The Recycling Process

Below shows the steps of the recycling process as the material travels through the Recycle BC system. It starts with collection, where you set-out at the curb, place in your multi-family recycling bins or return to a depot. It’s collected by our collection partners and brought to a receiving facility. From there, the material moves through our post-collection system where material is sorted, baled and sold to end markets.

1

Material is collected from homes and depots

Material is delivered to a receiving or sorting facility

3

Material is sorted from homes and depots

4

Material is baled with similar materials

5

Material is sold to end markets to be made into new packaging or products

6

Primary end markets

The majority of plastic, metal, and glass currently have North American end markets, and with our post-collection partner, GFL, we are working towards keeping the majority of paper in the Pacific Northwest as well.

See Our Recycling System In Action

See the other stages of the recycling process

Overview

The Recycling Process

Step 1

Collection

Step 2

Post Collection

Step 3

End Markets

We are grateful to live, work, and be in relation with First Nation and other Indigenous people from across many traditional and unceded territories, covering all regions of British Columbia. We value the opportunity to learn and share experiences on this traditional territory. The Indigenous communities were the original stewards of the environment, and they continue to fulfill that role today. We are proud to both collaborate with First Nations as well as commit to that work ourselves.