Is food packaging or soiled paper accepted in the curbside organics bin?

There is no standard recycling program in BC that accepts broken blue bins for recycling. If the blue bin you have has a plastic resin code visible on it, some plastic recyclers will accept the bin for recycling, often at a cost. Visit RCBC’s Recyclepedia for drop-off options or contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline for all options available in your community.

There is no set recycling program in BC that accepts plastics from businesses. Recycling for plastics from businesses, institutions, and commercial applications is offered as a service by private waste management and recycling companies, generally at a cost. Contact your local service providers for details on accepted materials and fees.

Visit RCBC’s Recyclepedia for drop-off options or contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline for all options available in your community.

Plastic household items are not included in any of BC’s regulated recycling programs. Some municipal and regional landfills, transfer stations, and recycling facilities may accept certain types of plastics for recycling independent of provincial programs.

Some private plastic recyclers accept plastic household items for recycling, usually at a cost.

Visit RCBC’s Recyclepedia for drop-off options or contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline for all options available in your community.

Many “certified biodegradable” or “certified compostable” plastics may not sufficiently biodegrade in existing commercial composting or digestion facilities. To be safe, leave them out of your green bin unless your municipality or your service provider specifically says their processing facility accepts them.

Many municipalities provide blue boxes or bags to their residents, provided that the recycling pick-up service is provided by your city. Many multi-family complexes receive pick-up from a private contractor due to different property tax structures.

While it’s best to ensure glass isn’t broken when including in your recycling, broken glass bottle and jars can be recycled.

Empty refillable and non-refillable propane tanks are accepted at most landfills and transfer stations for recycling as scrap metal.

Empty aerosol spray cans, including those for food, air fresheners, shaving cream, hairspray and textile sprays, are included in a provincial recycling program, managed by Recycle BC. To ensure that any excess residue is eliminated, hold down the can’s nozzle and spray out the contents into an old rag until you do not hear any sound, not even air. Once the aerosol can is empty, many municipalities accept these items in the curbside recycling bin. For residents who do not have this option, these cans can be recycled free of charge at a number of recycling depots across the province. For more information on this program, visit the Recycle BC website, or contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline.

Phone books are fully recyclable. All curbside recycling programs accept phone books as mixed waste paper.

Residential polystyrene foam packaging is included in a provincial recycling program managed by Recycle BC. This includes foam polystyrene packaging (styrofoam) to protect appliances as well as foam take out and meat containers. For a complete list of accepted products, visit the Recycle BC website.

Visit RCBC’s Recyclepedia for drop-off options or contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline for all options available in your community.

Crinkly wrappers and bags are included in a province wide recycling program for packaging and printed paper under a category called “Other Flexible Plastic Packaging.” This program is managed by an organization called Recycle BC. This category would include wrappers for candy and cookies, cereal bags, potato chip bags, and other products. For a complete list of included items, please visit the Recycle BC website. These plastics are not included in the curbside recycling program, but can be dropped off at a participating depot free of charge. Visit RCBC’s Recyclepedia for drop-off options or contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline for all options available in your community.

Environmental Handling Fees (EHFs) reflect the cost of recycling the item you are purchasing. The collection of EHFs funds the recycling program, including depot operation, shipping and storage of collected electronics, and public education. For a complete list of the different Environmental Handling Fees charged on electronics, visit the Return-It website.

Visit RCBC’s Recyclepedia for drop-off options or contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline for all options available in your community.

Pests and odours can be kept to a minimum with regular emptying and cleaning of your green bin. Remember you are not making more organic waste than before – just moving it into a different bin. Start with lining your kitchen catcher with newspaper, which absorbs liquids, prevents odours and make it easier to clean. Learn how here.

If your community has curbside collection for food scraps, small amounts of used cooking oil can be soaked up in used paper towels or newspaper and then added to your curbside organics bin. If you do not have curbside food scraps collection, small amounts of soaked up cooking oil would go into your household garbage. If you are not sure if your community has a food scraps collection program, please contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline.

There are many benefits to keeping organic material out of the landfill. Engineered landfills are anaerobic environments, meaning they decompose without oxygen. When organic materials break down in anaerobic environments, methane gas is produced. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and contributes directly to climate change.

Accepted materials in municipal composting programs vary. Basic programs include only yard and garden waste such as leaves, branches, and grass clippings. More comprehensive programs accept food scraps as well, including fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, bones, meat, fish, dairy, food-soiled cardboard, and baked goods.

Some cities have banned “clean and green” materials from the garbage. Composting organic yard trimmings conserves limited landfill space and produces a valuable resource! This material belongs in your backyard composter or municipal composting facilities, not the garbage. Visit RCBC’s Recyclepedia for drop-off options or contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline for all options available in your community.