Milk & Plant-Based Beverages Transition into the Deposit System
Now, you can recycle milk containers for 10¢ each!
By:
Nadine |
Recycling milk containers is part of the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan that the Government of BC launched in 2019. This program will save millions of plastic materials from landfills. By adding these containers to BC Recycling programs, local businesses, schools, and restaurants will be able to include milk containers in with their other empty containers.
Let’s start with which milk containers can be recycled. We are happy to report that we can take a wide range of dairy milk and plant-based milk containers such as glass milk containers, plastic milk jugs, and cardboard milk containers. Use this chart as a guideline.
Accepted Milk Containers 10¢
Best before date after Feb 1, 2022
- Plastic dairy milk jugs
- Glass dairy milk containers
- Cardboard dairy milk boxes
- Plastic nut milk jugs
- Glass nut milk containers
- Cardboard nut milk boxes
- Plastic soy milk jugs
- Glass soy milk containers
- Cardboard soy milk boxes
Non-Refundable Milk Containers
Any milk product from above with an expiry date before Feb 1, 2022
- Drinkable Yogurts
- Infant Formula
- Meal Replacements
- Diet Supplements
- Beverage concentrates (condensed milk)
- Coffee creamers, whipped cream, & similar.
Are milk cartons refundable in bc?
Now that you know which milk containers you can recycle let’s talk about how you can put more money in your pocket. Milk containers provide a 10C return. They are a part of the universal return rate; all containers recycled in BC are worth a 10¢ return.
You can earn simpler and faster than ever with our two convenient services.
FastDrop
Drop of your unsorted containers to any of our eight depot locations. You can be in and out of the depot in minutes. We’ll sort your empties, and you’ll have the option of picking up your return in cash or withdrawing it from your FastDrop account after we finish processing your return. Yes, you can put your milk containers in with your other empties!
Depozip
You can also recycle your milk containers from home. With Depozip, you can schedule a free pick-up of your unsorted empties. Set up a free account, schedule a convenient pickup time, and put your unsorted empties on the curb. We’ll process your recycling and send a return to your account.
This new recycling program, implemented by the Government of BC, launches on February 1st, 2022. Please keep in mind that we can only accept milk containers with a best-before-date that falls on or after Feb 1st.
Making an A-moo-zing Impact
In 2017/2018, BC dairy farmers produced 808 Million gallons of milk. With this new recycling program, including dairy milk, nuts milk, soy milk, and other milk substitutes, the impact of recycling milk containers will be immense. To ensure we can recycle all the containers we collect, please give your milk containers a good rinse. This will mean we can give them a new life. Thank you for being a part of this great community and helping us keep containers out of landfills!
For more information about this exciting new recycling program, follow this link or reach out to the Regional Recycling team.
Can we at least flatten one gallon
Milk containers?
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for checking on this. We ask that containers not be crushed due to our need to see the brand and purchase information. This allows us to determine if and when a deposit was paid on the container, and to process an accurate refund value. We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
One empty full size beer keg return amount? Thanks
Hi Kevin, thanks for checking in with us about this. We do not provide refunds for full sized kegs. Your best option would be to return it where you purchased it to receive your deposit refund.
hello, I have boxes of liquid floor stripper that I need to dispose of from my job site. Is this something you can help me with?
Thank you for checking in with us about your recycling!
Unfortunately we do not take your item for recycling. You can check with the RCBC Recycling Hotline to find a location where you can recycle: https://www.rcbc.ca/services/recycling-hotline
You can also call them at: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
Can we recyle a small upright freezer to the Abbotsford location?
Hi Julie. Yes, our Abbotsford location accepts all types of residential appliances. Look forward to seeing you there.
Do you accept toilets ? 🙂
Hi Jared. Thank you for checking in with us about your recycling!
Unfortunately we do not take your item for recycling. You can check with the RCBC Recycling Hotline to find a location where you can recycle: https://www.rcbc.ca/services/recycling-hotline
You can also call them at: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
Hi. Do you take old sewing machines? If not, any suggestions as to where I can take them?. Thanks
Hi Terri, we sure do! Look forward to seeing you at the depot.
Do you accept gas lawn mowers?
Hi HM – we sure do. please make sure the gas and oil are drained before transporting to the depot. We look forward to seeing you there.
Good day do you take old bbqs?
Hi Gordon, we do take old BBQs. Please make sure the fuel source is disconnected and that the unit(s) are free of food waste before transporting to the depot.
Hi, do u take window air conditioners?
Thx
Hi Lisa, we sure do. Look forward to seeing you at the depot!
Do you take Styrofoam package material
Hi JWK, While our Nanaimo locations do take household styrofoam packaging, our mainland locations do not take your item it for recycling. you can call the recycling hotline to find a location that recycles near you: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
I have some dismantle dinning chairs. Can I drop it off to Vulcan? Are there charges?
Hi Jane, Unfortunately we do not take your item for recycling. You can check with the RCBC Recycling Hotline to find a location where you can recycle: https://www.rcbc.ca/services/recycling-hotline
You can also call them at: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
Hi do you accept broken glass large amt.
Hi Eden. Unfortunately we do not take your item for recycling. You can check with the RCBC Recycling Hotline to find a location where you can recycle: https://www.rcbc.ca/services/recycling-hotline
You can also call them at: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
Hello – do you take old magazines?
Hi Tom,
Unfortunately we do not take your item for recycling. You can check with the RCBC Recycling Hotline to find a location where you can recycle: https://www.rcbc.ca/services/recycling-hotline
You can also call them at: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
Hi Tom,
Unfortunately we do not take your item for recycling. You can check with the RCBC Recycling Hotline to find a location where you can recycle: https://www.rcbc.ca/services/recycling-hotline
You can also call them at: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
Hello. Do you take styrofoam?
Hi Christine, While our Nanaimo depots do take household Styrofoam, we do not take it for recycling at any of our lower mainland locations. You can check with the RCBC Recycling Hotline to find a location where you can recycle: https://www.rcbc.ca/services/recycling-hotline
You can also call them at: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
Hello, can you tell me where I can take old child booster car seats to get recycled? They are not the full child car seats, just the booster. Do your recycling depots take them?
Thank you,
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for checking in with us about your recycling!
Unfortunately we do not take your item for recycling. You can check with the RCBC Recycling Hotline to find a location where you can recycle: https://www.rcbc.ca/services/recycling-hotline
You can also call them at: 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253)
We look forward to seeing you at the depot.
Can i bring stand fan and full car seats?
Hi Victor, We can recycle your stand fan, but not your car seats. An auto wrecker that resells may take those.
Do you take clothes washing machines and dryers
Hi Carol, We do take residential clothes washers and dryers at all of our depots EXCEPT Burnaby. Look forward to seeing you then.