We know holidays are great times for family and friends to gather and celebrate. We also know that holidays can bring excess packaging into our homes.
What you might not know is that most of this seasonal packaging can be recycled either at home or at a Recycle BC depot.
Our infographic below shows which material goes where, and which items are not accepted by Recycle BC. Click the image to view at full size.
We’ve also broken the infographic out into a handy list:
Material accepted with your paper recycling at curbside, multi-family, or depot
- Paper boxes for candy and chocolate
- Paper egg cartons
- Boxboard boxes for candy (please remove the plastic window)
- Paper gift bags
Material accepted with your container recycling at curbside, multi-family or depot
- Foil wrap
- Rigid plastic packaging (example: candy that comes packaged in a plastic egg-shaped package)
- Dairy cartons
- Plastic trays from boxes of candy or chocolate
Material that needs to be returned to a Recycle BC depot
- Plastic candy wrappers
Items that aren’t accepted by Recycle BC generally fall under two categories: products or mixed material. This includes:
- Toys and games
- Foil gift wrap
- Example: Gift wrap that is mix of paper and foil
- Cellophane wrap found on gift baskets, plants or flowers
- Ribbons and bows
- Paper towel and napkins
Recycling Tips:
Bringing a reusable bag when shopping, or reusing items like gift bags or gift wrap can go a long way to reducing your impact during the holidays.
If you have items that aren’t packaging or paper and you aren’t sure if they can be recycled, contact the Recycling Council of British Columbia.