Urban Impact Recycling Ltd
5 Capilano Way V3L5G3 New Westminster, BC, Canada

Yard Debris Yard debris does not go in the blue bin and does not go in the garbage. Yard debris accounts for a significant portion of the waste that ends up in the landfill each year. ... Yard debris and clean, unfinished wood can be composted at the landfill or transfer station. Whether it’s leaves in the fall or a weekly truckload of grass clippings, weeds, brush and clean unfinished wood, you can bring yard debris to the Transfer Station for a small fee. Please do not drop off bark, dirt, rocks, sod, food waste or plastic nursery pots or plant trays. Plastic bags, even if labelled "biodegradable" or "compostable" are not accepted. Yard debris can be composted right at home. Add them to a compost pile outdoors along with food waste. Grass clippings that are left onsite will decompose and return nutrients to the soil. Leaves can be used as mulch around trees and shrubs to retain moisture. If you have large amounts of yard debris, renting a roll off bin is a simple, easy way to dispose of yard waste. You can rent it for the length of your project so you won’t have piles of debris stacking up around you. You can also call a junk removal service. Just fill your bin as you work and then have the container and all the yard waste removed after the job is done. #recyclingitright #recycleitsafely

Broken Glass Broken glass does not go in the blue bin. Broken drinking glasses, glass objects, and window glass cannot be placed with recyclable glass because they have different chemical properties and melt at different temperatures than the recyclable bottles and containers. Only whole, unbroken glass bottles and jars should be placed in your recycle bin with lids removed. Unlike whole bottles and jars, broken glass breaks up into smaller pieces of glass. ... Whether it is an old broken wine glass, a shattered window or a broken vase, broken glass is hazardous to workers who collect and sort your recyclables. If you toss broken glass straight into the bin these workers could accidentally injure themselves. Glass is increasingly becoming the contaminant. Broken glass can contaminate other recyclables like paper and cardboard, lowering their value. Broken glass is not only a safety hazard to workers, but it can also damage machines at recycling facilities. Glass is difficult to sort when broken, and if broken down too finely, glass may become too difficult to reprocess. As a result, glass is increasing processing costs. Disposing of broken glass requires taking a few steps to ensure the shards don’t damage other items or injure the people handling it. To safely dispose of broken glass, please seal it in a box, wrap it in layers of newspaper and label it broken glass. Place it on the side of your garbage for disposal so that when garbage collectors come by they can see it contains broken glass. #recyclingitright #recycleitsafely

Old Masks, Gloves, Paper Towels and Tissues Old masks, gloves, paper towels and tissues do not go in your blue bin. They are not suitable for recycling. In the wake of Covid-19, there is an increased demand and use of personal protective equipment also known as PPE as people go about their daily activities. ... PPE protects people. People are being asked to wear masks in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, PPE such as masks, gloves, paper towels and tissues are being strewn on roads, parks beaches and trails as litter. There are dangers that the coronavirus will be spread to frontline workers and others if waste that may carry the infection is not handled properly. PPE cannot be recycled. Many types of PPE are flimsy or flexible in designthink gloves and masksand can clog recycling sorting equipment, making it difficult to sort. The other concern with used PPE is for the health and welfare of recycling plant workers. If PPE is not safely disposed of it can do more harm than good. If people touch potentially contaminated PPE and then touch door handles or other surfaces, then the spread of disease will continue. The infection can live for hours or even days in moisture and could be transferred should a person touch it. At Urban Impact, we are concerned for frontline workers who are out there every day. We wanted to get the word out about how to safely discard masks, gloves, paper towels and tissues to minimize the likelihood of spreading the novel coronavirus. Medical masks are not recyclable. It is very important that these masks are properly disposed of to minimize the likelihood of frontline workers getting sick. Wrap it up, Tie it up! You don’t want your dirty PPE to get anyone sick. When you throw away PPE and associated goods like paper towels or tissues, make sure you’re placing items in a sealed garbage bag. Never reuse any type of disposable (one-time use) PPE equipment, because you can be exposed to residues remaining on the PPE from the previous use. If you’re not thrilled about the ecological impact of single-use PPE, consider buying reusable options. We are all in this together, and we will get through this together. #recyclingitright #recycleitsafely

Old Eyeglasses and Sunglasses Old eyeglasses and sunglasses do not go in the blue box and do not go in the garbage. Do you have an old, unbroken pair of glasses (lens and frame) with an out-of-date prescription collecting dust or sitting in a drawer? ... Or, have your non-prescription sunglasses that have gone out of style? Don't discard them and have them end up in landfill. It’s easy to donate them! Donating your old eyeglasses or non-prescription sunglasses can make a huge difference. One big reason to donate your old glasses: You can easily change lives. Over 1 billion people around the world with vision loss and lack of access to eye care could regain their sight with a pair of glasses, according to the independent nonprofit OneSight. Carefully wrap your old frames in a padded envelope and drop them off at your local Lions Club. Lions Clubs International operates a network of collection boxes and Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers, where volunteers process donated glasses for distribution through medical missions around the world. The centers clean, sort, and ship donations. Third World Eye Care Society Canada (TWECS), among other organizations, travel to developing countries to provide basic eye care and to distribute recycled eyeglasses and sunglasses to those less fortunate than ourselves. Most of these organizations travel with 10,000 pairs of glasses in order to match these individuals with the correct (or nearly correct) prescription. Your old glasses will be matched to someone who needs them, around the world or in your neighborhood. #recyclingitright #recycleitsafely

Old motor oil does not go in the blue bin. Motor oil, oil filters and empty motor oil bottles are banned from disposal in your curbside garbage and recycling collection. Used oil can be cleaned and used again. Used motor oil, oil filters and oil containers are accepted through the BC Used Oil Recycling program, which is managed by the BC Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA). ... The materials can be dropped off at various collection depots throughout the province, which include participating garages, dealerships and retailers. The Association is dedicated to collecting and recycling lubricating oil, oil filters, oil containers, antifreeze and antifreeze containers in BC. They provide an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to dispose of these materials and keep everyone safe. Each year, approximately 50 million litres of oil and 3 million litres of antifreeze are collected and responsibly managed through their program. These collection facilities can accept residential amounts (approximately 10-15 litres) per visit free of charge; please contact them ahead of time to ensure they have the storage capacity to handle the volume that you have. For a list of drop-off locations nearest you, contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline at 1-800-667-4321. #recyclingitright #recycleitsafely

Old Books do not go in the blue box and do not go in the garbage. The inside pages of hardcover books can be recycled. Unfortunately, the outer covers and spines are considered garbage. Do you still love a good old fashioned read? When it’s time to declutter you will be happy to know that old books don't need to be thrown away - they can be reused! ... There are many options for keeping books out of the landfill. Consider reselling, handing down or donating your old books so that someone else can enjoy them. If books are still in a good condition you can sell it or donate them to a number of thrift shops and reuse centres. Many libraries, thrift stores and community organizations will accept gently used books. Some accept gently used books for fundraising book sales and the proceeds support library projects and programs. Always call ahead to be sure they will accept your old books. You can sell them personally, post online or even host a garage sale. In some parts of the province, Discover Books provides drop off bins (and even curbside collection for larger quantities). They will resell, redistribute or recycle your books for you. In other areas, private depots accept books. Some daycare, senior, and community centres can use glossy photos for crafts and other projects. Contact the Recycling Council of BC at 1-800-667-4321 to find out recycling options for damaged books. #recyclingitright #recycleitsafely

Padded Paper envelopes do not go in your blue bin. Padded paper envelopes (paper bubble mailers) are not suitable for recycling as the inner bubble wrap layer and outer paper envelope layer cannot be properly separated for recycling. Padded paper envelopes contaminate the paper stream. Entire shipments of paper/cardboard may be rejected by the company recycling the material if contamination rates (when materials that aren’t paper are included) are too high. ... High levels of material contamination not only risks rejection by the recycler, it can also negatively impact equipment and safety at the recycling plant. Put paper bubble envelopes in your black cart as garbage. Why not resuse padded paper envelopes? You can reuse them for mailing another item, some have a built in double peal and seal which make reusing easy, if they don't have this feature, a nice strip of packing tape will do the job! Then just cover up the old shipping label with a new one and it's good to go. