Soft Plastics and Foam Packaging Collection Pilot

The pilot concludes on May 15, 2022. The final collection week for light colour zones is May 2-5. The final collection week for dark colour zones is May 9-12.

After May 15, 2022, soft plastics and foam packaging can be returned to a depot or London Drugs location. Drop-off locations in your area include:

London Drugs – Park Royal
875 Park Royal North, West Vancouver
604-448-4844

London Drugs – North Vancouver
2032 Lonsdale, North Vancouver
604-448-4805

North Shore Bottle Depot
235 Donaghy Ave, North Vancouver
604-985-9348

North Vancouver Bottle & Return-It Depot
310 Brooksbank Ave, North Vancouver
604-924-3889

North Shore Recycling and Waste Centre
30 Riverside Dr, North Vancouver
604-681-5600

You can also search additional depot locations at: RecycleBC.ca/Depots

The pink and purple boxes or bags you received (depending on your collection zone) are yours to keep if desired. Some suggested uses are:

Use them as extra boxes or bags for your regular recycling collection. Containers can be put into both pink and purple boxes (colour does not matter) if material is sorted correctly, emptied, and rinsed if needed. The pink and purple bags can be used to set out extra paper on your regular collection day.
Sort and store depot-only material in the boxes or bags (i.e., plastic bags, overwrap, other flexible plastic packaging, foam packaging) until your next depot trip.

Use them for general storage around the home or garage.

If you do not wish to keep your pink and purple boxes or bags, we will be hosting two collection events at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver on June 25 and July 9 (see details above). At these events, the Recycle BC team will accept pink and purple boxes and bags for return in addition to collecting depot-only material (i.e., soft plastics and foam packaging).

Two collection events will be held near Ambleside Park in West Vancouver:

Saturday, June 25, 2022 — Ambleside Field from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, July 9, 2022 — Ambleside Field from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Parking is accessible from Argyle Avenue in the parking lot near the Ambleside baseball diamonds.

Curbside collection service included

Soft plastics- plastic bags and overwrap, and other flexible plastic packaging like stand-up and zipper-lock pouches, crinkly wrappers and bags. Examples below:
Bags for groceries or dry cleaning, bread, newspapers and flyers
Bags for produce, dry bulk foods and frozen vegetables
Outer bags and wrap for diapers, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, tissues and soft drink can flats
Bags for water softener salt and garden products
Overwrap on mattresses, furniture and electronic equipment
Zipper lock pouches for frozen foods like prawns, berries, vegetables; fresh foods like fruit. deli meat, etc.
Zipper lock and tear-open pouches for cannabis product
Stand-up pouches for dried fruit and nuts, quinoa, grated cheese, dish detergent pods, etc.
Bags for potato chips, wrappers for cheese slices and candy bars, cereal bags
Packaging for dry pasta, pre-packaged deli meats
Net bags for avocados, onions, citrus fruit
Padded protective plastic like plastic shipping envelopes, bubble wrap, plastic air packets
Flexible packaging with plastic seals for fresh pasta, cheese, deli meats. Plastic seals, like those used on yogurt containers, are also accepted
Foam packaging – protective cushion packaging, containers and trays (white and coloured). Examples below:
Plastic foam containers and trays used for meat and produce
Foam egg cartons
Foam clamshells, cups and bowls for take-out food
Foam cushion packaging to protect electronics, small appliances, etc.

These materials were collected is in addition to blue box (containers), yellow bag (paper) and grey box (glass) material.

Soft plastics and foam packaging collection occurred every two weeks on scheduled collection days. The collection day for this material was the alternating week from garbage collection.

Each home selected for the pilot received either a set of collection boxes or a set of collection bags.

Pilot material was collected only in the new purple and pink boxes or bags provided. Soft plastics were set out in the pink box or bag and foam packaging was set out in the purple box or bag.

Some residents received bags for collection of soft plastics and foam packaging. Some residents received boxes. We tested the two different collection methods to see if one aligns better with the materials.

We determined that the collection routes on Monday received boxes. Collection routes on Tuesday – Thursday received bags. This decision was based on consultation with our collection contractor for the pilot, Waste Control Services.

No, for this pilot plastic bags and overwrap and other flexible plastic packaging were collected together as ‘soft plastics’ in the pink bag or box. If you take these materials to a depot, they will need to be separated.

When returned to a depot, these materials are managed differently. Plastic bags and overwrap are managed by recycling. Other flexible plastic packaging is a combination of different types of plastic and currently managed by recovery and produced into engineered fuel, an engineered energy product that is a direct replacement for traditional non-renewable resources, such as coal. For this pilot, all soft plastics collected were managed by recovery.

Yes, residents could use their own container to set out soft plastics or foam packaging. Examples include a clearly labeled cardboard box or laundry hamper. Boxes and bags used in the pilot were complimentary and replacements were available from our collection partner, Waste Control Services.

There was no limit to how much soft plastics and foam packaging could be set out.

After collection, the material was taken to a receiving facility in North Vancouver for consolidation. Foam packaging was densified in BC to make it more efficient to transport, then sent to end markets both in the Pacific Northwest and overseas to make picture frames, crown molding, and new foam packaging. Other flexible plastic packaging is a combination of different types of plastic and currently managed by recovery and produced into engineered fuel, an engineered energy product that is a direct replacement for traditional non-renewable resources, such as coal. For this pilot, all soft plastics collected were managed by recovery.

While material may end up at the same facility after collection, the materials remain sorted and do not mix with each other through the collection or post-collection process. Some materials, like soft plastics and foam packaging need to be kept separate from others to be effectively recycled or recovered.

No, collection was only from from the designated homes in the pilot collection zones. Areas that participated in the pilot can be seen on the map and schedule on this page.

After May 15, 2022,  take soft plastics and foam packaging can be returned to a depot or London Drugs location. Drop-off locations in your area include:

London Drugs – Park Royal
875 Park Royal North, West Vancouver
604-448-4844

London Drugs – North Vancouver
2032 Lonsdale, North Vancouver
604-448-4805

North Shore Bottle Depot
235 Donaghy Ave, North Vancouver
604-985-9348

North Vancouver Bottle & Return-It Depot
310 Brooksbank Ave, North Vancouver
604-924-3889

North Shore Recycling and Waste Centre
30 Riverside Dr., North Vancouver
604-681-5600

You can also search additional depot locations at: RecycleBC.ca/Depots