Vancouver
Recycling Collection Questions?
Recycle BC’s curbside collection contractor in the City of Vancouver is Smithrite Disposal Ltd, a GFL Environmental company. They can be reached Monday to Friday, 7am – 6pm, at 604-282-7966 or srecycling@gflenv.com.
Recycle BC’s multi-family collection contractor in the City of Vancouver is Waste Management. They can be reached at 604-282-7961.
Give your bins some space on collection day
Did you know that your garbage and green bin are emptied using a mechanical arm on the collection truck? In order for all bins to be emptied safely and effectively please leave space beside and above each bin.
Set your garbage, green and recycling bins out with at least 1 m (3 ft) of space on all sides. Do not place bins against a fence or garage. Look up to see if there are any tree branches, telephone lines or building overhangs. There should be 3 m (10 ft) of vertical clearance above the garbage and green bins. Blue boxes placed too close to the bins could get knocked over by the mechanical arm during collection so be sure there is at least 1 m of space between the blue box and nearest bin. For more information go to vancouver.ca/bin-set-out
You are a multi-family customer if you live in (or manage) a building with five or more units, where recycling is brought to carts in a central location.
If you live in a multi-family complex with four or less units, or if residents use blue boxes instead of carts, please refer to the information provided for City of Vancouver curbside customers.
Recycling Collection Questions? Recycle BC’s multi-family collection contractor in the City of Vancouver is Waste Management. They can be reached at 604-282-7961.
Segregated Glass
The City of Vancouver has been rolling out segregated glass since 2015, and was completed in 2017. Residents should place glass bottles and jars into the designated box or cart as soon as it is received.
Quick Reference Guide
RECYCLING GUIDE & SCHEDULE
Download the 2019-2020 Multi-family Recycling Guide here.
You can also download the Recycle BC app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store to search for depots and use our recycling Waste Wizard.
You are a curbside customer if you bring your own recycling to the curb using boxes and bags, and includes multi-family buildings with four units or less.
Recycling Collection Questions? Recycle BC’s curbside collection contractor in the City of Vancouver is GFL Environmental (Smithrite). They can be reached at 604-282-7966 or srecycling@gflenv.com.
Quick Reference Guide
RECYCLING GUIDE
The Recycling Guide outlines how to sort your recycling, shows what is accepted and not accepted, and what items you can take to Recycle BC depots. You can also download the Recycle BC app from Google Play or the iTunes App store to search for depots and use our recycling Waste Wizard.
2019-2020 guide:
Address Search
Use our address search tool to view your curbside recycling collection schedule and nearest Recycle BC depots. You can also sign up for reminders and import your schedule into your online calendar.
Material List
Search materials and view our full materials list. Download the mobile app to search on the go with the waste wizard! Download it here or search ‘Recycle BC’ in the App Store or on Google Play on your mobile device.
FAQs
The transition of service from the City of Vancouver to Recycle BC happened on October 3, 2016.
Yes. The City of Vancouver joined the Recycle BC program in May 2014, and – like many communities in the province – was receiving a financial incentive from Recycle BC to manage its own residential recycling collection. The City decided in November 2015 to transition recycling collection directly to Recycle BC, and this change took place October 3, 2016. The list of materials accepted for recycling did not change.
Recycle BC provides direct service in many areas of the province including the Cities of Pitt Meadows, Langley, Coquitlam, Revelstoke, Prince George and Quesnel; the Village of Anmore; the University Endowment Lands; and Regional Districts of North Okanagan, Central Kootenay, and Kootenay Boundary.
If you live in or manage a multi-family building with five or more units, where residents bring their recycling to carts a central location, please contact Recycle BC’s multi-family collection partner, Waste Management at 604-282-7961 (a small number of multi-family buildings will be serviced by GFL Environmental – please use the address search tool above to verify your collector); if you are a curbside customer (i.e. you bring your recycling individually to the curb using bins, bags or carts, including multi-family complexes with four or less units) please contact Recycle BC’s curbside collection partner, GFL Environmental (Smithrite), at 604-282-7966.
To learn more about what can and cannot be recycled under the Recycle BC program, visit our “What Can I Recycle” page.