Solid Waste

Where do I get a new Blue Box, Blue Bag and/or Yellow Bag?

City recycling receptacles can be picked up at any one of the following locations:

• City Hall (15322 Buena Vista Avenue)
• Municipal Operations Yard (877 Keil Street)
• Centennial Arena (14600 North Bluff Road),
• White Rock Community Centre (15154 Russell Ave.)
• Kent Street Seniors Activity Centre (1475 Kent Street).

These items are free of charge to White Rock residents.

Multi-family complexes with 7 or more units are required to purchase recycling roll-outs at a cost of $125/each in order to participate in the City's recycling program. For more information, please contact the Engineering and Municipal Operations Department at (604) 541-2181.

My recycling, garbage, yard or green can wasn't picked up on my regularly scheduled day - who should I call?

Call the Engineering and Municipal Operations Department at (604) 541-2181.

What do I do with used paint and other hazardous substances?

Leftover paint can be dropped off at the Semiahmoo Bottle Depot, 15515 24th Avenue, Surrey, (604) 531-7669.

For information on disposal of solvents and other hazardous waste, please call the BC Recycling Hotline at (604) 732-9253. Never dump chemicals in storm drains, creeks, on the road, or in your yard.

Why can't we recycle more plastics?

The difficulty is that in order for plastics to be recycled, there must be an end market for the materials and they must be separated into the same resin type. Each different type of plastic is indicated with a number stamped on the bottom of the container (inside a recycling triangle). Plastic containers with the numbers 1, 2, 4 & 5 on the bottom have the strongest markets and can be recycled with the City's municipal curb side collection program.

Where can I refund my refundable beverage containers?

Please take your refundable beverage containers to the Semiahmoo Bottle Depot, 15515 24th Avenue, Surrey, (604) 531-7669. You can visit the Encorp website at www.encorpinc.com for additional locations.

What kinds of containers are returnable for refund?

Call Encorp Pacific at 1-800-330-9767 or (604) 473-2400 or visit their site www.encorpinc.com.

Do I need to wash and squash the plastics and metal containers I put in my Blue Box?

Rinsing or washing the containers before recycling them will help reduce odour and pests. Squashing the containers frees up more space in the truck, enabling more houses to be serviced before unloading, thereby saving the municipality money, fuel, truck maintenance costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

What does 'contamination' mean?

This is when unacceptable material is placed in a recycling container or bin. For example, window glass placed with glass bottles. The window glass is a different type of glass and is considered a contaminant resulting in contamination that increases the program cost and ultimately the cost to the taxpayer.

What does 'commingled' mean?

Commingled means that recyclables are placed together in the blue box (eg. newsprint is mixed with the containers). Your recyclables must be separated in to the appropriate receptacles before they can be collected by a municipal crew.

Is it true that all of the recyclables collected are just thrown in the landfill?

Absolutely not! All recyclables collected through your municipal program are sorted and only the contaminants (materials not accepted for recycling in that program) are removed and sent to landfill (about 2% by weight).

The City of White Rock and Metro Vancouver make every effort to ensure that recyclable materials are not land filled or incinerated. This is carried out through disposal bans, assistance and endorsement of local recycling markets and an integrated approach to solid waste management (reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, etc.).

Why are the materials collected in my Blue Box not the same across other municipalities in the Lower Mainland?

In February 1996, Metro Vancouver municipalities committed to the same minimum recycling collection standards by implementing Metro Vancouver's Solid Waste Management Plan. In order to meet the needs of local residents, however, and to work with differing tax bases, municipalities require some autonomy in how they provide those services. Exact services across all municipalities are not always practical. If you have specific questions regarding this issue, please give us a call at (604) 541-2181.

Why is corrugated cardboard not collected through the curb side recycling program?

Due to truck capacity, time constraints, logistics and volume, 3 cardboard depots have been provided by the City. They are conveniently located at:

• The Operations Works Yard - 877 Keil Street
• Kent Street Activity Centre - 1475 Kent StreetMalabar Park - 13689 Malabar Avenue

Do I need to remove the label from metal cans?

Yes, please. Paper labels on metal cans are relatively easy to remove. If paper is included in the metal stream, it is considered a contaminant. The problem is that during the recycling process, the metal is melted at high temperatures, and if enough paper is present, flash fires can erupt in the furnace, endangering the workers and producing impurities in the end product. These impurities cause the metal to be downgraded, thereby reducing the revenue received for the material by the program.

Do I need to remove the label from glass bottles?

No, you do not need to remove the label from glass bottles. First, the labels are often very difficult to remove. Second, the process for recycling the glass bottles has developed to enable the label to be removed prior to the heating phase. The recycling process for glass bottles involves smashing the glass into particles and then screening the pieces. The screens remove metal and paper.

