The Vancouver Zero Waste Centre (formerly the Recycling Depot) provides a convenient location for residents to drop off a wide range of materials for reuse and recycling, free of charge, including materials:
- Requiring special handling to protect the environment, such as batteries and propane tanks
- In larger quantities than your curbside bins can hold, particularly if you are moving or doing seasonal cleaning
Extended hours
The Zero Waste Centre is now open an extra hour every evening. Bring your recycling materials until 6pm every day of the week.
What's happeningDonate your reusable shopping bags until April 18
Do you have a stack of reusable shopping bags at home that you don’t use? Rather than stuff them in a drawer or the back of your vehicle, bring them to us.
Between March 22 and April 18, residents can drop off their unwanted reusable shopping bags at the Zero Waste Centre as part of a Shopping Bag By-Law Support Plan pilot project. The pilot will explore options for collecting reusable shopping bags, ensuring they are clean, and making them available to residents with low incomes and people experiencing homelessness.
Donated bags must be:
- Clean and dry
- In good condition (no rips, tears, or stains)
- Made of cloth or fabric
- Large enough to carry groceries (at least 30 by 30 centimetres when laid flat)
Information icon Paper and single-use plastic shopping bags are not accepted as part of this donation stream.
The results of the pilot will help us decide whether we will host similar events in the future.
Examples of reusable shopping bags we will accept
Important note If you have more than 50 bags to donate, email ShoppingBagSupportPlan@vancouver.ca to arrange for drop-off in advance. This will help us avoid exceeding the storage capacity at the Zero Waste Centre.
Caution: Drop off garbage at the Transfer Station before dropping off recycling at the Zero Waste Centre due to left turn restrictions on Kent Ave North.
Address
8588 Yukon Street
Vancouver
Hours of operation
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday | 8am to 6pm |
| Sunday | 9am to 6pm |
| Christmas Day and New Year's Day | Closed |
| All other statutory holidays unless otherwise noted | 9am to 4pm |
Accepted Materials accepted for free recycling
Important information Recycling drop-off at Zero Waste Centre is for residential customers only.
Accepted Bicycles and accessories
Accepted Books
Accepted Cardboard (flattened)
Accepted Cell phones
Accepted Clothing and textiles (clean and dry)
Accepted Cooking oil (maximum 10L per day per resident)
Accepted Electronics
Accepted Fire extinguishers (maximum 2 per day per resident)
Accepted Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes
Accepted Foam packaging (Styrofoam) - no foam peanuts
Accepted Glass bottles and jars
Accepted Household batteries
Accepted Large appliances (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, maximum 3)
Accepted Lawnmowers - electric, battery, or gas-powered (remove battery, drain gasoline and oil before recycling)
Accepted Lead acid car and truck batteries
Accepted Light ballasts
Accepted Metal containers (cans, tins, foil, empty aerosol cans excluding spray paint cans)
Accepted Other flexible plastic packaging External website, opens in new tab
Accepted Paper containers (tetra-packs, coffee cups)
Accepted Plastic bags and overwrap
Accepted Plastic containers (jars, jugs, bottles)
Accepted Power tools
Accepted Printed paper and paper packaging (newspaper, magazines, catalogues, writing paper, paper bags)
Accepted Propane tanks (maximum 4 disposable and 2 refillable)
Accepted Reusable shopping bags from March 22 to April 4 only (clean, dry with no rips or stains, min size 30 by 30 cm)
Accepted Scrap metal
Accepted Small appliances
Accepted Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Accepted Thermostats
Not accepted Materials accepted at the Transfer Station
Fees apply to the following materials accepted for recycling at the Transfer Station. Some materials have volume restrictions.
Not accepted Mattresses and box springs
Not accepted New drywall (gypsum)
Not accepted Food scraps
Not accepted Yard trimmings and unfinished wood waste
Not accepted Materials accepted at other locations
The following materials are not accepted here. They are included in take-back programs and accepted at designated drop-off locations. Use the Waste Wizard to find drop-off locations.
Not accepted Antifreeze and empty antifreeze containers
Not accepted Broken televisions and computer monitors
Not accepted Flammable liquids
Not accepted Medications
Not accepted Paint and empty paint cans
Not accepted Pesticides
Not accepted Tires
Not accepted Used oil, oil filters, and empty oil containers
Preparing items for drop-off
If you are dropping off materials accepted for free at the Zero Waste Centre and materials accepted for a fee at the Transfer Station, we recommend you:
- Sort your materials by product type before loading.
- Load your vehicle with free recyclables first.
- Load garbage and recyclable items requiring a fee next so they can be dropped off first at the Transfer Station before you go to the Zero Waste Centre for recycling.