Blue Cart & Blue Box
Richmond's Blue Box and Blue Cart programs make it easy and convenient to recycle containers from metal packaging and paper products such as empty aerosol and aluminium cans, rigid plastic containers, glass bottles and glass jars, and many other household items. These recyclable materials are not permitted in the garbage.
How to Sort Your Recycling
It's important to sort our recyclable items correctly to ensure they can be sold as a commodity to help keep City utility fees down.
Glass Bottles & Glass Jars
ACCEPTED | NOT ACCEPTED |
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Clear or coloured glass bottles or glass jars (pickle jars, jam jars, spaghetti sauce jars, soy sauce bottles, etc.) | Drinking glasses, dishes, cookware, windows, mirrors or vases |
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Ceramic products |
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Lids & caps (place in Blue Box or Containers Recycling Cart) |
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Light bulbs or lighting fixtures* |
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*Take to Richmond Recycling Depot |
Containers Recycling
ACCEPTED | NOT ACCEPTED |
---|---|
Aluminum & tin cans & lids | Aerosol cans with hazardous materials (spray paint)* |
Aluminum foil & foil containers (foil wrap, pie plates, food trays) | Butane cylinders |
Empty aerosol cans & caps (food items, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant, hairspray) | Ceramic plant pots |
Paper & plastic plates, bowls, drink cups & lids | Compostable/biodegradable plastic |
Paper food containers & cartons (ice cream, soup) | Containers for motor oil or vehicle lubricant* |
Plastic & paper garden pots & trays | Flexible plastic packaging* |
Plastic bottles & caps (food items, condiments, dish soap, shampoo, mouthwash) | Foil-lined cardboard takeout containers & lids |
Plastic containers, trays & lids (bakery containers & deli trays) | Garden hoses |
Plastic food storage containers | Non-packaging plastic/metal items like steel hangers, pots, pans & baking trays* |
Plastic plant pots (nursery pots) | Paper takeout containers |
Plastic retail hangers (that come with clothing) | Plastic bags & overwrap* |
Plastic straws | Plastic or foil lids from coffee or tea pods |
Plastic tubs & lids (margarine, spreads, dairy products such as yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream and ice cream) | Plastic blister packs (plastic/soil protective packaging for gum or pills) |
Plastic utensils (stir sticks, spoons, forks, knives) | Plastic string & rope |
Spiral wound paper cans & lids (frozen juice, potato chips, cookie dough, coffee, baby formula) | Polystyrene foam (e.g. Styrofoam) materials* |
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Propane tanks* |
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*Take to Richmond Recycling Depot |
Mixed Paper Recycling
ACCEPTED | NOT ACCEPTED |
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Catalogues & magazines | Carboard boxes with wax coating |
Cereal boxes | Foil-lined cardboard lids from takeout containers |
Corrugated cardboard (flatten & cut into smaller pieces) | Metallic wrapping paper* |
Newspaper, inserts & flyers | Musical greeting cards with batteries |
Paper bags | Padded envelopes |
Paper egg cartons | Paper bags lined with plastic (pet food or tortilla chip bag) |
Paper gift wrap & greeting cards | Plastic candy wrappers* |
Paper takeout containers (including those with a shiny coating) | Plastic bags used to cover newspapers/flyers* |
Shredded paper (place inside paper bag to avoid scattering) | Ribbons & bows |
Writing paper & envelopes | * Take to Richmond Recycling Depot |
Recycling Tips
- Empty and rinse containers to remove any food residue.
- Flatten containers so they don't take up a lot of space in the recycling bin and collection truck.
- Cut cardboard to smaller pieces.
- Remove lids and recycle separately in the Blue Box or Containers Recycling Cart
- It's important to place glass bottles and glass jars in the grey "Glass Recycling Bin or Glass Recycling Cart". Do not mix glass together with plastic or paper containers because glass can break easily and leaving small fragments of glass pieces in other recyclable items.
- Do not put recyclables into plastic bags. Collection and processing staff will not break open the plastic bags to take out recyclable items due to safety concerns. Bagged items will go in the garbage.
- Avoid stacking or nestling of different materials together, instead place them separately in the bins. For example, don't nestle an aluminum can inside a plastic container.
The City also offers free virtual recycling workshops to any community groups, please email garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca for details.
More Information for Curbside Blue Box Recycling
Collection Information
- Place at the curbside before 7:30am on collection day, but no earlier than 8:00pm the night before. When setting your recycling bins out for collection, please place them at the curb and ensure access to the sidewalk is not impeded.
- If there's a statutory holiday, your collection day will occur one day later than the normal collection day and will resume on the regular schedule the following week.
- Oversized /excessive amounts of cardboard can be bundled 91 cm x 61 cm x 10 cm (3 ft x 2 ft x 4 in) or dropped off at the Richmond Recycling Depot.
- Download the free Richmond Recycling app to set-up weekly reminders for collection or check your collection day.
- For missed collection, contact Environmental Programs at 604-276-4010 or email garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca
New/Replacement Recycling Supplies
There is no charge for new recycling supplies or to replace them if they become damaged or broken.
- Blue Boxes: There are two different sizes for Blue Box (Note the larger Blue Box is only available for pick up at the Recycling Depot.)
- Standard Blue Box: 18.5" L x 15.5" W x 15.5" H or,
- Larger Blue Box: 19" L x 16" W x 21" H
- Glass Recycling Bins
- Mixed Paper Recycling Bags
Three ways to get recycling supplies:
- Request online by selecting "Need Help" from the Recycling Wizard, then choose "I need to order bins".
- Contact Environmental Programs at 604-276-4010 or email garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca
- Pick up at Richmond Recycling Depot - 5555 Lynas Lane, opens seven days per week from 9:00am to 6:15pm
More Information for Centralized Blue Cart Recycling
Collection Information
- Some complexes have their carts collected from a central location (e.g. recycling room) each week; however, some other complexes may be required to pull their carts out to a designated collection area (e.g. holding area or curbside). If your complex requires that carts be moved to a designated collection area, please ensure the carts are there before 7:30am on collection day, but no earlier than 8:00pm the night before.
- Collection will be two days delayed if Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekday. Collection will be one day delayed if New Year's Day falls on a week day. Other statutory holidays will not affect collection.
- For missed collection, contact Environmental Programs at 604-276-4010 or email garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca
Recycling Supplies
Three ways to get new or replacement indoor collection bags:- Request online by selecting "Need Help" from the Recycling Wizard, then choose "I need to order bins".
- Contact Environmental Programs at 604-276-4010 or email garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca
- Pick up at Richmond Recycling Depot - 5555 Lynas Lane, opens seven days per week from 9:00am to 6:15pm
Recycling Starter Kit
Curbside Blue Box Recycling | Centralized Blue Cart Recycling |
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Applies to residents in single-family and some townhomes. Resources: - Blue Box - Glass Recycling Bin - Mixed Paper Recycling Bag - Recycling Guide |
Applies to residents in multi-family complexes such as apartments, condominiums and some townhomes. Resources: - Indoor Collection Bag - Recycling Guide |
Beverage Containers Cash Back
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Non-Alcoholic, Milk and Plant-Based Beverages | Alcoholic beverage |
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Agency Contact: | Encorp Pacific Inc. | BC Liquor Distribution Branch |
Deposit: Up to, including and over 1 litre |
10 cents |
10 cents |
Return Centre: | Point of purchase (24 containers or less) "Return-It" depots |
Point of purchase (24 containers or less) Regional Recycling "Return-It" depots - Full refund for wine, spirits and non-refillable beer containers. Domestic refillable beer containers refund is subject to operator's discretion. |
Note: |
Customers wishing to return more than 24 containers are requested to take containers to any of the "Return-It" depots. |
Privately-operated cold beer & wine stores and specialty wine stores are not obligated to take back containers, but some may choose to do so. |
Information: | Call Encorp Pacific (Canada) at (800) 330-9767 or the RCBC Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or (800) 667-4321 | Call Liquor Distribution Branch at 604-252-3000 or the RCBC Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or (800) 667-4321 |
Preparation
- Drain all liquids
- Rinse containers
- Leave labels on (to verify product was purchased in British Columbia).