Is it really garbage?

Many items can be recycled and do not need to go to the Landfill as "garbage". Recycling plays an important role in the City's efforts to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world by 2020. The Landfill and Transfer Station are two of many local depots that take recyclable items not included in the residential recycling collection program.

NOTE: If you have large quantities of recyclable items that City normally picks up, drop them off at the Transfer Station for free.

Use the list below to see how to dispose of different items or materials.

Item	Where to take it	For your information
Antifreeze	Find a collection facility with BC Used Oil Management Association See usedoilrecycling.com	For commercial quantities: Call 1-866-254-0555 See usedoilrecycling.com
Appliances For small appliances, see: Small appliance For large appliances, see: Metal
Asbestos	Vancouver Landfill	Preparation and fees differ for residential and commercial asbestos waste. Asbestos waste is not accepted at the Transfer Station. How to dispose of residential asbestos waste How to dispose of commercial asbestos waste City of Vancouver asbestos policy
Asphalt	Landfill or Transfer Station	For less than 0.5 cubic meters, drop off at the Landfill or Transfer Station. Larger amounts are only accepted at the Landfill.
Auto parts	Landfill or Transfer Station (free to recycle)
Barrels or drums (full or empty)	Find a recycling depot with Metro Vancouver Recycles See metrovancouverrecycles.org	For commercial quantities: See metrovancouverrecycles.org Phone Recycling Council of BC at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Batteries Single use and rechargeable household batteries Lead acid vehicle batteries	Landfill or Transfer Station (free to recycle) Or find a business with Call2Recycle See call2Recycle.ca	For commercial quantities: See metrovancouverrecycles.org Phone Recycling Council of BC at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Beverage containers not accepted by City of Vancouver's recycling program Gable top containers Waxed-lined cartons Flat-top cartons	Find a Return-It recycling depot See return-it.ca
Item	Where to take it	For your information
Cell phones (including their batteries)	Landfill or Transfer Station (free to recycle) Or find a business with Call2Recycle See call2Recycle.ca	For commercial quantities: See metrovancouverrecycles.org Phone Recycling Council of BC at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Concrete	Landfill or Transfer Station	For less than 0.5 cubic meters, drop off at the Landfill or Transfer Station. Larger amounts are only accepted at the Landfill.
Construction and demolition waste	Landfill or Transfer Station	See the accepted types of construction waste
Dead wildlife (located within the City of Vancouver)	Phone 3-1-1
Drywall (also called gypsum and plasterboard)	Landfill or Transfer Station	Learn how to prepare drywall for recycling
Electronics (including electronic toys)	Landfill or Transfer Station (free to recycle) Or, find an electronics recycling depot Return-It depots CBRSC depots	Return-It depots accept a variety of electronics, including electronic musical instruments CBRSC depots accept electronic toys Broken display devices are not accepted at the Transfer Station
Explosive materials	Vancouver Police Department Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Flammable liquids	Find a disposal depot with Product Care: See productcare.org
Light bulbs, fixtures, ballasts, etc	Find a disposal depot with LightRecycle: See lightrecycle.ca	Fluorescent lights are not accepted at the Landfill or Transfer Station For commercial quantities: See LightRecycle for more information
Item	Where to take it	For your information
Lumber (shorter than 2.5m)	Landfill or Transfer Station	Only residential quantities are accepted
Mattresses, box springs, and futons	Landfill or Transfer Station	Mattresses with budbugs require special wrapping Learn how to recycle a mattress with the City
Medications See: Prescription drugs
Metal Appliances such as fridges, freezers, air conditioners, hot water heaters, washers, dryers, and dishwashers Scrap metal	Landfill or Transfer Station (free to recycle)	Up to three appliances can be recycled per day per customer Plastic appliances are not recyclable and must be disposed of as garbage For commercial quantities: See metrovancouverrecycles.org Phone Recycling Council of BC at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Motor oil	Find a collection facility with BC Used Oil Management Association See usedoilrecycling.com	For commercial quantities: Phone 1-866-254-0555 or see usedoilrecycling.com
Oil containers and oil filters	Vancouver Landfill (free to recycle) Or find a collection facility with BC Used Oil Management Association See usedoilrecycling.com	Up to 15 L of oil are accepted at the Landfill For commercial quantities: See metrovancouverrecycles.org Phone Recycling Council of BC at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Outdoor power equipment (for garden and yard care)	Find a disposal depot with Outdoor Power Equipment Institute of Canada See opeic.ca	Accepted products include electric and fuel-powered mowers, snow throwing equipment and gardening tools
Paint (including empty paint cans)	Find a disposal depot with Product Care: See productcare.org	For commercial quantities: See Product Care - Trade Painters
Pesticides	Find a disposal depot: See metrovancouverrecycles.org Phone Recycling Council of BC at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) See Product Care
Power tools	Find a disposal depot with Electro Recycle See electrorecycle.ca
Prescription drugs	Return to your pharmacy
Propane tanks	Landfill or Transfer Station (recycled for free)	For commercial quantities: See metrovancouverrecycles.org Phone Recycling Council of BC at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Item	Where to take it	For your information
Small appliances	Find a disposal depot with Electro Recycle See electrorecycle.ca	Accepted products include electric toothbrushes, countertop microwave ovens, and treadmills
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors	Find a disposal depot with Product Care: See productcare.org
Soil (including sod)	Landfill or Transfer Station	For less than 0.5 cubic meters, drop off at the Landfill or Transfer Station. Larger amounts are only accepted at the Landfill.
Thermostats	Landfill or Transfer Station (free to recycle) Or recycle at a SwitchThe'Stat location for free See switchthestat.ca	For commercial quantities: See metrovancouverrecycles.org Phone Recycling Council of BC at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) Register with SwitchThe'Stat
Tires	Vancouver Landfill (free to recycle)	Passenger or light truck tires, with or without rims, are accepted Maximum 10 tires per trip Tires are not accepted at the Transfer Station See Tire Stewardship BC For commercial quantities: See metrovancouverrecycles.org Call the Recycling Council of BC at 604-Recycle
Trees and plant remains	Landfill or Transfer Station	See the accepted types of yard waste
Wood Clean Painted Stained Laminated Treated (except with creosote)	Landfill or Transfer Station	See the accepted types of wood waste
Wood Treated with creosote	Accepted at the Ecowaste Landfill in Richmond See ecowaste.com

Ask. Tell. Connect.

Phone 3-1-1 to ask, tell, and connect with the City

Outside Vancouver:
604-873-7000

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More ways to contact us

Other recycling programs

Did you know that there are recycling programs run by both companies and non-profit organizations that can help you recycle items that the City does not collect?

These programs are called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programs. The City of Vancouver advocates for EPR programs.

Learn more