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Garbage Services

Items not Accepted

Items Not Accepted by the City
The following items are not accepted as part of the City's garbage collection program.

Type of Material Disposal Solution
Demolition waste See Metro Vancouver webpage on Demolition Recycling
Dirt, rock, concrete or bricks Call Ecowaste Industries, 604-277-1410
Drywall (Gypsum, plasterboard, sheetrock, gyproc and wallboard) See Recycling and Disposal Options
Items accepted through Provincial "Take-Back" Stewardship programs, banned or prohibited at City of Vancouver Landfill and Metro Vancouver disposal sites. See Provincial Ministry of Environment webpage on Product Stewardship and below. 
Liquid waste Solidify OR see Household Hazardous Products
Office papers, newspapers, cardboard Blue box or blue cart pick-up (unless the paper is contaminated by non-food wastes)
Food scraps and yard Trimmings See Green Cart Recycling
White expanded polystyrene packaging (White blocks of Styrofoam) See PDF Document Expanded Polystyrene Disposal Ban Frequently Asked Questions

Regional Banned and Prohibited Materials
Metro Vancouver Disposal Sites Banned or Prohibited Materials
The following items are banned from the region's landfills and disposal sites:

Type of Material Disposal Solution
Asbestos Find a location where accepted for recycling or safe disposal on Metro Vancouver recycles website.
Automobile bodies and parts Call the RCBC Recycling Hotline at 604-RECYCLE.
Batteries Drop of at Richmond Recycling Depot
Beverage containers See Beverage Containers Recycling
Blue box / cart recyclables See Blue Box or Blue Cart Recycling
Clean or treated wood exceeding 2.5 m in length Call Ecowaste Industries, 604-277-1410 
Electronics and electrical products (such as cameras, computers, DVD or video players, printers, televisions, etc.) See Recycling and Disposal Options
Flammable liquids, gasoline, paint, pesticides and solvents See Recycling and Disposal Options
Fluorescent lights See Recycling Depot
Gypsum See Recycling and Disposal Options
Hazardous Waste See Recycling and Disposal Options
Inert fill materials (soil, sod, gravel, concrete and asphalt quantities exceeding 0.5 cubic metre per load) Call Ecowaste Industries, 604-277-1410
Lead-acid (car) batteries See Recycling and Disposal Options
Mattresses Look for a location to recycle mattresses on Metro Vancouver Recycles website or call the RCBC Recycling Hotline at 604-RECYCLE. 

Disposing mattresses or box springs cost $15 each (i.e. $30 for a mattress and box spring) at the City of Vancouver Landfill. Richmond residents may purchase a $5 Garbage Disposal Voucher at any City facility. The voucher is worth $25 at the Vancouver Landfill. See Extra Items Drop Off Options for information.
Medications and pharmaceuticals See Recycling and Disposal Options
Metal household appliances See Recycling Depot
Motor oil, oil filters and empty oil containers See Recycling and Disposal Options
Propane tanks See Recycling and Disposal Options
Thermostats See Recycling and Disposal Options
Vehicle tires See Recycling and Disposal Options
Food scraps and yard trimmings See Yard Trimmings Drop-Off and Food Scraps & Yard Trimmings Recycling
White expanded polystyrene packaging (white block Styrofoam) See PDF Document Expanded Polystyrene Disposal Ban FAQs 

Helpful Links and Resources

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