Why can't I recycle light bulbs, window panes and Pyrex with my glass?

These glass products all have different physical properties and therefore different melting points, making it impossible to make glass bottles or other glass products from the recycled material without imperfections. For more information please call the BC Recycling Hotline at (604) 732-9253.

Can I put broken glass bottles and jars in my Blue Box?

No. Broken glass is a handling hazard for the recycling truck operators. As well, once glass is broken it is very difficult to determine what type of glass it is, thereby creating the possibility of contamination and necessitating its disposal as garbage.

Can I recycle Styrofoam (polystyrene)?

Styrofoam is a trade name for the material made from polystyrene, a type of plastic (#6). In order for this material to be recycled, it needs to be clean and in sufficient quantity. Polystyrene used for takeout foods, etc. is contaminated with food waste and is therefore not recyclable. Other polystyrene used for packing and so forth is not generated in sufficient quantity to warrant an official recycling program at this time. If you are interested in recycling your Styrofoam, please contact the BC Recycling Hotline at (604) 732-9253.

Where can I purchase a composter?

Composters can be purchased at the Municipal Operations Department at 877 Keil Street, White Rock at a cost of $28.00. These are also available at many local hardware and home improvement stores, such as Rona Revy and Home Depot.

I would like to learn more about composting.

Call the Metro Vancouver Compost Hotline at (604 )736-2250.

Green Can FAQs

What is a Green Can?

A Green Can is any garbage type can weighing 45 lbs or less with a Green Can sticker, which is used to collect food and yard trimmings.

What do I put in my Green Can?

You can put all of the following items into your Green Can:

• Any kind of cooked or uncooked food scraps, including meat, poultry, fish, seafood, bones, eggshells, dairy, vegetables, fruit, bread, pasta, and grains. Include all leftovers and plate scraping.
• Coffee grounds in their used paper filters, tea leaves and tea bags.
• Food-soiled paper towels, napkins, tissues, paper plates and pizza delivery boxes.
• Yard trimmings, such as plants, flowers, grass cuttings, leaves and branches.

* Please note that clean paper products are to still be recycled in your yellow recycling bag.

What can't go in the Green Can?

Do not place the following items in your Green Can:

• Anything made of glass or plastic, including biodegradable plastic.
• Paper cartons or containers, such as juice boxes, milk cartons, coffee cups, plastic wrappers or take-out containers.
• Anything made of metals, including aluminum foil, cans and twist ties.
• Anything made of paper except products specifically listed above as acceptable, including toilet paper or magazines.
• Grease or liquids.
• Animal waste or kitty litter.

What can I use as a kitchen container?

To store your food scraps in the kitchen you can use small lined Kraft-type paper bags, available at City facilities, or reuse a large yogurt container, ice cream bucket, jug, or any container with a lid that you have handy. Since you'll be emptying it in your Green Can on a regular basis, make sure it's something you can easily carry outside. To help keep the container clean, you may want to line it with a small Kraft-type paper bag.

Do I have to have a sticker?

All yard trimmings are taken to Fraser Richmond Soil and Fibre for composting. The Green Can is an expansion of this program to incorporate food scraps for composting. This means you can put your food waste in with your yard trimmings as it goes to the same facility.

Should I line my kitchen container and bin?

You don't need to line your bin, but you can use a Kraft-type paper bag or other paper liner if you wish. Newspaper, paper bags and paper towels are acceptable to use. Do not use plastic or compostable/biodegradable plastic products as a liner as the composting facility does not accept them.

What about animals getting into my bins?

You were already putting food scraps in your garbage, now you're just putting them in a different bin. If you secure the bin as you secured your garbage cans, there shouldn't be a problem.

If you've had issues with animals getting into your garbage bins, here are some tips to help prevent that: wrap fish & meat in newspaper, store scraps in the freezer until collection day, keep your Green Can in a secure enclosure and put it out only on the morning of collection.

What if I have too much for my bin?

Put all food scraps in your lidded Green Can. You can put excess yard trimmings in an additional labeled can(s) or in Kraft-type paper bags, or you can save excess trimmings for the next collection day.

Please note the weight limit for each bin is 45 lbs.

Where does all the food and yard waste go?

Once collected, food and yard waste go to Fraser Richmond Soil and Fibre in Richmond (8th Road and Blundell) for composting.

How does the processing facility process the waste?

The process is called windrow composting, where the waste is piled on to a negative aeration system, meaning it pulls air into the pile (this helps the composting process by pulling oxygen in and also "pulls" odours in to minimize the smell). The material is piled and turned with huge tractors/loaders. Once broken down, it gets mixed with varying amounts of sand (depending on the type of soil desired) to sell to landscapers and farmers. It should be noted that there is no pre-treatment of this material (no de-baggers or shredders) which is why it cannot handle any contaminants (like plastic bags).