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Meat Trays Meat trays do not go in your blue bin and should not go in the garbage. These materials do more harm than good when recycled curbside by causing entire loads of recycling to be rejected and making it harder to recover accepted recycling material. Meat trays that many of us refer to as Styrofoam are actually polystyrene and made from a petroleum and chemical mixture, like plastics. ... Although Polystyrene foam is technically recyclable, it can not go in your blue bin. When something can't be recycled easily, it generally ends up in landfill. Residential polystyrene products such as egg cartons and meat trays are included in a province-wide recycling program managed by Recycle BC. Although meat trays are not accepted in most curbside recycling programs, they are accepted free of charge at a number of recycling depots in communities across the province. This program also includes foam packaging material and foam take out containers. For a complete list of locations, contact the at RCBC Recycling Hotline at 1-800-667-4321. Polystyrene accepted at the depots must be sorted into colored and white foam in order to be accepted for recycling. recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old Mattresses Old mattresses can’t be left in the alley or go in your blue bin or garbage. Mattresses have been banned from garbage disposal at Metro Vancouver transfer stations since 2011. They should be recycled. ... Curb illegal dumping! Abandoning household items on public or private property is considered illegal dumping. When you recycle your mattress (foam or futon) and box spring, you reduce the amount of waste going to our landfill. Mattresses (even with bedbugs) can be recycled at the transfer station and landfilldepending on the level of contaminationfor the mattress recycling fee. The drop-off fee of $15 per unit covers the cost to deconstruct and recycle the component parts. Items with bedbugs require special preparation. Hire a mattress recycling company or junk removal company. Many companies will pick up used mattresses for a fee, or exchange new-for-old at the time of purchase of a new mattress. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old clothes don’t go in the #bluebin and they should not go in the garbage. Consumers are buying more clothes ever. It is estimated that one garbage truck full of clothing is landfilled globally every second. Cheaper clothing, fast fashion trends, and an overall increase in consumption is resulting in more and more clothing waste! Did you know that in Metro Vancouver we threw away 44 million pounds of clothing last year? ... If you’re not able to alter, repurpose, or swap, then donating them is your best option. You can donate clothing to a number of reuse centres. Always call ahead to ensure the item can be donated. Some clothing donation and recycling services are disrupted in the region please call ahead before dropping items off. Clothing donations should be clean, dry and packed in a plastic bag or box. Ever wonder what happens to the clothes that you donate? According to Metro Vancouver, only about 20-25% is resold or reused locally because the volume of clothing donated is higher than the demand for local reuse. But not to worry, the rest isn’t thrown out the remaining clothes are sold to used clothing brokers, who then sort and sell the clothing to markets where they can be used. Textiles made from natural fibres such as cotton, hemp or wool are a renewable resource. Polyester and other man-made fibre textiles are made from non-renewable petroleum products and are much harder on the environment to produce and recycle. You can also try "upcycling" old clothing into something new. If you have clothes in good condition, call up some of your friends and host a clothing swap. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old Bikes Please do not put old bikes in your blue bin or in the garbage. Donating your old bike instead of throwing it away is a great way of helping out the community and promoting sustainability. ... Give your bike a second life by looking into bicycle donation options. Bikes can be recycled, refurbished and distributed back into the community. There are social enterprises who recycle or refurbish old bikes so they can be re-used or recycled appropriately. Drop this item off at a reuse centre or thrift shop to be reused. Always call ahead to ensure the item can be donated. Many organizations that refurbish bikes employ young people and provide valuable training and experience to teach them to renew the two-wheelers for sale. These organizations are a great resource for affordable bicycles. If your bike is beyond repair, you can strip it down as efficiently as possible. Keep usable parts to mend other bikes. Remaining parts should be separated into steel, aluminum, rubber, and plastic to be properly recycled. Call the Recycling Hotline at 1-800-667-4321 for reuse, donation, and/or recycling options near you.

Please do not put old (wire) hangers in your blue bin. Most recycling machinery is not equipped to handle the material and shape of a wire hanger. Wire hangers can easily get stuck in recycling facility machinery, forcing workers to remove them by hand and delaying the sorting process itself. Old hangers can damage equipment at recycling facilities. ... There are responsible ways to recycle your wire hangers. Store owners are usually happy to take them back and reuse them. Wire hangers that are bent up or unwound or otherwise unusable, can be recycled with scrap metal. Many dry cleaners will accept wire hangers and reuse them for distributing dry-cleaned laundry. If you want to save yourself a trip to the dry cleaners, call ahead and ask if they accept metal hanger donations. Alternatively, you could also contact your local consignment shop to see if they are interested in accepted metal hanger donations. Otherwise, wire hangers can also be recycled through a local metal recycler. You can also make your own mini-trellises for your crawling vines. If you love arts and crafts projects, there’s creative and fun ways to use hangers- make a wreath or a cool plant hanger. For more donation, reuse and recycling options, call the Recycling Hotliner at 1-800-667-4321.

