Human remains discovered at recycling facility in B.C.'s Lower Mainland

Workers discovered human remains at a recycling facility in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, CTV News has learned.

Nicole Stefenelli, a spokesperson for Urban Impact Recycling, said the company immediately instituted emergency protocols and notified the New Westminster Police Department of the discovery.

Police said officers were called the location at about 6:30 p.m. for a report of a deceased man.

“We’re investigating and believe it may take several weeks before the circumstances of the death become clear,” NWPD told CTV News.

A media spokesperson said it is too early in the investigation to confirm if foul play is a factor in the man’s death.

A spokesperson for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team told CTV News it had not been made aware of the situation.

According to Stefenelli, it appears the remains were transported to the Capilano Way facility in a truck dropping off a load of recycling.

Stefenelli said the company does not believe the remains arrived in one of Urban Impact’s trucks.

She said the company handles recycling from around the lower mainland and it is often dropped off by third-party operators.

The company was unable to provide details on where the recycling truck that delivered the load with the human remains may have originated.

Stefenelli told CTV News police offered trauma counselling to workers in the wake of the grisly discovery.