Recyclopedia - Recycling FAQs

Wood is NOT available for recycling at any Regional Recycling locations but… there are some other places you can take it.

Wood recycling in British Columbia is an environmentally beneficial process that repurposes clean, untreated wood into products like mulch, paper, and even furniture, contributing to sustainable waste management and reducing the need for deforestation. Several facilities across the province, such as Urban Wood Waste Recyclers and Cascades Recovery, accept wood waste for recycling. The Green Bin and composting help manage yard and organic wood waste. However, treated wood and wood products are generally not recyclable due to harmful chemicals. For furniture, donation to charities, selling on reuse market places or responsible disposal at transfer stations are recommended options.

Yes, you can recycle cloth or fabric in British Columbia through various programs and organizations dedicated to textile recycling. With 85% of textiles ending up in landfills, it’s crucial to reduce, repair, and repurpose clothing to minimize waste. In BC, there are numerous options for responsibly disposing of textiles, including clothing donation bins at Regional Recycling locations. Lower Mainland locations partner with Big Brothers, while Nanaimo locations support the Canadian Diabetes Foundation. Additionally, thrift stores, non-profit organizations, and specialized recycling services like Trashie.io, Zero Waste Centre, Eco-Centre in Burnaby, Fabcycle, and Our Social Fabric provide accessible ways to recycle textiles, helping to promote a more sustainable environment.

Yes, aluminum foil is recyclable in British Columbia. Residential quantities of aluminum plates, pans, and foil can be recycled for free through the provincial Recycle BC Program, which includes curbside blue box recycling and certain drop-off locations such as Regional Recycling Nanaimo. It’s important to rinse the foil before recycling. However, Regional Recycling Lower Mainland locations do not accept aluminum foil for recycling.

In British Columbia, recycling propane tanks can be done through several safe and responsible methods. Many propane suppliers, such as Canadian Tire, Home Depot, and U-Haul, offer take-back or exchange programs. Some municipalities have household hazardous waste collection programs that accept propane tanks, and certain scrap metal yards will recycle them if they are empty and depressurized. In Vancouver, the Zero Waste Centre and the Landfill Depot provide facilities specifically designed for the safe disposal of hazardous materials like propane tanks. Regional Recycling Nanaimo accepts 1LB containers only, while locations in the Lower Mainland do not accept any size of propane tanks. It is crucial not to place propane tanks in blue recycling bins or waste bins due to the significant safety hazards they pose, including the risk of explosions and fires. Proper handling and disposal are essential to protect workers and the environment.

YES, but only at depot recycling programs: CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, and floppy disks can be recycled through specialized depot programs like those at Regional Recycling, which accept these items along with their cases.

Standard blue bin recycling programs DO NOT accept these storage media, as they are made from complex materials requiring specialized facilities. Improper disposal in curbside bins can cause environmental harm.

Alternatively, consider donating, selling, or upcycling these items to extend their usefulness and reduce waste.

Regional Recycling Recycles Electronics For FREE!

You can recycle electronics for free at any Regional Recycling location. Visit our location page to find a convenient drop-off point. Regional Recycling has locations throughout the lower mainland of BC and on Vancouver Island. Our depots are conveniently located in Vancouver, Burnaby, Whistler, Nanaimo, Abbotsford, Richmond, and Cloverdale in Surrey. We accept a wide variety of electronics at all of our depots. If it has a battery, plugs-in, winds up, or is mostly made of metal, we can recycle it! You can recycle computers, cell phones, TVs, batteries, power tools, lightbulbs, smoke alarms, wires and cords, and even exercise equipment. Bring them down to the Regional Recycling Depot near you for safe handling and proper recycling.

Regional Recycling Depots accept a wide variety of residential items for recycling including providing full refund on your refundable beverage containers. Check the Regional Recycling website to learn more about what you can recycle.

Yes, pizza boxes are recyclable in British Columbia, but with some conditions. If the pizza box is free of food residue and grease, it can be placed in your recycling bin. However, if parts of the box are heavily soiled with grease or food, those parts should be torn off and disposed of in the compost or garbage, while the clean parts can still be recycled. Check your green bin/organic collection guidelines as some municipalities allow you to put them in there as well.

British Columbians love their coffee, often enjoyed on the go, leading to significant waste from single-use cups. Fortunately, these coffee cups can be recycled! Under the province-wide program managed by Recycle BC, you can place empty and rinsed coffee cups in your blue bin for curbside recycling. Remember to separate the lids from the cups, and note that plastic straws are not included in this program.

