Omar Khalid
Soft plastics, such as Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, and grocery bags, can be recycled in Vancouver. The city has implemented initiatives to make recycling more accessible and convenient for residents, including the VanCollect smartphone app, which provides information on where and how to recycle various materials. Additionally, Recycle BC, the organization responsible for residential plastic packaging collection and recycling in British Columbia, offers a network of depots across the province where soft plastics can be dropped off. These recycled plastics are then processed and used to create new products, such as plastic bags, pallets, containers, or decking material.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soft plastics accepted | Any kind of soft plastic, including Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, shopping bags, plastic bags with cloth, rope, or ribbon handles (with the handles removed), sandwich bags, throw-away party cups, bowls, and plates, and polyethylene foam |
| Where to drop off | Recycling centre, London Drugs, or a recycling depot |
| Rules | If you can stick your thumb through the plastic, you can recycle it. If not, it goes to landfill garbage. |
| Apps | Vancouver has an app that can tell you where to take your recyclables: https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/waste-wizard.aspx |
| Recycling companies | Recycle BC, Reclaim Plastics, and Merlin Plastics |
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What You'll Learn
Soft plastics can be recycled at depots across Vancouver
Recycle BC, an organization responsible for residential plastic packaging collection and recycling in British Columbia, has also introduced a single collection category for flexible plastics, which can be dropped off at participating depots. This category includes plastic bags, crinkly wrappers, stand-up zipper-lock pouches, and other flexible plastic packaging.
In addition to these programs, Vancouver has a smartphone app called VanCollect that can help residents identify where to recycle specific items. The app provides information on the nearest depot location and what types of recyclable materials are accepted there.
It is important to note that soft plastics, such as Ziploc bags, can be recycled at depots or London Drugs stores, according to a Reddit user. However, some soft plastics, like potato chip bags, cannot be recycled and must be disposed of in the landfill garbage.
Vancouver also has an industrial plastic recycler called Reclaim Plastics, which provides recycling solutions for various materials, including complex hybrid plastics and contaminated plastics. They offer services such as toll grinding and responsible product destruction for sensitive data and recalled goods.
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The Recycle BC program covers most residential recycling
The Recycle BC program also accepts grocery and shopping bags, the outer wrap for flats of beverage containers and diapers, and garden product bags, among other items. These can be recycled into new plastic bags, plastic pallets, containers, or plastic decking material.
It is important to note that Recycle BC is not directly responsible for curbside or multi-family recycling services. However, your community might still be part of the program. Flexible plastics should not be placed in these recycling containers unless expressly permitted by the service provider.
Additionally, Recycle BC does not accept materials from industries or commercial businesses. Recycling for plastics from businesses, institutions, and commercial applications is generally offered as a service by private waste management and recycling companies, often for a fee.
To find out more about the program and the specific materials accepted, you can visit the Recycle BC website or download their mobile application.
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The Recycling Council of BC covers commercial plastic recycling
The Recycling Council of British Columbia (RCBC) provides resources to help people reduce, reuse, and recycle. They have a FAQ page on plastic recycling, which includes information on the types of plastics that can be recycled, as well as drop-off options.
In British Columbia, an organisation called Recycle BC is responsible for residential plastic packaging collection and recycling. Recycle BC has a network of depots across British Columbia that accept flexible plastics and foam packaging. They also have an app that helps users find out what materials are recyclable and locate their nearest depot.
While Recycle BC manages 98% of the plastic they collect, they rely on residents to bring their plastic packaging to depots or drop-off points. This is because there is no set recycling program in BC that accepts plastics from businesses, institutions, or commercial applications. Such entities must rely on private waste management and recycling companies, generally at a cost.
To address the environmental challenges posed by single-use and hard-to-recycle plastics, the Province of British Columbia unveiled groundbreaking regulations in 2023. These regulations, which took effect on December 20, 2023, include banning single-use plastic bags, problem plastic food service packaging, and all oxo-degradable plastic packaging.
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The VanCollect app helps you find where to recycle items
The VanCollect app is a great tool to help you find where to recycle items in Vancouver. It provides garbage, green bin, and recycling collection schedules and reminders for the City of Vancouver. You can view your upcoming collection schedule and receive weekly reminders within the app, so you never miss a pick-up day. This is especially useful after holidays when your regular schedule may change.
The app also includes a search function that allows you to look up specific items and find out how to dispose of them properly. For example, if you're unsure about recycling soft plastics, the app can provide guidance. Soft plastics, such as plastic bags, plastic wrap, and Ziploc bags, can be recycled at a depot or a London Drugs location.
Additionally, the app can help you determine which types of plastic are recyclable in your city. While some soft plastics may not have a recycling symbol, they can still be recycled. However, certain items, like potato chip bags, are not recyclable and should be disposed of in the landfill garbage.
The VanCollect app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, making it accessible to a wide range of smartphone users. With its user-friendly interface and helpful features, the app makes it convenient for Vancouver residents to stay informed about their waste collection schedules and properly recycle their items.
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Reclaim Plastics is an industrial plastic recycler in Vancouver
Reclaim Plastics believes that plastic waste can be converted into a renewable and circular resource. They divert waste from landfills by turning plastic waste into new products in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner. The company works with a range of materials, from plastic car parts to appliance and metal recycling. They also offer responsible product destruction services for sensitive electronic data, expired product stock, product packaging, and damaged or recalled goods.
Reclaim Plastics has developed innovative solutions for challenging-to-recycle automotive and industrial plastics, such as automotive bumper covers, headlights, and trim parts. Their work in this area has been recognised with awards, including the 2021 CleanBC Plastics Action Fund and the City of Burnaby’s 2021 Environmental Awards for Business Stewardship.
The company's services are not limited to pick-up, as they also work with partners to create entirely new products from recycled materials. For example, recycled plastic input is used to make plastic piping, landscape edging, commercial containers, and even new car parts. Reclaim Plastics is committed to providing local, sustainable recycling services to companies across British Columbia to better the environment and the green economy.
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Frequently asked questions
Soft plastics can be dropped off at a recycling depot or a London Drugs. This includes Ziploc bags, grocery and shopping bags, and plastic wrap.
If you can't poke your thumb through the plastic, it likely belongs in the landfill garbage. However, even complex hybrid plastics can be recycled through certain specialty services, such as Reclaim Plastics.
No, soft plastics should not be placed in your curbside or multi-family collection containers. You can check what materials are accepted in your community's curbside recycling program by downloading the Recycle BC app or visiting their website.
Soft plastics are processed in Metro Vancouver and turned into pellets and flakes that are sold to the plastics industry.
