Recycle Council of B. C. hotline 604.732.9253
is another resource for recycling info.
10 Most Asked Questions
#1 Q - Which plastic bags and wrapping can't I recycle?
A - If the plastic tears with almost no effort (eg. cookie packet) it is not recyclable.Vinyl bags (bed sheets often come in these), dirty soil and manure bags (you can hose them out), foil lined bags (eg. coffee bags).
#2 Q - Can I put coffee cups and ice cream cartons into mixed paper?
A - We cannot accept waxed paper or waxed corrugated cardboard in the mixed paper but these items can be recycled with the milk and soup cartons.
#3 Q - Why do you not take certain kinds of rigid plastics?
A - Not all plastics have a recyclable market. We are guided by a MMBC acceptable materials list.
#4 Q - Does BIRD take Styrofoam ?
A - BIRD takes Styrofoam. BIRD is taking both packaging and produce (food) Styrofoam.
#5 Q - How does the refundable program work?
A - The bottle sorting area is run by island groups that provide some benefit to our island community. The program creates about $58,000 each year. For more information contact Susan Redmond.
#6 Q - In what category are dry pet food bags that are plastic or foil lined?
A - Foil lined bags, like all waste with mixed materials, is not recyclable. If the pet food bag is lined with plastic you can put it into soft plastics.
#7 Q- Are paint and varnish tins accepted once completely dry?
A - Tin cans with dried up paint and varnish must go to hazardous waste day. But if the tin can is empty it goes into the metals bin.
(Many paint cans are plastic with a metal rim.)
A - If the plastic tears with almost no effort (eg. cookie packet) it is not recyclable.Vinyl bags (bed sheets often come in these), dirty soil and manure bags (you can hose them out), foil lined bags (eg. coffee bags).
#2 Q - Can I put coffee cups and ice cream cartons into mixed paper?
A - We cannot accept waxed paper or waxed corrugated cardboard in the mixed paper but these items can be recycled with the milk and soup cartons.
#3 Q - Why do you not take certain kinds of rigid plastics?
A - Not all plastics have a recyclable market. We are guided by a MMBC acceptable materials list.
#4 Q - Does BIRD take Styrofoam ?
A - BIRD takes Styrofoam. BIRD is taking both packaging and produce (food) Styrofoam.
#5 Q - How does the refundable program work?
A - The bottle sorting area is run by island groups that provide some benefit to our island community. The program creates about $58,000 each year. For more information contact Susan Redmond.
#6 Q - In what category are dry pet food bags that are plastic or foil lined?
A - Foil lined bags, like all waste with mixed materials, is not recyclable. If the pet food bag is lined with plastic you can put it into soft plastics.
#7 Q- Are paint and varnish tins accepted once completely dry?
A - Tin cans with dried up paint and varnish must go to hazardous waste day. But if the tin can is empty it goes into the metals bin.
(Many paint cans are plastic with a metal rim.)
#8 Q- Why do you take some electronics and not others?
A - We take all electronics that are part of the BC electronics and electrical appliance recycle program. A basic guideline is that we take electrical and battery run appliances from your house (toaster, vacuum, blender, etc)
#9 Q- Why not leave BIRD open for self-recycling full time?
A - When the wrong items contaminate a bin it is hard work and costly to correct the mistake.Contaminated loads may not give us the full market price for our materials.
#10 Q - How do I recycle items BIRD doesn’t take?
A - www.metrovancouverrecycles.org tells you the nearest place to recycle anything that is recyclable.
A - We take all electronics that are part of the BC electronics and electrical appliance recycle program. A basic guideline is that we take electrical and battery run appliances from your house (toaster, vacuum, blender, etc)
#9 Q- Why not leave BIRD open for self-recycling full time?
A - When the wrong items contaminate a bin it is hard work and costly to correct the mistake.Contaminated loads may not give us the full market price for our materials.
#10 Q - How do I recycle items BIRD doesn’t take?
A - www.metrovancouverrecycles.org tells you the nearest place to recycle anything that is recyclable.