Reuse and Recycle

Zero Waste reuse and recycling drop-off events

COVID-19 update: drop-off events resume

July 2020: Events have resumed, with important additional safety measures:

  • Limiting the number of vehicles and attendees allowed on site at one time
  • Restricting traffic flow
  • Maintaining proper physical distancing 

Expect lineups and some delays.

Guidelines

  • Do not visit if you are sick.
  • Wash your hands before and after your visit (hand sanitizer available on site).
  • Maintain a 2 m (6 ft) distance from staff and others at all times. Pay attention to signs and ground markings.
  • Wear gloves and a mask or face covering while at the event (recommended).
  • Before you come to the event, pre-sort your items at home into:
    • Electronics and small appliances
    • Clothing and textiles (in plastic bag tied shut)
    • Shoes (in plastic bag tied shut)
    • Household batteries (in plastic bag tied shut)
    • Light bulbs
    • Cell phones (in plastic bag tied shut)
    • Ink and toner cartridges
    • Smoke and CO2 detectors
    • Computers, laptops, game systems

Bring only accepted items that are correctly sorted and bagged. Unsorted items will not be accepted. Plastic bags available on site. Items in their original packaging can be left in their original packaging.

Accepted items

Review what is accepted and not accepted.

Staff on site will not sort materials or handle unacceptable items.

Becoming a Zero Waste community means rethinking what we send to the landfill, and looking for alternative ways to reuse and recycle as much as possible.

Whether you’ve just cleaned out your closet or have a garage full of old, broken, or unwanted electronics, these items can likely be reused or recycled – instead of ending up in the landfill.

Vancouver Zero Waste Centre

Find information on managing large quantities of residential recyclables in Vancouver.

What’s accepted for drop-off

The following items are accepted at each Zero Waste Reuse and Recycling Drop-off event.

For reuse

​ Accessories (scarves, hats, gloves)

​ Bags and purses

​ Bath towels

 Bedding (sheets, pillow cases, blankets)

​ Books (soft and hardcover)

​ Clothing

​​ Computers and monitors

​ Curtains

​ Fabric shower curtains

​​ Kitchen tea towels

​ Shoes

​ Tablecloths and cloth napkins

For recycling

 Clothing*

​ Electronics (TVs, CD and DVD players, VCRs)

​​ Home theatre components

​ Household batteries

 Light bulbs

​ Light fixtures

​ Phones

​ Pillows, cushions, and duvets

​​ Portable audio and video equipment

​ Small household appliances

​ Smoke and CO alarms

​ Video game systems

 Clothing and other textiles can be dropped off for both reuse and recycling as long as they are washed and dry. This includes items that can be worn again or are torn, ripped, full of holes, stained, worn-out or faded, missing buttons, with broken zippers, or singles of paired items. Depending on the type of item and its condition, it will be reused, repurposed, or recycled.

Clothing or textiles that are wet, mildewed, contaminated or infested with moths or bed bugs will not be accepted.

For a full list of accepted items, visit our event partners' websites:

Materials not accepted

The following items are currently not accepted at Zero Waste reuse and recycling drop-off events: 

 Bicycles

 Car seats*

 Construction materials, such as drywall and wood

 Furniture and large or bulky items

 Hazardous waste

 Lawnmowers

Mattresses and box springs

Paper and magazines

 Pharmaceutical products

 Planter pots

 Plastic storage containers

 Propane tanks

​ Sinks, toilets, and bathtubs

 Soft plastics

 Styrofoam

 Suitcases

 Tires

 Toys

 Used oil

Learn how to recycle or dispose of these items

 Car seats are no longer accepted for recycling at the City's free reuse and recycling drop-off events. They can be recycled, for a fee, at the following events and locations:

Car seats were accepted at the City's reuse and recycling drop-off events in 2018 as part of a trial period where the we collected data on car seat recycling.

A total of 540 car seats were recycled during the trial period. We will use all data collected during the trial to advocate for and support a car seat Extended Producer Responsibility program where manufacturers and retailers are responsible for the end of life management of car seats.

Looking to repair instead of recycle?

Before items are brought to a Zero Waste drop-off event, consider if they can be repaired or repurposed.

The following non-profit organizations provide options: