VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - July 30, 2010) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

Encorp Pacific Canada and the B.C. government have partnered to bring a "bear smart" recycling program to BC provincial parks with the goal of keeping our parks green and clean.

"As British Columbians, we're proud of our provincial parks, and conscientious when it comes to recycling," said Encorp Pacific Canada CEO Neil Hastie. "Encorp's 'bear smart' recycling partnership with the Provincial Government will not only help keep our parks clean and conserve resources, it will further minimize impact on wildlife."

The specially designed metal bins allow park users to recycle their used beverage containers, and safely keep bears out. Fifty-nine bear-proof recycle bins have been placed at four BC Parks: Cultus Lake Provincial Park (near Chilliwack), Goldstream Provincial Park (near Victoria), Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park (near Parksville), and Alice Lake Provincial Park (near Squamish).

The Ministry of Environment has contributed $8,000 toward the program, and Encorp Pacific Canada has contributed $106,000 toward the recycling bins.

The program was launched in May 2009 as a pilot project, which. ends at the close of the 2010 summer season. Results will be tallied and a decision will be being made regarding the possible expansion of the program.

"This is an excellent example of a BC government/private sector partnership that is working well on a number of levels; it enhances BC Parks, promotes proper waste management, and encourages people to be 'bear smart' when visiting provincial parks," said BC's Minister of the Environment, Barry Penner.

Encorp Pacific's Return-It Man was on hand at the Cultus Lake Bear-Proof Recycling Container event and provided the following recycling facts to a crowded park audience:

• Recycling beverage containers saves enough energy to power 65,000 BC homes for a year, take the equivalent of 37,000 cars off BC's roads for one year and contributes to the reduction of about 137,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent being released into the atmosphere.

• 14 recycled PET bottles can make one extra large T-Shirt.

• 3,700 recycled two litre beverage containers will produce 150 fleece shirts, and save one barrel of oil in the process.

• Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to keep the light on in your bedroom for four hours.

• Juice boxes get recycled into toilet paper.

• The process of recycling an aluminum can, manufacturing another, filling it, packing and shipping it to stores, takes less than 60 days.

• The over 1 billion containers recycled by Encorp Pacific each year are equivalent to more than 1 million grown men weighing 150 lbs each.

Encorp Pacific Canada is a product stewardship corporation with beverage container management as its core business. Encorp's mandate is to develop, manage and improve systems to ensure that used containers are properly recycled and not land-filled or incinerated.

To find out more about Encorp Pacific Canada, please go to: www.encorp.ca.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20100730-encorp8.jpg