For #PinkShirtDay each year, our entire team proudly wears pink t shirts to take a stand against bullying- at work, at school and online. We also enjoy yummy pink t shirt cookies from Moores Bakery. The CKNW Orphans Fund encourages people to celebrate kindness and wear pink in support of antibullying programs across the province.... It's so great to hear that 100 percent of net proceeds raised from Pink Shirt Day today go towards anti bullying programs... Programs that support children's healthy self-esteem, empathy, compassion and kindness. To date, the Fund has raised more than $1.8 million for BC charities. Let's take time today to remember on #PinkShirtDay, and everyday to celebrate the things that make each of us unique. Let's end Bullying and Choose Kindness! So proud of the Urban Impact team who are standing together today against bullying. Let's reach out and support those who might need a friend or a sympathetic ear. #LiftEachOtherUp #PinkShirtDay

Diapers Disposable diapers don’t go in the #bluebin. They should be put in the garbage. Single-use diapers are not biodegradable. ... When something is biodegradable, it is able to break down naturally and turn back into soil. Single-use diapers are typically made from a variety of plastic-based ingredients, and plastic is not biodegradable. If you buy diapers that come in a cardboard box, the box can be recycled with paper and cardboard. Diapers care difficult to deal with due to the fact that they often contain human waste. Please be sure to empty the contents of the diaper into the toilet prior to placing it in the garbage. If you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative, you can use cloth diapers, or a diaper service. Cloth can be better than disposables if they are washed in water temperature at 60 C or less and are air dried. Some disposable diaper companies have worked to reduce the amount of non-perishable material they use. If you're going to use disposable diapers, it's a good idea to use brands that are less resource intensive if possible (i.e., Seventh Generation, Tushies, etc. - made without chlorine bleach and with less chemical inputs). #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old Tennis Balls Are your tennis balls old, fuzzy and flat? When they lose their bounce and are unplayable, old Tennis Balls don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Break your habit of throwing old tennis balls into the trash! ... Tennis balls are made of natural rubber containing additives to enhance strength, colour and low gas permeability. The balls are inflated either through the production of nitrogen using chemicals or using compressed air, then covered in two types of cloth which are bonded with adhesive to the rubber by heating. This process results in a very slow rate of decomposition when sent to landfill. Donate old tennis balls to charity or a kid's tennis program. Reuse! There are loads of Do it Yourself ways to reuse tennis balls. You can use them to remedy a number of common household problems, by sticking them on the bottom of chair legs to protect your floor or using them to remove scuff marks from floors. Tennis balls also make great no trash dog balls. They are a great item for enthusiastic ball chasing dogs! Your dogs will pass along their thanks throwing tennis balls in the backyard for them! #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Broken Ceramics Old ceramics (Ceramic mugs or other ceramic products, whether broken or whole) do not go in your blue bin. The presence of ceramics like coffee mugs and plates in the blue box will weaken the recycled product. ... Put small, unusable and broken ceramic and porcelain items like tea pots and tea cups in your black cart as garbage. Old ceramics can easily break during collection. When ceramics mixes with paper and other containers, it becomes difficult to properly sort, and therefore recycle, these materials. Old ceramics can damage recycling plant machinery. Ceramics can be crushed to be used for drainage systems and rock base for driveways. They can also be broken and then spun to smooth the edges for use as gravel. Feeling crafty? Why not resuse broken ceramics and crockery to make a mosaic artwork? One quick search on Pinterest yields hundreds of clever upcyling ideas for your unused china. recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old Soccer Balls don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Soccer balls are made of plastic, cotton, rubber, and animal products. The combination of those materials makes them really difficult to recycle. If your old soccer ball is still in pretty good shape, but you need to go up in size, or you’re simply looking to switch, why not find an organization to donate. Charity thrift stores accept old soccer balls as donations. Once your kids’ so...ccer balls are old, there’s no reason they should stuff up the landfill when there are so many more helpful ways to part with them. Go for the goal by reusing old balls! Hang them in your garage from the ceiling as a mark for where to park your car. This can protect the car from hitting the wall and the soft texture of used ball won’t damage the car. If the soccer balls are not good enough for donation please put in the garbage. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old wood siding does not go in the blue box and does not go in the garbage. When wood siding gets replaced, it’s usually because the siding is old and deteriorating and is starting to rot. The whole reason it is being replaced is because it’s aged and has degraded. Wood that has been treated (with creosote, for example), painted, stained or contaminated is not appropriate for recycling and should be properly disposed of. Wood is considered a solid waste. ... Bring excess yard waste and wood to the transfer station or landfill for composting for a fee. Check the location webpage for fees and maximum size. Old wood siding can also be dropped off at Ecowaste Industries Ltd. Please call 604-277-1410 ahead for more information. You may want to think outside the box for the old wood siding and think about making an arts and crafts item. You can use old wood to make picture frames, a bird house, bookcases, a headboard, and more! Cedar is a soft wood that's both durable and resistant to weather and frequent watering. That's what makes it perfect for flower or plant boxes you put outside on your balcony or in your backyard. Consider chipping wood debris for landscape cover. Wood chips make excellent mulch for garden beds. #recyclingitright #recycleitsafely

