Single Family Recycling Guidelines

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Burnaby, Let's Recycle More!

The City of Burnaby provides weekly curbside collection of recyclables from single and two-family homes. Follow this guide to ensure you sort your recyclables correctly for collection, or download a copy of the Curbside Recycling Sorting Guide or download a copy of our acceptable materials list.

Sort Your Recyclables!

Three ways to sort, just different materials.

Recycling Reminders:

Set Out Your Recycling

Please ensure you set your recycling out correctly:

• Place your Yellow Bag between your Grey Box and Blue Box, do not lay it across the top of them.
• Give us space. Please allow 1 metre (3ft) between your recycling containers and your Green Bin and Garbage Container.
• Do not stack your recycling containers.  

FAQs

• What changes have been made to the City's curbside recycling program?

  • In 2011, the BC Government amended the BC Recycling Regulation to make Producers of Packaging and Printed Paper (PPP) responsible for its collection and processing, instead of taxpayers. RecycleBC is a non-profit organization that was formed to represent producers of PPP. As mandated by the BC Government, RecycleBC has designated a new Provincial Recycling Program that was implemented May 19, 2014, across BC. This new recycling program affects residential recycling only, not businesses or institutions. As of May 19, 2014, residents are able to recycle more materials in their curbside recycling program, can drop off plastic films such as grocery bags, produce bags, overwrap from paper towel packaging, and styrofoam packaging to the City's Eco-Centre.

  • In addition to the new materials accepted for recycling, the City is also making changes to how residents must sort their curbside recycling. Starting December 2014, the City will deliver new Grey Boxes for the separation of glass jars and bottles, along with a new larger Yellow Bag. Residents are required to separate glass jars and bottles and place them in the Grey Box (lids go in the Blue Box), and place all newspaper and other mixed paper products into the larger Yellow Bag - no sorting required for paper.

• Can styrofoam and film plastics go in the Blue Box?

  • Styrofoam packaging and film plastics (e.g. grocery bags, produce bags or overwrap from paper towels/toilet paper) are not accepted for curbside collection, but can be dropped off at the City's Eco-Centre, or can be taken back to a Multi-Material BC drop off location.

• What plastic numbers are accepted for recycling in the Blue Box?

  • No more numbers! The new Provincial Recycling Program does not distinguish plastic numbers as part of its collection program, it is based on whether the item is a package or not. The new program accepts all rigid plastic containers that packaged a dry or liquid product, such as soap containers, milk jugs, clam shells from bakery/deli items, plastic containers for peanut butter, yogurt etc.

• Do you have to remove labels from glass jars and bottles?

  • Most labels on glass jars and bottles are glued on and hard to remove. As such, residents are not required to remove labels from glass jars and bottles.

• Are chip bags or candy wrappers accepted for recycling?

  • No. The new Provincial Recycling Program currently does not accept any crinkly plastics (e.g. ptoato chip bags, candy wrappers, flower wrapping etc.) or multi-laminate films (e.g. stand up pouches for soups, candy or granola). Most packaging is accepted in the new Provincial Recycling Program, however, there are no recycling markets for these types of packaing. Multi-Material BC is working with manufacturers and recyclers to explore how to recycle these types of packaging so they can be added to the recycling program in the future.

• Do windows from envelopes or staples have to be removed prior to placing the paper in the Yellow Bag?

  • No, residents do not have to remove the windows from envelopes or staples prior to placing the paper in the Yellow Bag.

• Where can I get a replacement Blue Box, Grey Box or Yellow Bag?

  • Replacement blue and grey boxes and yellow bags are available at Burnaby’s Eco-Centre, 4855 Still Creek Drive. If you need a garbage or yard waste container, contact Burnaby Engineering at 604-294-7460 or engineering@burnaby.ca.

• Can I put out more than one Blue Box, Grey Box or Yellow Bag?

  • Yes, residents can place out more than one Blue Box, Grey Box or Yellow Bag for collection. Please ensure that you leave at least 1 metre of space between your recycling containers and your Garbage and Green Bin containers. If not all boxes or bags are collected it may be that the collection vehicle was at capacity when they reached your property.

Learn More:

• Collection Calendar
• Curbside Garbage Collection Guidelines
• Curbside Green Bin Collection Guidelines
• City's Eco-Centre

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