- Monthly pink collection box service begins rolling out to curbside households this week, with staggered pick-ups starting Monday, June 2, 2025. Residents will have collection once a month, depending on their designated flexible plastics collection day
Recycle BC is expanding its curbside program to include flexible plastics, such as bread bags, overwrap and crinkly wrappers like chip bags, for District of West Vancouver households. Starting this week, and continuing throughout the month of May, Waste Control Services will deliver pink boxes – dedicated containers for flexible plastics – to every curbside household in West Vancouver. Inside each box, residents will find a brochure outlining key information, and a June 2025 flexible plastic collection schedule. Pick‑ups will occur once per month on residents’ regular recycling day, beginning Monday, June 2, 2025. All curbside homes will receive their first monthly flexible recycling collection by the end of June. Residents can also look up their specific collection dates at RecycleBC.ca/West‑Vancouver or by downloading the Recycle BC app (RecycleBC.ca/App).
“This new permanent service follows a pilot program we conducted in West Vancouver between November 2021 and May 2022,” said Sam Baker, Executive Director, Recycle BC. “The pilot program was successful, providing valuable insight and information about the feasibility of collecting flexible plastics directly from homes. We heard great feedback from residents, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer the program permanently. This will make it easier for residents living in the District of West Vancouver to recycle flexible plastics, help us collect more of these materials, and keep more plastic out of the landfill. All flexible plastic collected will be recycled into resins for the creation of durable plastic products.”
What counts as flexible plastics?
Flexible plastics are lightweight, soft plastics that can be crumpled or folded, such as:
- Plastic bags (for bread, produce, bulk foods)
- Overwrap (for toilet paper, paper towels, beverage flats)
- Stand‑up & zipper‑lock pouches (for granola, grains, dried fruit)
- Crinkly wrappers & bags (cereal box liners, chip bags, pasta bags)
- Packaging with plastic seals (for deli meats, sliced cheese)
- Plastic net bags (for oranges, lemons, avocados, rice)
- Bubble wrap & other protective packaging
“The District of West Vancouver is pleased to welcome curbside collection of flexible plastics by Recycle BC,” said Emily Willobee, Senior Manager Engineering Services. “This new service provides West Vancouver residents with a more convenient way to sort and divert their waste at home. Curbside collection will make it easier to recycle flexible plastics, helping us take another meaningful step toward the District’s waste reduction goals.”
How residents can prepare flexible plastics:
- Empty and rinse.
- Contain. Bundle your flexible plastics inside reused plastic bags or zipper-lock pouches (like bread or produce bags) before placing them in the pink box to keep them from blowing away.
- Set out. Place the bundled plastics in your pink box and leave it at curbside between 5:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on monthly designated flexible plastic collection days. Flexible plastics will be collected on a separate truck, so collection may be at a different time of day.
No changes to other curbside items:
- Paper and cardboard (yellow bags)
- Glass bottles and jars (grey boxes)
- Mixed containers (blue boxes)
Recycle BC services over two million households or over 99% of B.C. through curbside, multi-family and/or depot services. In partnership with local governments, First Nations, private companies, and non-profit organizations, Recycle BC ensures packaging and paper are responsibly collected, sorted, and recycled. With over 195 communities participating in their collection program and many more served through depots, over 200,000 tonnes of material is managed annually. Funded by businesses that supply packaging and paper to BC residents, Recycle BC shifts recycling costs away from homeowners.
Visit RecycleBC.ca/WestVancouver to learn more, or download the Recycle BC app at RecycleBC.ca/App.
