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There are various consumer products that are being collected in British Columbia through Provincial Take-Back programs (referred to as Product Stewardship Programs). Through Take-Back programs, stewardship agencies manage the take back of products on behalf manufacturers after consumers are finished with them, and recycle or dispose of them safely, keeping them out of the garbage.
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Beverage Containers - Encorp Pacific
Includes: soft drink, juice, sport drink, bottled water, beer, spirits & wine.
NOTE: Milk containers (both carton & plastic) are also accepted (no deposit, so no refund, but will get recycled!)
Find a drop off location: www.encorp.ca or 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Retailers (e.g. grocery stores, liquor stores etc) can accept up to 24 containers they sell for refund. |
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Electronics - Encorp Pacific
Includes: televisions, computers & peripherals, printers.
Find a drop off depot location: www.encorp.ca or 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
NOTE: Starting July 1st. 2010 this program will be expanded to include:IT & telecommunications equipment, audio-visual & consumer equipment, thermostats, batteries used in the current accepted list and residential fluorescent light bulbs. See Call2Recycle and LightRecycle below for more information. |
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Medications - Post Consumer Pharmaceutical Stewardship Association
Includes: prescription & non-prescription medications and supplements.
Find a drop off location: www.medicationsreturn.ca or 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
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Used Oil, Containers & Filters - BC Used Oil Management Association
Includes: used lubricating oil, oil containers and oil filters
Find a drop off location: www.usedoilrecycling.com (accepted at Burnaby's Still Creek Recycling Depot, 4800 Still Creek Avenue) |
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Paint, Flammable Liquids, Gasoline & Pesticides -Product Care
Includes: flammable liquids, household paints, pesticides and gasoline.*
Find a drop off location: www.productcare.org or 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Accepted at Burnaby's Still Creek Recycling Depot, 4800 Still Creek Avenue.
*Some restrictions apply, please visit www.productcare.org for details or call Burnaby's Recycling Line 604-294-7053. |
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Automotive Batteries
Includes: automotive vehicle batteries.
Find a drop off location: www.rcbc.bc.ca or 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Accepted at Burnaby's Still Creek Recycling Depot, 4800 Still Creek Avenue |
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Vehicle Tires - Tire Stewardship BC
Includes: vehicle tires (most tire retailers take back your used tires)
Find a drop off location: www.tirestewardshipbc.ca or 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) |
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Cell Phones & Household Batteries - Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (CAll2Recycle)
Includes: cell phones & household rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries.
Find a drop off location: www.call2recycle.org or 604-RECYCLE (732-9253)
Batteries accepted at Burnaby's Still Creek Recycling Depot, 4800 Still Creek Avenue.
Cells phones accepted at most wireless communications dealers, contact your local one for details. |
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Fluorescent Lights (LightRecycle) - Product Care
Includes: compact fluorescent lights and fluorescent light tubes (residential only)
Find a drop off location: www.lightrecycle.ca or 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) |
When you buy products covered under a take-back program, you pay an "eco-fee", "environmental levy", "environmental handling fee" etc. to cover the cost of recycling. It's not a tax, meaning it doesn't go to the government. The "eco-fee" goes directly to the Take-Back program stewarship organization (e.g. Encorp or Product Care), to pay for the cost of recycling or safe disposal. "Eco-fees" are adjusted regularly to reflect actual costs of recycling or disposing of a product.
For more information about B.C. Product Stewardship (Take-Back) Programs, contact:
- In 2006, nearly 20,000 kg of pharmaceuticals were collected through the BC Medications Return program – 95,000 kg since the program started.
- In 2006, Encorp Pacific recycled over 1 billion containers weighing 83 million kgs.
- In 2004, the BC Used Oil Management Association collected and recycled 44.1 million litres of oil.
- Product Care operates a paint exchange program where reusable paint collected through their depots are given away at no charge to the public and non-profit organizations. In 4.4% of paint collected through Product Care was reused through the paint exchange.
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