Recycle It Right

Sort your waste and recycle like an expert

When you recycle right, you make it easy for everyone—you, the City and the environment. Placing the wrong items in your recycling cart can:

  • stop your bin/container from being picked up
  • put City workers at risk
  • reduce efficiency
  • damage equipment
  • contaminate an entire load of recyclables
  • harm the environment

Let’s team up and reduce recycling contamination to send less to landfills and minimize our impact on the planet.

Find out how to recycle or dispose of an item safely.

How do I recycle right?

Guidelines for houses and duplexes

The City provides weekly curbside collection of recyclables from houses and duplexes. Download the sorting guide to help you recycle right. For a full list of accepted materials, visit Recycle BC.

Follow these steps for a hassle-free experience:

  • Rinse containers and flatten boxes before placing them outside.
  • Place your yellow bag between your grey and blue boxes—don't lay the bag on top.
  • Allow 1 metre (3 ft) space between your recycling containers and your green bin and garbage container.
  • To save space, flatten all large containers and nest containers when possible.

Guidelines for apartments, condos and townhomes

The City provides weekly collection of recyclables from apartments, condos and townhomes. Download the sorting guide to help you recycle right. For a full list of accepted materials, visit Recycle BC.

Questions and answers

Rinse all sticky containers before placing them in the recycling bin. They don't need to be spotless but should not contain any food residue. Unrinsed items, like jam and peanut butter containers, can contaminate a whole load of recycling.

No. Styrofoam packaging and film plastics (e.g. grocery bags, produce bags or overwrap from paper towels/toilet paper) aren't accepted for collection. You can drop them at the Eco-Centre or take them to a Recycle BC drop-off location.

Recycle BC accepts all rigid plastic containers that carry a dry or liquid product—soap containers, milk jugs, clamshells from bakery/deli items, plastic containers for peanut butter, yogurt, etc.

No, you don't have to.

The Eco-Centre accepts Flexible Plastic Packaging for drop off recycling. Flexible Plastic Packaging includes:

  • Crinkly plastics: candy wrappers and chip bags
  • Stand-up and zipper lock pouches: baby food pouches and zipper-lock bags.
  • Woven and net plastic bags: net bags for avocados, onions, oranges etc.
  • Non-food protective packaging: plastic air packets and bubble wrap.

For more tips on how to store and organize your recyclables at home before a depot drop off, visit Recycle BC.

No, you don't have to.

Yes, except styrofoam cups and plastic straws. Empty the contents, separate the lids and rinse the cups and lids before placing them in your blue box/bin.

Yes, plastic plant pots and trays that come with plants are accepted in the blue box/bin. Please ensure the pots and trays are free from soil and plants.

No, they are considered as garbage. Read more on Recycle BC’s website.

You can pick them up at the Eco-Centre—4855 Still Creek Dr. If you need garbage or green bin, please fill the receptacle request form and email it to [email protected].

 

Yes, you can. Ensure that you leave at least 1 metre between your recycling containers and your garbage and green bin containers. If a collection vehicle is unable to collect all your boxes or bags, it may be that the vehicle was at capacity when it reached your property.

Regional recycling and waste centres

If you have garbage that doesn't fit in your regular bins or isn't accepted by the City—like building or renovation materials—you can bring those items to one of these regional regional recycling and waste centres:

North Shore Recycling and Waste Centre

30 Riverside Dr West

Winter hours (Nov 1-Feb 28)
Mon-Fri: 5:30 am-5 pm (recycling depot opens at 8 am)
Sat: 8 am-5 pm
Sun and statutory holidays: 9 am-5 pm

Summer hours (Mar 1-Oct 31)
Mon-Fri: 5:30 am-6 pm (recycling depot opens at 7 am)
Sat: 8 am-6 pm
Sun and statutory holidays: 9 am-5 pm

Find out more

United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre

995 United Blvd

Winter Hours (Nov 1-Feb 28)
Mon-Fri: 5:30 am-6 pm (recycling depot opens at 8 am)
Sat: 8 am-5 pm
Sun and statutory holidays: 9 am-5 pm

Summer hours (Mar 1-Oct 31)
Mon-Fri: 5:30 am-6 pm (recycling depot opens at 7 am)
Sat: 8 am-6 pm
Sun and statutory holidays: 9 am-5 pm

Find out more

Have questions?

Solid Waste and Recycling Division
Phone
24-hour information
BC recycling information services

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