What Can I Recycle?

Q: Do those collected recyclables get properly recycled?

YES! Absolutely!! Material collected at RDCK depots is consolidated for shipment and travels to Recycle BC’s Material Recovery Facilities in Richmond BC. From there plastics, paper and cardboard, metal, glass and foam are separated and distributed to processors for recycling. RBC tracks the material it receives and publishes in its Annual Reports how each collected recyclables were managed. In 2023, Recycle BC achieved 79.6% recovery rate, over 98% of recycling rate for plastics (and all recycled in BC!).

Q: Can I recycle Styrofoam (polystyrene)?

Yes! Styrofoam packaging used to ship electronics and other items as well as food packaging (meat trays, egg cartons and take out containers) is recyclable. Please bring them at our Core recycling Depots.

Q: Which plastics can I recycle?

Hard plastic packaging of all kinds is accepted. Since Recycle BC is responsible for collecting and recycling residential packaging and paper products plastic items that are not sold as packaging such as toys and reusable containers are not accepted. Many types of plastic bags and other flexible plastic packaging are accepted, the Recycle BC’s What Can I Recycle page has more information about specific items.  

Q: How can I recycle my Christmas tree?

Christmas trees are accepted at any RDCK landfill or transfer station as yard and garden waste for a small fee. The tree will be chipped and used for composting. Many communities have a local service club pick up the trees for a nominal fee and will advertise this service around Christmas time.

Q: Can I recycle my refrigerator, freezer or stove?

Yes. These items are covered under the Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) program and accepted for free at almost all RDCK Transfer Stations and Landfills. MARR’s website has a full list of items covered by the program, non-program items are still accepted as scrap metal at RDCK facilities for a fee.  

Q: Can I recycle my car battery?

Yes. Car batteries are accepted at any RDCK landfills or transfer stations at no charge.

Q: Can I recycle fluorescent tubes and bulbs?

Fluorescent tubes and bulbs are not accepted at RDCK facilities. But they can be recycled!  You can take burnt out compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and fluorescent tubes (residential use only) to a collection depot near you. Contact the Recycling Council of BC Recycling Hotline: 1-800-667-4321 or visit RCBC Contact to find your nearest collection loations.

Q: Can I recycle my household batteries?

Household batteries are not accepted at RDCK facilities. But they can be recycled! To find a Call2Recycle collection depot near you visit https://rcbc.ca/contact/.

Q: Where can I recycle oil filters or used motor oil?

Used oil and used oil filters are not accepted for recycling at RDCK facilities. But they can be recycled! For more information about recycling used oil and used oil filters visit the Interchange Recycling website.

Q: Where can I dispose of my old tires?

Tires are accepted at RDCK facilities for recycling for a fee.  In order to fund the safe handling and disposal of the tires the RDCK implemented a user fee. This user fee is payable only if you choose to dispose of your old tires at an RDCK waste handling facility.

When you purchase new tires a fee ranging from $5 – $35 depending on the tire, is levied. All fees collected go exclusively towards the operation of the scrap tire recycling program and are used primarily to pay for transporting and recycling BC’s scrap tires. The RDCK does not receive any of these levies although they are responsible for disposing of the used tires.

Visit the BC Tire Stewardship website to find a location where you can return your used tires to an Authorized Tire Dealer at no charge!

Q: What is contamination?

Contamination is when unacceptable material is placed in a recycling container or bin. Any recyclables that are comingled with garbage, pet waste, organics, or disposable diapers are contaminated and not recycled. Contamination is monitored by Recycle BC and depot operators such as the RDCK are responsible for keeping it within acceptable levels. So far, RDCK residents have done a great job keeping contamination out their recycling! 

Unwashed food containers are also considered to be contaminated and can attract wildlife while also making the depots unpleasant for users and educators so please keep your recyclables clean.

Q: Do I need to wash and squash the plastic and metal containers?

Yes! Help reduce contamination by washing containers. This will help reduce odor, flies and rodents. Squashing the containers will free up more space in the recycling bin.

Q: Do I need to remove the label from metal cans?

No, labels do not need to be removed fro metal cans before recycling. 

Q: Do I need to remove the label from glass bottles?

No. You do not need to remove the label from glass bottles.

Q: Do I need to remove the windows from my envelopes in order to recycle them?

No. Most window envelopes are made out of water-soluble paper fibre instead of the plastic that was once used. Recycle this as mixed paper.

Q: Why recyclables from businesses are not included in Recycle BC?

In BC, what needs to be managed under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs are regulated under ‘the Recycling Regulation’. Currently, packaging and paper products generated from Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) sectors are NOT included in the regulation, meaning that producers of recyclables that are generated from ICI sectors are not mandated to fund the costs for recycling. Recycle BC is only responsible for ‘Residential’ packaging and paper products in their recycling program. If you would like to engage regarding ICI recycling, please contact the Ministry of Environment and Parks.

Q: As a business, how can I participate in recycling programs?

Recycle BC is a program for residential recycling only. Businesses will be provided separate bins for recycling cardboard at the following depots: Nelson Lakeside, Ootischenia Landfill, Crescent Valley Hall, New Denver, Nakusp Landfill, Salmo, Kaslo and Creston Helen Street. Should your business produce large volumes of other recyclables recycling services are available (for a fee) by private commercial haulers.