This privacy policy discloses the privacy practices for the Recycling Council of British Columbia (RCBC). It will notify you of the following:
- What personally identifiable information may be collected from you.
- How your information may be used and shared.
- The security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information.
- How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.
This policy covers how RCBC treats the personal information that it collects or receives in two broad categories: voluntary users and RCBC contacts.
VOLUNTARY USERS
This category includes website users, including www.rcbc.ca and RCBC’s Recyclepedia search; app users, including the Recyclepedia iOS and Android mobile applications; and contact centre users, including all people who contact us for information services using channels such as email, phone, chat, and SMS text.
We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have the ability to collect information that you voluntarily give us (e.g. email address) or allow to be shared (e.g. location).
Collection
When you use our services, we collect certain data in order to provide those services. We only collect reasonable information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
User Information
Personal information is information about you that is personally identifiable like your name, personal address, personal email address, or personal phone number, and that is not otherwise publicly available (business contact information is excluded). For example, RCBC collects your email address when you send an email message to our Contact Centre.
Usage Data
We collect and log internet or other electronic network information when you use our website and mobile applications. For example, when you navigate our website or make a search on our Recyclepedia search, we may collect the IP address of the device you are using.
Location Data
If you choose to share your location, we collect the IP address of the device you are using in order to provide location-based services. If you wish to change our access or permissions, you may do so in your device’s settings.
Device Information
We may collect information about the type of device you use to access our services, including the operating system (iOS, Android, Windows), model, and manufacturer.
Use
The data collected by RCBC is used to provide our services, to make improvements to our services, and to provide you with technical support if necessary. We only use the data for reasonable purposes as outlined in PIPA.
Sharing
We may share information with service providers, clients, and website analytics providers.
Service Providers
Information is shared with our service providers. We work with external service providers to administer and provide our services, which means that they will process your personal information on our behalf. These service providers help us to:
- Operate and maintain our tools and applications through third party platforms and software
- Compile anonymous statistical data and analysis for use internally or with third parties
- Provide technical and customer support
- Perform other business activities
We may use cloud services provided by third party service providers to store the personal information that we collect and other service providers outside Canada. This means that your information may be transferred to, or stored in, another country and accessible to foreign courts, law enforcement and national security authorities.
Clients
Information is also shared with our partners and clients, including local and provincial governments. We provide summary reports to these organizations, including information such as city or postal code, but we do not transfer any personally identifiable data, such as email address or phone number.
As a service provider for public bodies, we are required under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) to ensure that our work is carried out in accordance with BC’s privacy and access legislation. As a service provider, we must maintain the privacy standards for personal information and access standards for the public set by FOIPPA.
Website Analytics
We may partner with third party vendors such as Google Analytics to allow tracking through the use of first and third party cookies in order to analyze and track users’ use of our services and better understand online activity. We do not transfer personal data to these third party vendors.
Security
We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit information via the website or app, your information is encrypted and transmitted to us securely. We also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job are granted access to personally identifiable information. The servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment.
We use other physical, managerial, and technical safeguards to protect your personal information. We cannot, however, ensure or warrant the security of any information that you share with us.
We will retain your personal data only as long as is necessary for the purposes to which you consent under the Terms and Conditions of our website and this Privacy Policy, or as is required by applicable law.
Corrections and Deletions
You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number given on our website:
- See what data we have about you, if any.
- Change/correct any data we have about you.
- Delete any data we have about you.
- Express any concern you have about your personal information.
RCBC CONTACTS
This section covers how RCBC treats the personal information that it collects and receives including, but not restricted to, information related to past use of RCBC services, products, attendance of events, newsletters, financial information (i.e. membership payment, event registration, etc.), and questionnaires.
We are the sole owners of the information collected from you. We only have the ability to collect information that you voluntarily give us (e.g. email address) or allow to be shared (e.g. location).
This policy does not apply to the practices of companies that RCBC does not own or control or to people that RCBC does not employ, contract or manage.
Collection
When you sign up for one of our services, we collect certain data in order to provide those services. We only collect reasonable information in accordance with PIPA.
Situations
RCBC collects personal information when you do one of the following:
- Apply to become an RCBC member
- Apply to become a member of the RCBC Board of Directors
- Apply to become an RCBC employee, volunteer or intern
- Apply to become an RCBC client
- Register for an account in our database
- Register to use the Reuses sites sponsored by RCBC (i.e. Surrey Reuses)
- Register for various outreach programs
- Register to attend an RCBC event
- Request to be on one of our mailing lists
Personal Information
Personal information is information about you that is personally identifiable like your name, personal address, personal email address, or personal phone number, and that is not otherwise publicly available (business contact information is excluded). We may ask for other personal information such as your industry, job title, or birth date. For some products and services, such as event registration or sponsorship, we may also ask for your payment information.
RCBC also collects information about your interactions with us, including information about your event attendance and product or service use.
For example, if you sign up for our newsletter, we collect your email address so that you can receive it monthly. If you are a member, we may note which events you have attended.
Use
We only use the data for reasonable purposes as outlined in PIPA. Here are some examples of how RCBC uses your information:
- Contact you
- Customize the services and communications that are provided for you
- Fulfill your requests for products and services
- Improve our services
- Conduct research
Sharing
We may share information with service providers and in some other situations.
Service Providers
Information is shared with our service providers. We work with external service providers to administer and provide our services, which means that they will process your personal information on our behalf. These service providers help us to:
- Operate and maintain our tools and applications through third party platforms and software
- Compile anonymous statistical data and analysis for use internally or with third parties
- Provide technical and customer support
- Perform other business activities
We may provide the information to trusted partners who work on behalf of or with RCBC under confidentiality agreements. These companies may use your personal information to help RCBC communicate with you about offers from RCBC or to help tailor events to your needs. However, these companies do not have any independent right to share this information.
We may use cloud services provided by third party service providers to store the personal information that we collect and other service providers outside Canada. This means that your information may be transferred to, or stored in, another country and accessible to foreign courts, law enforcement and national security authorities.
Clients
Information is also shared with our partners and clients, including local and provincial governments. We provide summary reports to these organizations, including information such as organization referred, but we do not transfer any personally identifiable data, such as email address or phone number.
As a service provider for public bodies, we are required under FOIPPA to ensure that our work is carried out in accordance with BC’s privacy and access legislation. As a service provider, we must maintain the privacy standards for personal information and access standards for the public set by FOIPPA.
Other Situations
Under the following circumstances, RCBC may share your personal information.
- We have your express permission;
- We respond to subpoenas, court orders, or legal process, or to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims;
- We believe it is necessary to share information in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, or as otherwise required by law.
Corrections and Deletions
Upon request, you can be notified of
- what personally identifiable information of yours is collected;
- how the information is used; with whom the information may be shared;
- what choices are available to you regarding collection, use and distribution of the information;
- what kind of security procedures are in place to protect the loss, misuse or alteration of information under RCBC’s control; and
- how any inaccuracies in the information can be corrected.
You can also request to be removed from any of our services, distribution lists, or databases at any time by contacting us through the email address or phone number posted on the contact page of our website.
Security
We limit access to personal information about you to personnel and Board members who need to come into contact with that information to provide products or services to you or in order to do their jobs.
We use physical, managerial, and technical safeguards that comply with federal regulations to protect your personal information. We cannot, however, ensure or warrant the security of any information that you share with us.
Updates
Our Privacy Policy may change from time to time and all updates will be posted on this page.
Questions
If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please contact us through the email address or phone number on our contact page. Use Attn: Privacy Officer in the subject line or ask for the Privacy Officer via the phone.