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Paper, Plastics, Glass & More

Blue Box and Blue Cart Recycling

Blue New Startburst
 Starting Feb 1, 2022 there will be a 10-cent deposit charged on "ready-to-drink" milk and plant-based beverages like oat, soy, and almond. The 10-cent deposit will be refunded when the empty containers are returned for recycling at Return-It sites. These containers are still accepted in the residential Blue Box and Blue Cart programs but they will not be eligible for the 10-cent deposit refund paid at the time of purchase. Visit Milk and plant-based beverages are part of the deposit system for more details.

2021 Blue Box and Blue Cart
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.

Which program applies to you?
  • The Blue Box program is for those residents with curbside collection in single-family homes and some townhomes.
  • The Blue Cart program is for those residents with centralized collection for residents in multi-family complexes such as condominium, apartments and some townhomes.
  • If you're unsure which program applies to you, contact Environmental Programs at 604-276-4010 or email garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca.

How to Get 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
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

Place all newsprint, paper items, paper packaging and cardboard into the yellow Mixed Paper Recycling Bag or Mixed Paper Recycling Cart.
2021 Mixed Paper Recycling
ACCEPTED NOT ACCEPTED
  • Catalogues & magazines
  • Cereal Boxes
  • Corrugated cardboard (flatten & cut to small pieces)
  • Newspaper, inserts & flyers
  • Paper bags
  • Paper egg cartons
  • Paper gift wrap & greeting cards
  • Paper takeout containers (including those with a shiny coating)
  • Shredded paper (place inside paper bag to avoid scattering)
  • Writing paper & envelopes
  • Cardboard boxes with wax coating
  • Foil-lined cardboard lids from takeout containers
  • Metallic wrapping paper*
  • Musical greeting cards with batteries
  • Padded envelopes
  • Paper bag lined with plastic (pet food or tortilla chip bag)
  • Plastic candy wrappers*
  • Plastic bags used to cover newspapers/flyers*
  • Ribbons & bows

* Take to Richmond Recycling Depot

Glass Bottles & Glass Jars

Place glass bottles and glass jars in the grey Glass Recycling Bin or Glass Recycling Cart. 
2021 Glass Recycling
ACCEPTED NOT ACCEPTED
  • Clear or coloured glass bottles & glass jars (pickle jars, jam jars, spaghetti sauce jars, soy sauce bottles, etc.)
  • Glasses, dishes, cookware, window or mirrors
  • Ceramic products
  • Lids & caps (place in Blue Box or Containers Recycling Cart
  • Light bulbs or lighting fixtures*

*Take to Richmond Recycling Depot

Containers Recycling

Place mixed containers such as plastic bottles, tin and aluminium cans and packaging containers in the Blue Box or Mixed Containers Recycling Cart.
Containers
ACCEPTED NOT ACCEPTED
  • Aluminium & tin cans & lids
  • Aluminium foil & foil containers (foil wrap, pie plates, food trays)
  • Empty aerosol cans & caps (food items, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant, hairspray)
  • Paper & plastic drink cups & lids
  • Paper food containers & cartons (ice cream, soup)
  • Plastic & paper garden pots & trays
  • Plastic bottles & caps (food items, condiments, dish soap, shampoo, mouthwash)
  • Plastic containers, trays & caps (bakery containers & deli trays)
  • Plastic tubs & lids (margarine, spreads, diary products such as yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream)
  • Spiral wound paper cans & lids (frozen juice, potato chips, cookie dough, coffee, baby formula
  • Aerosol cans with hazardous materials (spray paint)*
  • Butane cylinders*
  • Ceramic plant pots
  • Compostable/biodegradable plastic 
  • Containers for motor oil or vehicle lubricant*
  • Flexible plastic packaging*
  • Foiled lined cardboard take out containers & lids
  • Garden hoses
  • Non-packaging plastic/metal items like steel hangers, pots, pans, baking trays*
  • Paper takeout containers 
  • Plastic bags & overwrap*
  • Plastic or foil lids from coffee or tea pods
  • Plastic blister packs e.g. plastic/soil protective packaging for chewing gum & pills
  • Plastic string & rope
  • Polystyrene foam (e.g. Styrofoam) materials*
  • Propane tanks*

* Take to Richmond Recycling Depot

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 aluminium can inside a plastic container.
  • Watch the recycling sorting video for more recycle correctly tips.

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
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