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Recycling
Metro Vancouver Recycles
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Banned & Prohibited Materials 

There are certain materials that Metro Vancouver disposal facilities do not accept, either because there are already disposal programs set up for these items, or because they are hazardous to waste collection workers, the public and the environment. 

At disposal sites, garbage loads are inspected for banned and prohibited materials. Loads that arrive at the disposal sites containing prohibited materials are assessed a $50 minimum surcharge, plus the cost of removal, clean-up or remediation. Loads containing banned materials are assessed at 50% tipping fee surcharge. 

Some of these items will be collected in curb-side or building-wide recycling program. Others can be taken to a local depot.

 Banned Materials
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Corrugated cardboard
Problem: A fully recyclable product banned from the landfills as it needlessly fills hauling truck and landfill space.
Solution: For residents, use your municipal curbside program or a municipal depot. Metro Vancouver Transfer Stations have a drop-off area. For businesses, contact Metro Vancouver’s Business Services for assistance to set up a cardboard recycling program.

  Metro Vancouver Recycles

Recyclable Paper
Problem: A fully recyclable product banned from the landfills as it needlessly fills hauling truck and landfill space.
Solution: For residents, use your municipal curbside program or a municipal depot. Keep a recycling bin in your home or office. Businesses can also contact Metro Vancouver’s Business Services for assistance in setting up an office paper recycling program.

  Metro Vancouver Recycles

Green waste
Banned from the garbage because they can be re-used as chips or compost.
Solution: If available use your curbside pick-up. For larger volumes, use a municipal depot or the yard and green waste area at a disposal facility.

 Metro Vancouver disposal facilities
  Metro Vancouver Recycles

Containers made of glass, metal or Banned Recycled Plastic (1, 2, 4 & 5)
Problem: These fully recyclable products are banned from the landfills as they needlessly fill hauling truck and landfill space.
Solution:Each municipality has its own blue box recycling program. Contact your municipality for more details.
General items are glass jars, plastic and aluminium food containers. Sort recyclable items and use programs available to your home or business. For businesses, contact Metro Vancouver’s Business Services for assistance to set up a recycling program.

  Metro Vancouver Recycles

Beverage containers (all except milk cartons)
Includes all containers of ready-to-drink beverages like juice, pop, water, iced tea, sport drinks, beer, wine, cooler and spirit containers. Cardboard milk containers and tetra packs also recycled (note: no deposit refund on these as no deposit is paid). For a list of the 200 refund locations in Metro Vancouver, check out Metro Vancouver Recycles database.  In addition to using large depots, you can return beverage containers to any retail location that sells them (e.g. supermarkets, liquor stores), to a maximum of 2 dozen per day.

Milk cartons (waxy cardboard) are not banned from the garbage but can be returned for recycling to select return-it depots in your areas.

 Encorp
  Metro Vancouver Recycles

 Prohibited Materials

Electronics & Electrical Products Recycling – EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010
The BC Recycling Regulation has been expanded to include Electronics and Electrical Products effective July 1, 2010.
For information on where to take these and other Prohibited Materials click here.

  • Agricultural waste;
  • Automobile bodies and parts; 
  • Barrels or drums in excess of 205 litres (45 gallons) whether full or empty;
  • Biomedical waste; 
  • Dead animals; 
  • Electronics and electrical products; 
  • Excrement; 
  • Gypsum
  • Hazardous waste; 
  • Hospital office waste;
  • Inert fill materials including soil, sod, gravel, concrete and asphalt in quantities exceeding 0.5 cubic metres per load; 
  • Lead acid batteries; 
  • Liquids and sludge; 
  • Oil containers, oil filters, paint products, solvents and flammable liquids; 
  • Metal household or commercial appliances;
  • pesticide products;
  • pharmaceuticals; 
  • Radioactive and reactive waste; 
  • Refuse that is on fire, smouldering, flammable or explosive; 
  • Refuse that would cause undue risk of injury or occupational disease to any person at the Disposal Site or that would otherwise contravene the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations;
  • Tires; 
  • Any single object weighing more than 100 kilograms or measuring more than 2 metres (in size in any direction); 
  • Any other Refuse that the Manager considers unsuitable for handling at the Disposal Site.
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