learn more at: Bit.ly/SortnGoContest

The next time you're driving behind one of our collection trucks, see if you can spot both compartments!