Recyclable Materials & Prohibited Wastes
Recyclable Materials
Residential quantities of the following materials are accepted free of charge* for recycling at the Vancouver Landfill (commercial quanitites are not acceptable - see "Alternative Disposal & Recycling Locations" ):
- Used Oil Filters (maximum 3)
- Used Oil (maximum 15 litres)
- Used oil containers
- Lead acid automotive batteries
- Empty propane cylinders
- White goods (large appliances,including fridges, freezers & air conditioners)
- Gypsum drywall*
- Metal
- Corrugated cardboard
- Recyclable old newspapers and office papers; telephone books, computer paper, white and coloured bond and letterhead
- Rigid plastic containers (any color) marked #1 (PET), #2 (HDPE), #4 (LDPE) and/or #5 (PP)
- Tires (passenger or light truck with or without rims, maximum 10)
*Charges apply for Gypsum Drywall (see Rates page).
Note: As of Nov. 1, 2008, mattresses brought to the Landfill will be accepted at the disposal rate (see 'Rates' page). Loads containing 5 or more mattresses will be subject to a burial charge of $200 in addition to the disposal rate
Prohibited Wastes
For a list materials that are banned and restricted from garbage disposal in the region, and solutions for what to do with these materials, visit http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/solidwaste/disposal/Pages/bannedmaterials.aspx or contact Metro Vancouver at (604-432-6200).
The following wastes are prohibited from garbage disposal at the Vancouver Landfill:
- Hazardous wastes (i.e. pathogenic and radioactive materials)
- Hazardous wastes as defined by the Hazardous Waste Regulation of the Environmental Management Act
- Biomedical waste, including sharps
- Paint
- Liquid wastes and sludges
- Explosive substances
- Chemicals or other materials which may create hazardous working conditions
- Inflammable materials
- Materials hot enough to start combustion
- Automobile bodies
- Boat hulls longer than 30 ft, and/or containing any metals or oils (fibreglass and wood parts are accepted for disposal only)
- Dead animals and animal parts including bones, feathers, skin, hair, nails and teeth (excluding processed meat)
- All forms of excrement
- Barrels, drums and other large liquid containers, whether full or empty
- Lumber, timber, logs, etc., longer than 3.6m (12ft)
- Solid objects larger in cross section than 3500 cm2 (3.8ft2) if longer than 2.5m (8ft)
- Fabricated objects wider or thicker than 1.2m (4ft) and longer than 2.5m (8ft).
- Soil with contaminant levels exceeding Urban Park standards defined by the Contaminated Sites Regulation of the Environmental Management Act
- Coated or uncoated wire or cable in excess of 1% by weight of any load
- Commercial loads of dry cell batteries
- Materials accepted for recycling (see list below)
- Asbestos and materials containing asbestos that are not double-bagged
- Desktop computers, computer monitors, notebook computers, desktop printers and fax machines, and televisions
Note: A 50% surcharge may be assessed on garbage loads containing:
- 5% or more by volume of one of a combination of clean old corrugated cardboard, newsprint, office paper, gypsum, yard & green waste, beverage containers, and blue box recyclables, OR
- any of lead acid batteries, medications/pharmaceuticals, paint, solvents, flammable liquids, gasoline, pesticides, vehicle tires, oil, oil filters, empty oil containers, electronic waste (tvs, computers, printers).
The City of Vancouver reserves the right not to accept any waste material. If any prohibited material is disposed at the Landfill without prior written approval by the City Engineer or an authorized representative, the material shall be removed immediately by the offending party. Violations may result in the hauler being banned from disposing at City waste facilities.
[top]