Whose idea was this, how did this come about, who implemented this?

This initiative is part of an overall regional strategy from Metro Vancouver to divert waste from landfills, and all municipalities are working to implement similar programs.

Can I place wood waste in my Green Can?

No. Everything that is currently accepted in the current Yard Trimmings program can go into the Green Can - so yard trimmings are fine but lumber or other wood waste is not accepted. The Green Can is the same as the Yard Trimmings program - it just now includes food and food-soiled paper.

Why does the City not provide residents with bins to use as the Green Can?

Residents currently participating in the Yard Trimmings Collections program have bins already so we are not asking residents to get new bins. They can simply add food scraps to their existing bins that they have been using for their yard trimmings.

Why should we wrap up our waste?

Residents can use Kraft-type paper bags, or newspaper to confine their green waste, however this is not mandatory for regular garbage cans. In regular garbage cans residents can add their food scraps loose if they wish.

Fraser Richmond Soil & Fiber will not accept string, rope or twine at their facility since some brands contain plastic and they are not able to screen incoming loads. These plastic materials cause problems to the machinery therefore no rope, string or twine is accepted.

Can I put my food waste in my Kraft brown paper bags then?

It is not advisable to use a Kraft-type paper bag on its own. In order ensure that food waste is inaccessible to wildlife, a plastic or galvanized container should be used.

Who is going to clean out the bins?

Bins are the responsibility of the resident which is the current arrangement with garbage cans, blue boxes and yard trimming cans. Nothing has changed with the Green Can program. If the food scraps are wrapped up in newspaper, or if a Kraft bag is used as a liner, this should not be a problem. Residents can easily rinse out the bins with a hose if there is liquid.

What about the garbage that gets stuck on the bottom of the bins? Is this going to be left behind half full? Is the rest of the stuff in the bottom going to be dumped in my driveway?

The cans will be dumped out as normal. Residents can help to ensure the material is easily removed by using a Kraft-type paper bag as a liner, or adding newspaper or other green material (twigs, branches, etc) to prevent the material from sticking to the bottom of the can.

Why were we only sent one sticker?

The stickers are only intended to be used on the can that is used for food waste and are not mandatory to be used on yard trimming cans. The existing yard trimmings stickers will continue to work just fine.

How often will the City collect the Green Can?

Starting January 2011, food scraps and yard trimmings will be collected weekly using your Green Can and Kraft-type paper bags.

Should I continue to use my backyard composter?

Yes! Home composting is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to dispose of food scraps (fruit and vegetable only), not to mention the 'black gold' compost you'll get as a result. If you have a home composter, please continue to use it, think of the food scraps recycling program as a compliment to what you are already doing, as it includes food items that are not acceptable for backyard composters.

If you haven't started composting yet and are ready to get started, composting units are available to White Rock residents at cost ($28.00) and can be purchased/collected from the Municipal Operations Department at 877 Keil Street. Composters come complete with a screen, base, and composting manual.

Who can participate in the Green Can Program?

In the first phase, single family detached homes that currently receives yard trimmings collection can participate in the food scraps program. Multi-family and Commercials properties will be included in a later phase.

Multi-Family and Commercial Services

Multi-family homes and commercial properties wishing to dispose of their yard waste and food scraps are asked to call the Engineering and Municipal Operations Department at (604) 541-2181 to schedule a pick up. Collection occurs on the Monday following the call for service.

Branches will also be collected provided they are tied in bundles and do not exceed 3 feet in length. Individual branches must not exceed 3 inches in diameter. Rocks, dirt, stumps, sod, plant pots and animal feces will not be accepted.

Please have receptacles curbside by 8:00 a.m. on your scheduled pick up day. Consult the City News page of the Peace Arch News (every Friday) or call the Municipal Operations Department at (604) 541-2181 for holiday collection information.

Please talk to your strata about participating in the Green Can program, as the City will pick up Green Cans from properties currently participating in the yard trimmings program.

Excess Yard Waste

Have extra yard waste that you wish to dispose of quickly? Please contact the Vancouver Landfill at 311 for information on their yard waste drop-off, preparation requirements, rates and hours of operation.

Green Can Program Supplies

Green Can decals and Kraft bags are available at the following City facilities. Green Can decals are free of charge and Kraft bags are sold in packages of 5 for $2.50 + GST.

 

	Address	Working hours
City Hall	15322 Buena Vista Avenue	Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Centennial Arena	14600 North Bluff Road	Click here for office hours
Kent Street Activity Centre	1475 Kent Street	Click here for office hours
Municipal Operations Yard	877 Keil Street	Monday to Friday: 8:00am - 4:30pm

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