Cable Wires Cable wires don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Cables and wires get wrapped up in the recycling processing equipment so please don’t put them into your bluebin. Some cable and wire have value and can be taken to your local scrap dealer for rebate. Smaller cables can be included in your Electronics recycling bin. @UIRecycling we would be pleased to provide you with this service. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely... Old Ropes Do you have old ropes cluttering up the garage? Old ropes do not go in the #bluebin. Old ropes should be given a new life rather than take up space in our landfills or end up in our waterways. In the recycling world, old ropes are what are known as tanglers. Tanglers include ropes, cable wire, hoses, chains, and cords. Old ropes are known to tangle up plant equipment, potentially resulting in safety issues for workers and mechanical issues for recycling plant machinery. Keeping your old ropes out of recycling can help keep recycling facilities running smoothly, efficiently, and safety. If the old rope is made of nylon or polyester, and is no longer usable, please dispose of it in the garbage. You can also donate old ropes to the nearest Boy-Scout Troop for their knot tying classes & demos. Groups that work with children are usually very happy to take any old ropes for non-climbing purposes (marking playing fields, tug of war and games) #recyclingitright #recyclesafely Old Chains Do you have old chains cluttering up the garage? Old chains do not go in the #bluebin. Many people still end up dumping things like old chains in blue bins that should go in the garbage. Old chains should be given a new life rather than take up space in our landfills. In the recycling world, old chains are what are known as tanglers. Tanglers include ropes, cable wire, hoses, chains, and cords. A metal chain will get tangled in the mechanisms, potentially resulting in safety issues for workers and mechanical issues for recycling plant machinery. Keeping your old chains out of recycling can help keep recycling facilities running smoothly, efficiently, and safety. Metal is banned from the garbage since it is one of the easiest materials to recycle. If you have larger quantities or other scrap metal, take it to a scrap metal recycling facility. Some metal recycling facilities will pay for non-ferrous metals (metals that don’t contain iron). #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Yard waste can’t go in the garbage or your blue bin. Yards produce waste and this waste should be removed or recycled. Most yard waste can be recycled in your green bin. We are keen on green disposal! Yard trimmings can be added to your green bin. Please remember to cut your branches and pruning into pieces that fit easily inside your green bin. ... If you have a large amount of yard waste or if you have large branches that do not fit into your Green bin, take them to the green waste drop off area at the Transfer Station or landfill. Drop off fees apply. Composting is an easy way to turn yard and garden waste into an organic material that can be reapplied to the soil. Decomposing yard waste and returning it to the soil is an excellent solution for your plants and it’s great for the environment. Leaves can be used as mulch around trees and shrubs to retain moisture. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Mylar balloons can’t go in your blue bin. Balloons are a staple at all kinds of celebrations, from birthday parties to grand openings to retirement parties and more. Because balloons are made from a synthetic material, they should never simply be tossed out or released into the air. Although Mylar balloons are fun and beautiful, they are unfortunately not biodegradable, meaning that if they are released in the air, they will not break down over time. ... Mylar balloons are not friendly to the environment they are made from metallicized polyester. Put new and used (deflated) party balloons in your black cart as garbage. Balloons are hazards when they enter the environment. All released balloons, whether they are released intentionally or not, return to Earth as garbage. Balloons can kill animals and cause dangerous power outages. Balloons return to the land and sea where they can be mistaken for food and eaten by animals. Mylar balloons are not classified bio-degradable and should not be released. Pick up any balloons or ribbons you find and dispose of them properly. If you need to dispose your balloons, please make sure to pop them and dispose of them properly (cut the string/ribbon off, cut it up and put them into a garbage container. It’s also easy to deflate a mylar balloon and reuse it. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Stuffed Toys Stuffed toys don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Do you have a stuffed toy collection that would put a toy store to shame? Here are some tips on how to donate or responsibly get rid of old stuffed toys. Get your kids involved in the paring-down process! ... Once your kids’ stuffed toys are no longer loved, there’s no reason they should stuff up the landfill when there are so many more helpful ways to part with them. Consider donating washed stuffed toys to your local fire department, police station, the children’s wing of a hospital, or a women’s shelter. Thoughtfully passing on toys can be a great opportunity for children to learn compassion and how to waste less. Charity thrift stores also accept washed stuffed toys as donations. It is best that the stuffed toys are in like-new condition, without any rips, odors, or stains. If they are torn and worn and not good enough for donation please put in the garbage.#recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Yard Signage Old yard signage can’t be left in the alley or go in the garbage or your blue bin. Political signs are typically made from materials that make them durable and able to withstand being left outdoors. ... Today some yard signs are made from corrugated plastic: plastic sheets with flutes that look like white plastic cardboard. Lightweight and durable, corrugated plastic signs are not recyclable in the blue bin. This plastic can be recycled and turned into items such as park benches, picnic tables and garbage cans. The success of a yard sale was very much reliant on signage. If your yard sale sign is made of paper, the paper can be recycled. Before tossing your sign, consider saving it for future use. You could attach a new message to the board and use it to promote a special event. A local school or non-profit organization may be able to use the sign. If you don’t want to save the entire sign, you may be able to reuse the metal stakes for future signs. The metal stakes on yard signs can be recycled by removing them from the plastic or paper part of the sign and taking them to a municipal waste drop-off or metal recycler. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Gas and Propane Tanks Gas and Propane tanks don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. When gas and propane tanks show up in blue boxes they create a fire risk and a potential worker safety issue. Never place a pressurized container in your garbage as they can cause explosions when compacted in collection trucks. Don't throw away that #propanetank! Call #RCBC #Hotline at 604-732-9253 or 1-800-667-4321, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm for local ...#recycling options! Leftover gasoline tanks can be dropped off for free @ProductCareCAN recycling locations across British Columbia. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely Fire Extinguishers Fire extinguishers don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Fire extinguisher are pressurized canisters and may contain hazardous materials. A hazardous product, fire extinguishers are subject to explosion if crushed in landfills and are therefore unsuitable for regular disposal. Return your expired fire extinguisher for recharge or recycling. Check your local listings for fire and safety companies that may accept fire extinguishers for safe disposal, recycling or reconditioning. For more information in your area, please call the Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or 1-800-667-4321, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely Pepper Spray and Bear Spray Pepper spray and bear spray don’t go in the #bluebin. Pepper spray and bear spray are categorized as household aerosols under pest management, and in most communities, empty cans may be disposed of in regular garbage. Pepper spray and bear spray are pressurized canisters and may contain hazardous materials. Aerosol cans with poison, flammable, corrosive symbol on them are not accepted for recycling. To dispose of your expired or used pepper and bear spray, the contents of the aerosol need to be sprayed off completely to release all pressure from the can. The safest way is to take the canister outside, hold it at arm's length and spray it against concrete or rock until the canister is empty. Place the canister into a heavy-duty zip lock plastic storage bag. By putting an empty can in your trash, there’s no chance of it exploding. Many municipalities will collect bear spray and pepper spray for recycling at the local landfill or transfer station. Contact the BC Recycling hotline for instructions. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old Chains Do you have old chains cluttering up the garage? Old chains do not go in the #bluebin. Many people still end up dumping things like old chains in blue bins that should go in the garbage. ... Old chains should be given a new life rather than take up space in our landfills. In the recycling world, old chains are what are known as tanglers. Tanglers include ropes, cable wire, hoses, chains, and cords. A metal chain will get tangled in the mechanisms, potentially resulting in safety issues for workers and mechanical issues for recycling plant machinery. Keeping your old chains out of recycling can help keep recycling facilities running smoothly, efficiently, and safety. Metal is banned from the garbage since it is one of the easiest materials to recycle. If you have larger quantities or other scrap metal, take it to a scrap metal recycling facility. Some metal recycling facilities will pay for non-ferrous metals (metals that don’t contain iron). #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old Lawn furniture Old lawn furniture can’t be left in the alley or go in the garbage or your blue bin. Its size and shape make it a likely culprit to jam processing equipment. Left outside year after year, through the blazing summer sun and the freezing winters, patio furniture has to endure a wide array of extreme conditions. Sooner or later, it’s going to wear out. If old lawn furniture is not reusable, take it to the Zero Waste Centre, transfer station, or landfill. Or ...why not recycle, repurpose, or donate items? Sell or give away usable items to friends or family, through for sale ads, or in a garage sale. Try listing the item in your local newspaper, or create a free online listing on craigslist, freecycle.org or usedvancouver.com. Pack up your old lawn furniture and take it to a a donations-based thrift store, so someone else can have a patio set. If your lawn furniture is plastic and stamped with a #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 symbol, it is can be recycled. Check out municipal programs, such as large-item pickup services, pop-up junk days, and spring cleaning events in your municipality. For more donation, reuse and recycling options, call the Recycling Hotliner at 1-800-667-4321. If the furniture is not reusable and is made of metal, you can drop it off for free at the City of Vancouver's Zero Waste Centre or at the recycling depot at the Vancouver Landfill. If lawn furniture is not reusable and is wood, or plastic, you can dispose of it as garbage at the Transfer Station or Vancouver Landfill. Regular disposal fees apply. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Pepper Spray and Bear Spray Pepper spray and bear spray don’t go in the #bluebin. Pepper spray and bear spray are categorized as household aerosols under pest management, and in most communities, empty cans may be disposed of in regular garbage. Pepper spray and bear spray are pressurized canisters and may contain hazardous materials. Aerosol cans with poison, flammable, corrosive symbol on them are not accepted for recycling. To dispose of your expired or used pepper and bea...r spray, the contents of the aerosol need to be sprayed off completely to release all pressure from the can. The safest way is to take the canister outside, hold it at arm's length and spray it against concrete until the canister is empty. Place the canister into a heavy-duty zip lock plastic storage bag. By putting an empty can in your trash, there’s no chance of it exploding. Many municipalities will collect bear spray and pepper spray for recycling at the local landfill or transfer station. Contact the BC Recycling hotline at 1-800-667-4321 for instructions. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Fire Extinguishers Fire extinguishers don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Fire extinguisher are pressurized canisters and may contain hazardous materials. Fire extinguishers are a hazardous product, subject to explosion if crushed in landfills and are therefore unsuitable for regular disposal. Return your expired fire extinguisher for recharge or recycling. Check your local listings for fire and safety companies that may accept fire ...extinguishers for safe disposal, recycling or reconditioning. For more information in your area, please call the Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or 1-800-667-4321, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old ropes Do you have old ropes cluttering up the garage? Old ropes do not go in the #bluebin. Old ropes should be given a new life rather than take up space in our landfills or end up in our waterways. ... In the recycling world, old ropes are what are known as tanglers. Tanglers include ropes, cable wire, hoses, chains, and cords. Old ropes are known to tangle up plant equipment, potentially resulting in safety issues for workers and mechanical issues for recycling plant machinery. Keeping your old ropes out of recycling can help keep recycling facilities running smoothly, efficiently, and safety. If the old rope is made of nylon or polyester, and is no longer usable, please dispose of it in the garbage. You can also donate old ropes to the nearest Boy-Scout Troop for their knot tying classes & demos. Groups that work with children are usually very happy to take any old ropes for non-climbing purposes (marking playing fields, tug of war and games) #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old Mattresses Old mattresses can’t be left in the alley or go in your blue bin or garbage. Mattresses have been banned from garbage disposal at Metro Vancouver transfer stations since 2011. They should be recycled. ... Curb illegal dumping! Abandoning household items on public or private property is considered illegal dumping. When you recycle your mattress (foam or futon) and box spring, you reduce the amount of waste going to our landfill. Mattresses (even with bedbugs) can be recycled at the transfer station and landfilldepending on the level of contaminationfor the mattress recycling fee. The drop-off fee of $15 per unit covers the cost to deconstruct and recycle the component parts. Items with bedbugs require special preparation. Hire a mattress recycling company or junk removal company. Many companies will pick up used mattresses for a fee, or exchange new-for-old at the time of purchase of a new mattress. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Have waste cable wire? Cable wire (flexible wire cables, household cables, power cables, underground cables, copper and aluminum cables, and high-voltage cables) does not go in the #bluebin. In the recycling world, cable wires are what are known as tanglers. ... Tanglers include cable wire, hoses, ropes, chains, and cords. Cable wire is known to tangle up plant equipment, potentially resulting in safety issues for workers and mechanical issues for recycling plant machinery. Keeping your old cable wire out of recycling can help keep recycling facilities running smoothly, efficiently, and safety. You can have your End-Of-Life Electronics (EOLE) recycled free of charge, simply by dropping it off at an approved collection depot. Cable wires are manually and/or mechanically separated and smelted for metal recovery. There is a market for recycled copper wire. