Conquering Recycling Metals in Vancouver

Conquering Recycling Metals in Vancouver

The quest for recycling metals and how it all happens.

By:

Nadine |
December 13, 2021

Heroes recycle their metals

Metal recycling has been around longer than recycling has been! Think of a blacksmith melting down old weapons to make the mighty hero’s new sword. Metal recycling has been around as long as metal processing. Just think, knights, kings, and all sorts of heroes of our past have all been part of the history of recycled metals.

Cheap Halloween Crafts!
Cheap Halloween Crafts!

Which Metals can be Recycled?

Are you ready to be a hero and start recycling metals? You’ll first have to know which metals can be recycled and which items in your household you can bring to one of our depots. Use this list as a quick guide or visit our Drop-Off page to learn more.

Recycling BC British Columbia Canada
Recycling BC British Columbia Canada

• Electronic Appliances. We accept common household metal appliances such as microwaves, blenders, washers, dryers, ovens, and more.

• Batteries. Since batteries contain corrosive and toxic materials, they need to be handled with great care. If you’re unsure of what to do with the old batteries laying around your house, including car batteries and lithium, recycle it with us.

• Commercial Scrap Metal. Demolition sites create an excess of scrap metal products. If you’re looking for somewhere to drop your metal scrap in Vancouver, we’ll take care of your steel beams, iron rods, and other commercial metals you need to dispose of.

• Wiring. Copper wiring is commonly found throughout residential and commercial properties. Drop yours off at our facilities to have it recycled the right way.

• Radiators. Working or not, you can drop your radiators off at our Vancouver facility. From automobiles to household radiators, we have the equipment to recycle them correctly.

• Ferrous Metals. Commonly used on construction sites, industrial ferrous metals can be recycled. If you have loose iron and steel metal laying around, drop it off at our Vancouver location for no charge.

• Non-Ferrous Metals. This type of metal contains zero steel or iron. We specialize in recycling non-ferrous metals such as copper, brass, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc, and insulated wire. Used in a variety of appliances, we will purchase your non-ferrous metals for cash at our Vancouver facility.

Metal Is One Of The Easiest Materials To Recycle
Metal Is One Of The Easiest Materials To Recycle

Hot Tips on How Metal is Recycled

Metal is one of the easiest materials to recycle; it’s highly malleable and can be reformed into a variety of products. The metal recycling process begins with weighing the products by using precise digital scales. This is followed by the careful sorting, cleaning, and stripping of the metal to bring it back to its raw form. The metal is then melted down and tested for purity to ensure no contamination has taken place. Lastly, the metal is cooled and shaped to be made into new products.

Metal can have many lifetimes. So, when done properly, this process can be repeated endlessly. Whether it’s a car, appliance, or mighty sword; metals can be used for generations!

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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