Easy, safe and affordable drop-offs
The staffed, self-serve Burnaby Eco-Centre provides you with safe, convenient and affordable drop-off options for over 20 different types of recyclable materials.
Accepted and not accepted items
Mixed paper
- printed paper
- multiple layer paper bags
- boxboard boxes and corrugated cardboard
- moulded boxboard
- gift wrap and greeting cards (paper only)
Mixed containers
- hot and cold drink cups
- gable top and Tetrapak® cartons
- frozen dessert boxes
- steel and aluminum containers, foil, lids
- empty aerosol cans (no butane)
- spiral wound paper cans
- plastic plant pots/trays
- hard plastic packaging, lids
Flexible plastic
- non-food protective packaging (bubble wrap)
- crinkly wrappers and bags
- stand-up and zipper lock pouches
- flexible packaging with plastic seal
- woven and net plastics
- plastic bags and overwrap (compostable bags not accepted)
- squishy cushion packaging (polyethylene foam)
- reusable plastic-only carry-out bags
- plastic drop sheets or covering
- plastic shrink-wrap
Other
- batteries
- propane tanks refillable/non-refillable
- butane tanks
- paint
- large and small scrap metal
- hard plastics (non-packaging)
- plastic foam packaging (Styrofoam™) - residential only
- plastic foam trays, plates, bowls, cups, and take-out containers
- books
- clothing, shoes and household textiles
- used motor oil, filters, containers
- flammable liquids and pesticides
- cooking oil
- antifreeze
- cell phones
- glass jars and bottles
- electronics
- e toys
- small appliances
- power tools
- electric outdoor power equipment
- mattresses
- furniture
- garbage
- grass clippings & leaves
- small branches (up to 4” diameter)
- plants & flowers
- clean wood (no construction waste, plywood or glue laminates)
Things to remember:
- Do not bag or bundle green waste.
- As a resident, you can drop off 1 load per day of up to 100 kg of green waste for free. Charges apply for entire loads over 100 kg (please bring proof of residency).
- Green waste drop off fee: $124/tonne.
- Our busiest periods for organics drop-off are between 9-10:30 am and between 2:30-4 pm. To avoid a line-up, plan your drop-off outside of these hours.
- animal waste or carcasses
- treated wood
- tree stumps / branches larger than 4” diameter
- plastic bags and compostable plastic bags
- plywood
- dirt, rocks or sand
- soil or sod
We've greatly expanded the types of items we accept for donation. Donated items should be clean, in a box and in usable condition. For broken or non-functional items, please see the recycling drop-off section for accepted and non-accepted categories.
- All items must be placed in a box or bag
- Do not place loose items in the donation bins—they cannot be accepted and will pose a safety hazard to others
- Items cannot be soiled, torn or unsafe
- Items must be functional and suitable for resale
Home & kitchen items:
- Bakeware (cake pans, muffin tins, baking sheets)
- Bath items (towels, bathrobes, shower curtains)
- Cookware/pots and pans (frying pans, stockpots, skillets, Dutch ovens)
- Cutlery & utensils (knives, forks, spoons, spatulas, tongs)
- Décor items (picture frames, candle holders, vases, clocks)
- Kitchenware (dishes, cutlery, cookware, cutting boards)
- Tableware (plates, bowls, glasses, serving platters)
- Small appliances (coffee machines, toasters, blenders, food processors)
- Small sporting goods (dumbbells, yoga mats, tennis rackets)
- Tools (garden tools, hand tools, power tools)
Technology & electronics
- Phones, tablets, laptops (iPhones, iPads, MacBooks)
- Smart home devices (smart speakers, smart lights, thermostats)
- Headphones and earbuds (wireless, noise-canceling)
- Chargers and cables (for phones, laptops)
- Gaming consoles & accessories (Xbox, PlayStation, controllers, gaming headsets)
- Bluetooth speakers (portable, waterproof)
- External hard drives (data storage devices)
- Wearables (smartwatches, fitness trackers)
Entertainment & leisure
- Toys, games and gaming consoles (board games, action figures)
- Musical instruments (guitars, keyboards, drums)
- Outdoor sports equipment (bats, balls, gloves, yoga mats)
- Camping gear (tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves)
- Board games and puzzles
- Home projectors
Personal care & wellness
- Haircare tools (hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons)
- Fitness equipment (dumbbells, resistance bands, kettlebells)
- Essential oils and diffusers
- Yoga and meditation accessories (mats, blocks, cushions)
- Beauty tools (face rollers, tweezers, manicure sets)
Pet products
- Pet toys (chew toys, balls, frisbees)
- Pet accessories (collars, leashes, grooming kits)
- Pet beds
- Pet tech (automatic feeders, pet cameras, GPS trackers)
Outdoor & garden
- Grilling accessories (tongs, spatulas, grill brushes)
- Garden tools (pruners, shears, trowels, gloves)
- Small planters and pots
- Small bird feeders and bird baths
- Outdoor lighting (string lights, lanterns, solar-powered lights)
Gifts & novelty items
- Personalized gifts (engraved jewelry, custom home decor)
- Seasonal décor (holiday-themed candles, wreaths, decorations)
- Unique gadgets (quirky lamps, unusual tech)
- Collectibles (action figures, figurines, memorabilia)
Media & entertainment
- Videos, records, CDs, and DVDs (movies, albums, classic collections)
- Art supplies (paints, brushes, sketchbooks, easels)
- Furniture
- Boats and vehicles (motorized or otherwise)
- Baby equipment
- Mirrors
- Car parts
- Carpet, area rugs, window blinds
- Building materials or paints
- Console TVs, computer monitors, stereos, full-size pianos
- BBQs and lawn mowers
- Large appliances (stoves, washers, refrigerators)
- Mattresses and box springs
- Encyclopedias and magazines
To get replacement blue and grey boxes, yellow bags or kitchen catchers, please bring proof of residency.
Japanese beetle regulated area
Burnaby is now observing restrictions on the movement of plants and soil from the Japanese beetle regulated area. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has designated the Eco-Centre as the only approved drop-off destination for green waste leaving the regulated area. The following materials from inside the regulated area are subject to movement regulations:
- Rooted plants (plants with attached soil) and soil (year-round)
- Above-ground plant parts (e.g. clippings, branches, leaves) between June 15 to October 15 (beetle flight season)
Landscapers bringing green waste (no soil, sod or root bulbs larger than 12” diameter) from the regulated area to the Eco-Centre are required to present a Movement Certificate prior to tipping their green waste. Visit www.inspection.gc.ca/JB to learn more.
Between June 15 and October 15, commercial landscapers dropping off green waste from the regulated area may drop off any time between 8 am-4 pm (including the normally restricted commercial drop-off hours Mon-Fri between 9-10:30 am and 3-4 pm).
For more information about the Japanese Beetle in Burnaby, visit Burnaby.ca/japanesebeetle.
Composters and rain barrels
Composters
Yard and garden trimmings, along with fruit and vegetable peelings, can be composted at home in your backyard. It can improve soil texture and provide nutrients for healthier, happier plants.
You can buy composters from the Eco-Centre for $31.36 each (includes tax). Please bring proof of residency.
Download our free guide to backyard composting.
Rain barrels
Lawn watering restrictions are in effect from May 1 to October 15 every year. If you want to give your plants year-round access to warm, un-chlorinated and oxygen-rich water, you can get a rain barrel. Each barrel holds up to 341 litres of water.
As a resident, you can buy one from the Eco-Centre for a special price of $106.40 (includes tax). Please bring proof of residency.
Our partnerships
The centre partners with various Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, including Product Care, Call2Recycle, Interchange Recycling (formerly BC Used Oil), Recycle BC, Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable, Electronic Products Recycling Association and more. EPR is an approach to recycling under which Canadian businesses are responsible for reducing the environmental impact of their products and packaging. The centre also partners with BC Children’s Hospital and Diabetes Canada for clothing donations, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver for donated items and CNIB to collect cell phones for their Phone It Forward program.