10 Reasons & Benefits of Recycling at Your Local Bottle Depot

Bottle Depot Vs City Pick-up

By:

Nadine |

August 28, 2023

Why Take Your Empties to a Bottle Depot Instead of Letting the City Pick Up Your Containers?

When it comes to recycling beverage containers, many BC cities offer curbside pickup. However, taking your empties to a bottle depot instead of relying solely on city collection has its advantages. In this blog, we will explore the reasons why you should consider taking your recyclable containers to a bottle depot instead of using the curbside service.

Earn Money instead of giving it away

One of the primary reasons to opt for a bottle depot is that you can earn 10 cents per recyclable beverage container instead of leaving your money on the curb. Now with the Universal Recycling Program, all types of containers can be recycled, such as; plastic bottles, tetra packs, milk containers and more. Follow this link to learn more about how much you can earn per container.

Bottle Depot Earn Money Instead Of Giving It Away
Bottle Depot Earn Money Instead Of Giving It Away

Convenient Locations

Bottle depots are strategically located in various neighbourhoods. Regional Recycling has 8 locations in BC to choose from. Unlike city curbside pickups, which follow set schedules, bottle depots offer flexibility in terms of when and where you can drop off your recyclable containers. This convenience allows you to recycle your empties at a time that suits your schedule, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

Variety of Materials Accepted

While curbside recycling programs typically focus on a limited range of containers, bottle depots accept a wider variety of beverage containers. Whether you have glass bottles, plastic containers, aluminum cans, or Tetra Pak cartons, bottle depots are equipped to handle these different types of materials. Plus, you can bring in other materials such as electronics, appliances, scrap metal, and more.

Bottle Depot Sorting and Processing Efficiency
Bottle Depot Sorting and Processing Efficiency

Sorting and Processing Efficiency

Bottle depots are equipped with specialized machinery and systems designed to sort and process recyclable containers efficiently. Regional Recycling offers FastDrop, which allows you to be in and out of the depot in minutes or try our new service, Quikcount. The Quikcount machines, found in our Vancouver, Abbotsford, and Richmond locations, can count hundreds of cans per minute and will dispense cash right away.

Environmental Benefits

Taking your empties to a bottle depot instead of relying solely on curbside pickup has significant environmental benefits. By choosing a bottle depot, you actively participate in the circular economy by ensuring that your containers are recycled into new products rather than ending up in landfills or incinerators. Recycling beverage containers conserves resources, reduces energy consumption, and helps minimize the extraction of raw materials. It also helps mitigate greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing new containers.

While city curbside pickup programs for recyclable containers offer some convenience, taking your empties to a bottle depot provides numerous advantages. Visit one of our 8 locations to earn more with every return.

Regional Recycling is proud to work with the Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) the not-for-profit organization that manages British Columbia’s recycling program for end-of-life major household appliances. Working on behalf of appliance manufacturers and other regulated producers, MARR helps ensure that unwanted appliances are collected, recycled, and processed responsibly across the province.

Operating under BC’s Recycling Regulation, MARR oversees an approved stewardship program that keeps valuable materials in circulation, ensures environmentally responsible handling of hazardous components, and helps reduce waste sent to landfill. The program is governed by MARR’s Board of Directors and is designed to make appliance recycling convenient, accessible, and environmentally responsible for British Columbians.

In addition to Regional Recycling, there are over 200 certified Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) collection sites throughout BC that make it easy to recycle responsibly. There is no charge to drop off eligible appliances, and you can be confident that every appliance is processed safely, with recyclable materials recovered and hazardous components handled by licensed professionals.

image for recycle large appliances post shows person in front of garage with old large appiances - text - is one of these taking up space in your garage

You can recycle all of the following residential products with Regional Recycling:

  • Full-size Refrigerators – Refrigerator and refrigerator freezer combinations. Includes built-in and free-standing models.
  • Compact Refrigerators – Refrigerator or refrigerator-freezer combinations that are 6.4 cubic feet or less in volume. Includes beer kegs, wine dispensers and wine coolers.
  • Freezers – Chest, upright, and compact freezers, plus under the counter freezer drawers and ice makers.
  • Window Air Conditioners – Operate through the wall or are window-mounted.
  • Portable Air Conditioners – Can be moved from place to place.
  • Dehumidifiers – Free-standing and can be moved from place to place.
  • Clothes Washers – Top and front-loading. Includes stacked laundry units and those that also dry clothes.
  • Clothes Dryers / Built-In Steam Cleaners – Top and front-loading. Includes stacked laundry units.
  • Dishwashers – Built-in, portable or convertible.
  • Ranges – Can include a surface cooktop and oven.
  • Built-In Ovens – Can have separate warming drawers, combination with microwave oven or double-walls.
  • Surface Cooking Units – Installed into the countertop where the controls are either integrated into the unit or installed separately.
  • Range Hoods & Downdrafts – Can be separate or connected from the cooking unit.
  • Built-In and Over the Range Microwaves – Built-in with or without hood vent combinations permanently installed microwave ovens.
  • Food Waste Disposers – Integrated into the plumbing of a household.
  • Trash Compactors – Permanently installed or portable.
  • Built-in Electric Hot Beverage Dispensers – Mounted under the counter or built-in.
  • Water Coolers – Mounted under the counter or built-in.

To learn more about how to recycle your large appliances with us, please see our large appliance recycling page on our website. We look forward to seeing you at one of our depots!

Please Note: Our Burnaby location does not recycle large appliances due to space restrictions.

 

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