Hazardous Items Don't Belong In Your Bin!
Huddle up, BC! In 2023 alone, Recycle BC had six facility fires caused by hazardous materials mixed in with your regular recycling. Do your part to protect our team—when you’re finished grilling, bring your single-use propane tank to a designated drop-off location.
Find a Location to Recycle or Dispose Safely
Find disposal locations with the Recycling Council of British Columbia‘s search tool.
For more information, contact the Recycling Council of BC who can answer questions specific to your community through the Recyclepedia search, phone, text, chat, or email.
Hazardous Items
Hazardous items like these can cause serious harm to recycling staff and facilities. Ensure they don’t end up in your recycling bin:
- Batteries
- Propane canisters
- Needles
- Flammable liquids
- Helium tanks
- Knives
- Cell phones and laptops (lithium-ion batteries)
- Toys with batteries
- Butane canisters
- Bear spray
- Ammunition
- Flares
- Electronics
- Batteries for e-cigarettes
- Lighters and matches
- Household batteries
- Paint
Why is there such a risk?
The risk for fires or explosions is especially high for material collection vehicles and receiving facilities due to the presence of significant amounts of paper. The combination of easily flammable material, the type of machinery used, plenty of oxygen and large amounts of material sorted into piles where sparks can smolder for lengthy periods of time undetected makes the presence of hazardous material especially precarious.
Don’t fuel the danger. Help us prevent any further tragedies by keeping hazardous waste out of your curbside bin. Together, we can make a difference.