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Paint Cans, Paint Brushes and Paint Trays Many people overestimate how much paint they need, creating unnecessary leftover #paint. Paint Cans... Paint cans don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. All paint cans, empty or full should be taken to @ProductCareCAN depot for recycling. In British Columbia, there are more than 200 recycling locations where you can drop off your leftover paint for free. Paint must be in its original container, with the labels intact, and tightly sealed. For more information, please contact @ProductCareCAN #recyclingitright #recyclesafely Paint Brushes Paint brushes don’t go in the #bluebin. They go in the garbage or they can be reused. Paint brushes are excluded from Product Care Recycling Depot program. Paint brushes used with latex paint are not hazardous and are not flammable. Simply allow paint brushes to dry and place them in the garbage. Reusing paint brushes can save you money, save the earth, and save you a drive to the hardware store. Wrap brushes with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or plastic bags and put them in a refrigerator to prevent drying. Reduce paint waste by storing your brushes well during short painting breaks #recyclingitright #recyclesafely Paint Trays Paint trays don’t go in the #bluebin. They go in the garbage. Paint brushes and paint related products are excluded from Product Care Recycling Depot program, including the empty containers. Paint trays used with latex paint are not hazardous and are not flammable. Simply allow these items to dry and place them in the garbage. Reusing paint trays and paint brushes can save you money, save the earth, and save you a drive to the hardware store. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Old clothes don’t go in the #bluebin and they should not go in the garbage. Consumers are buying more clothes ever. It is estimated that one garbage truck full of clothing is landfilled globally every second. Cheaper clothing, fast fashion trends, and an overall increase in consumption is resulting in more and more clothing waste! Did you know that in Metro Vancouver we threw away 44 million pounds of clothing last year? ... If you’re not able to alter, repurpose, or swap, then donating them is your best option. You can donate clothing to a number of reuse centres. Always call ahead to ensure the item can be donated. Some clothing donation and recycling services are disrupted in the region please call ahead before dropping items off. Clothing donations should be clean, dry and packed in a plastic bag or box. Ever wonder what happens to the clothes that you donate? According to Metro Vancouver, only about 20-25% is resold or reused locally because the volume of clothing donated is higher than the demand for local reuse. But not to worry, the rest isn’t thrown out the remaining clothes are sold to used clothing brokers, who then sort and sell the clothing to markets where they can be used. Textiles made from natural fibres such as cotton, hemp or wool are a renewable resource. Polyester and other man-made fibre textiles are made from non-renewable petroleum products and are much harder on the environment to produce and recycle. You can also try "upcycling" old clothing into something new. If you have clothes in good condition, call up some of your friends and host a clothing swap. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Is your garden hose starting to leak, crack, or wear out? It may be time for a new one. Old garden hose does not go in the #bluebin. Put this item in your garbage. In the recycling world, garden hoses are what are known as tanglers. Tanglers include hoses, ropes, chains, and cords. Garden hoses are known to tangle up equipment, potentially resulting in safety issues for workers and mechanical issues for recycling plant machinery. Keeping your old hoses out of recycling c...an help keep recycling facilities running smoothly, efficiently, and safety. You can repurpose garden hoses and use as a Drip Watering System: One of the easiest ways to reuse an old garden hose is to poke holes in it and use it as a drip watering or irrigation system.

Diapers Disposable diapers don’t go in the #bluebin. They should be put in the garbage. Single-use diapers are not biodegradable. ... When something is biodegradable, it is able to break down naturally and turn back into soil. Single-use diapers are typically made from a variety of plastic-based ingredients, and plastic is not biodegradable. If you buy diapers that come in a cardboard box, the box can be recycled with paper and cardboard. Diapers care difficult to deal with due to the fact that they often contain human waste. Please be sure to empty the contents of the diaper into the toilet prior to placing it in the garbage. If you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative, you can use cloth diapers, or a diaper service. Cloth can be better than disposables if they are washed in water temperature at 60 C or less and are air dried. Some disposable diaper companies have worked to reduce the amount of non-perishable material they use. If you're going to use disposable diapers, it's a good idea to use brands that are less resource intensive if possible (i.e., Seventh Generation, Tushies, etc. - made without chlorine bleach and with less chemical inputs). #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Paint Brushes Paint brushes don’t go in the #bluebin. They go in the garbage or they can be reused. Paint brushes are excluded from Product Care Recycling Depot program. ... Paint brushes used with latex paint are not hazardous and are not flammable. Simply allow paint brushes to dry and place them in the garbage. Reusing paint brushes can save you money, save the earth, and save you a drive to the hardware store. Wrap brushes with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or plastic bags and put them in a refrigerator to prevent drying. Reduce paint waste by storing your brushes well during short painting breaks. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Paint trays don’t go in the #bluebin. They go in the garbage. Paint brushes and paint related products are excluded from Product Care Recycling Depot program, including the empty containers. Paint trays used with latex paint are not hazardous and are not flammable. Paint trays are super easy to clean. Simply allow these items to dry and place them in the garbage. ... