Blue Cart & Blue Box


Starting Jan 1, 2023 single-use plastic items will now be accepted in your blue box/containers cart. We encourage you to use reusable products whenever possible but if you do use plastic items like straws, stir sticks or utensils (forks, spoons, knives), they can now be recycled in your Blue Box/Containers Cart.

Blue Cart Blue Bin Banner 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.

Mixed Paper Recycling

Banned with mixed paper cart and bag showing accepted items
ACCEPTED NOT ACCEPTED
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

Let's Trim Our Waste: Yellow Mixed Paper Recycling Bag

Glass Bottles & Glass Jars

banner with glass cart and container showing accepted glass items
ACCEPTED NOT ACCEPTED
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

Ceramic products

Lids & caps (place in Blue Box or Containers Recycling Cart)

Light bulbs or lighting fixtures*

*Take to Richmond Recycling Depot
Let's Trim Our Waste: Grey Glass Jars & Glass Bottles Recycling Bin

Containers Recycling

blue containers cart showing accepted items

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) Polystrene foam (e.g. Styrofoam) materials*

Propane tanks*

*Take to Richmond Recycling Depot

Let's Trim Our Waste: Blue Box For Containers

Recycling Tips

The following tips apply to both Blue Box and Blue Cart programs.

Recycle Correctly Icons

  • 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:

  1. Request online by selecting "Need Help" from the Recycling Wizard, then choose "I need to order bins".
  2. Contact Environmental Programs at 604-276-4010 or email garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca
  3. 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:
  1. Request online by selecting "Need Help" from the Recycling Wizard, then choose "I need to order bins".
  2. Contact Environmental Programs at 604-276-4010 or email garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca
  3. Pick up at Richmond Recycling Depot - 5555 Lynas Lane, opens seven days per week from 9:00am to 6:15pm

Recycling Starter Kit

Here's what you need to maximize your recycling efforts at home. The recycling supplies below are available for pick up at the Richmond Recycling Depot or request delivery by calling 604-276-4010.
Curbside Blue Box Recycling Centralized Blue Cart Recycling
Blue Box starter kit

Applies to residents in single-family and some townhomes.

Resources:
- Blue Box
- Glass Recycling Bin
- Mixed Paper Recycling Bag
- Recycling Guide
Indoor Collection Bag

Applies to residents in multi-family complexes such as apartments, condominiums and some townhomes.

Resources:
- Indoor Collection Bag
- Recycling Guide

Beverage Containers Cash Back

Provincial law in B.C. requires all vendors to collect a deposit on all ready-to-drink beverage containers. You can return these containers to Return-It depots to get your deposit back.

Non-Alcoholic, Milk and Plant-Based Beverages Alcoholic beverage
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
13300 Vulcan Way
604-276-8270


"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.

Non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage containers are not accepted at B.C. Liquor Stores.

Privately-operated cold beer & wine stores and specialty wine stores are not obligated to take back containers, but some may choose to do so.

B.C. Liquor Stores also accept plastic six-pack ring holders for recycling.

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

  1. Drain all liquids
  2. Rinse containers
  3. Leave labels on (to verify product was purchased in British Columbia).