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Recycling locations and products

Last updated on December 17, 2024

Learn more about which products are recyclable and where you can recycle them in B.C.

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Recycling locations

Depending on the type of product, recycling can be done at different places across B.C.

Consumers may be able to access recycling services at their local:

  • Recycling depot
  • Retailers
  • Residential pickup site

Recyclepedia

The Recyclepedia is your go-to place to find out what and where to recycle in B.C.

Managed by the Recycling Council of British Columbia's (RCBC), this website includes:

  • A 1-800 hotline: 1-800-667-4321
  • Recent news updates
  • The Recyclepedia app

It's B.C.’s most comprehensive single-source of recycling information.

Review B.C.'s recycling system to learn more about how materials are recycled.

Provincial recycling programs

In B.C., producers are responsible for recycling regulated products under the EPR framework.

Producers design programs based on their business structures, including their own collection system. Producers and agencies determine which products apply to their programs.

This means that not all recycling locations will accept every product. Some recycling locations, such as recycling depots, may have agreed to collect products and materials for different EPR programs.

The ministry and all EPR programs are working to improve accessibility and convenience to consumers each year.

To learn more, visit approved EPR plans and reports.

Types of products accepted at recycling locations

The product categories are broad and can include many products.

Only products regulated under B.C.'s Recycling Regulation are eligible for recycling.

You can access provincial-wide recycling programs for these products:

  • Antifreeze
  • Beverage containers
  • Solvent and flammable liquids
  • Pesticide
  • Gasoline
  • Lead-acid batteries
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Lubricating oil
  • Empty oil
  • Oil filter
  • Paint
  • Electronic and electrical
    • Includes items such as computers and batteries
  • Tires
  • Packaging and paper

Other products

For different reasons, not all recyclable products sold to consumers are accepted in B.C.'s recycling programs.

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Not regulated

To be part of a provincial recycling program, the product category must be regulated. Not all products are included in the Recycling Regulation.

Indigenous and local governments, businesses and other organizations may collect non-regulated products that are not accepted in current programs, including:

  • Textiles
  • Furniture

Contact your regional district to learn more.

 

Unable to process

B.C.'s recycling system cannot process every product that claims to be recyclable.

This may be because the product:

  • Is composed of mixed recyclable and non-recyclable materials
  • Is too expensive to recycle or recycling technology is not easily available
  • Has no market or demand for the recycled product
  • Has been recycled too many times and the quality and durability is reduced

New product categories

The province is working to add and clarify product categories under the Recycling Regulation through the Extended Producer Responsibility 5-Year Action Plan (PDF, 2.6MB) to improve access to recycling products.

The 5-Year Action Plan outlines B.C.'s priorities to advance as a leader in EPR and waste prevention.

The plan's development was informed with key partners and interested parties.

Review the results of these public engagement sessions: 

Fees, deposits and refunds

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Fees

Non-refundable fees are included in the cost of nearly all recycled products.

These fees are set by a producer or an EPR agency for the management and cost to collect and manage a product.

Fees may be visible or non-visible to a consumer.

For example:

  • A non-visible fee is when a fee is embedded into the retail price
  • A visibly labelled fee on a receipt

Fees associated with EPR programs are not:

  • Collected by the province
  • A provincial tax or government fee
 

Deposits and refunds of beverage containers

Since 1970, the beverage container deposit-refund system encourages the recycling of used containers instead of being disposed of in landfills.

The regulation requires all retailers that sell beverage containers to:

  • Collect a minimum refundable deposit of $0.10 per container from the consumer
  • Provide a refund for the initial deposit collected per container from the consumer
  • Accept for return, up to 24 containers, per person, per day, of the brand and type of beverage containers the retailer sells

Beverage containers may also be returned to an authorized collection facility, such as your local recycling depot.

Any unclaimed deposits are used to support the relevant producer program.

If you visit a retailer that's not accepting beverage containers, let us know through this form.

Beverage containers not accepted

There's no obligation to accept for refund any beverage container that's:

  • Contaminated
  • Rusty
  • Dirty
  • Purchased outside of B.C.
  • Not reasonably identified as a deposit-bearing beverage container

How to help with recycling

You can do your part to prevent contamination of recyclable materials through cleaning and sorting your recyclables.

By working together, we can support:

  • The high value of recyclable materials
  • The high rate of recycling
  • Recycling infrastructure and the protection of local workers

Contact information

Recycling Council of British Columbia's (RCBC)

Email: Info@rcbc.ca

Or call:

Contact the ministry

Email: ExtendedProducerResponsibility@gov.bc.ca