Yes, glass is recyclable in British Columbia, Canada. Many beverage containers, including glass bottles for wine, beer, alcohol, juice, and soda, can be returned for a refund at all Regional Recycling depots, offering a full 10-cent refund.

Non-deposit glass bottles and jars, used for items like salad dressings and pickles, are accepted in the Multi-Material BC (MMBC) residential recycling program, available at certain depots like Regional Recycling Nanaimo. Excluding all Regional Recycling lower mainland locations which only accept deposit containers for recycling.

Curbside recycling programs in municipalities also accept glass bottles and jars, which should be emptied, rinsed, and free of food residue before recycling.

Plate glass, mirrors, windows, and other glass items with different compositions should not be placed in curbside bins but can be disposed of through services like 1-800-GOT-JUNK or donated to Habitat for Humanity ReStores. If recycling isn’t an option, follow local guidelines for safe landfill disposal.

Are Milk Cartons Recyclable? Yes, milk cartons are recyclable in British Columbia. In fact now you can return your milk cartons for a full deposit of 10 cents. These cartons are generally made from a type of paperboard called polycoat, which includes layers of paper and plastic, and sometimes an aluminum lining, designed to preserve […]

Is Styrofoam recyclable? The short answer is Yes, but the options are limited and the process can be confusing. Residents can recycle Styrofoam at Recycle BC depots and Regional Recycling Nanaimo locations, while London Drugs accepts some foam packaging. Metro Vancouver faces the challenge of managing 10,500 tons of Styrofoam waste annually, with only 21% recycled before 2019. To address this, a Styrofoam landfill ban was enacted in 2018, followed by a surcharge on Styrofoam loads at transfer stations to promote sustainable disposal. Styrofoam, a non-biodegradable polystyrene, poses environmental hazards such as wildlife harm and chemical leaching, making its recycling and proper disposal critical. Clean, contaminant-free Styrofoam can be recycled into new products, supporting environmental sustainability.

In British Columbia, Canada, several options exist for responsibly recycling tires through a program managed by Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC). You can return old tires when purchasing new ones at most tire retailers, or recycle up to four clean, off-the-rim tires at designated Return to Retailer (R2R) locations by calling ahead. TSBC also has a network of drop-off locations throughout the province, including tire retailers and recycling centers. Recycling tires is essential for reducing landfill waste, preventing groundwater contamination, and mitigating health risks from mosquito-borne diseases. For more information, visit the Tire Stewardship BC website.

In British Columbia, there are several eco-friendly options for recycling your Christmas tree. You can cut the tree into small pieces and place them in your green bin for regular pickup, participate in curbside pickup during designated periods in January, or drop off the tree at city-run recycling stations, transfer stations, or landfills. Many communities also host Tree Chipping events by donation, where trees are chipped into mulch. Specific locations like Vancouver, Abbotsford, and Whistler offer free drop-off options, and special events at UBC Botanical Garden and Lions Club chipping sites support local charities and community projects. Always remove all decorations and check local guidelines for accurate details.

In British Columbia, bubble wrap is not accepted in curbside recycling programs due to its potential to interfere with recycling machinery. Instead, bubble wrap needs to be grouped with other soft plastics, requiring special handling. You can recycle bubble wrap at Recycle BC depots, London Drugs stores, and Regional Recycling Nanaimo, which is a participating RCBC Recycling Depot. These locations are dedicated to reducing plastic waste by properly processing and repurposing materials. Always ensure the bubble wrap is clean and dry before recycling, and consider reusing it for packing delicate items in suitcases. For more details, check local recycling guidelines or visit the Recycle BC website.

Recycling mattresses is a beneficial practice that reduces landfill waste, conserves resources, and minimizes environmental impact. Instead of illegally dumping your mattress, consider donating it to charities like Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, or local thrift shops if it’s in good condition. For recycling, ask your retailer if they offer services when purchasing a new mattress, or schedule a large item pickup with your municipality. You can also bring your mattress to a transfer station or landfill for a fee, ensuring proper disposal even if it has bedbugs, by securely wrapping and labeling it. Companies like Canadian Mattress Recycling and Mattress Recycling specialize in dismantling and repurposing mattress materials, diverting up to 95% of components from landfills. Recycling mattresses helps conserve resources, reduce waste, and support a circular economy, making it an environmentally and economically beneficial choice.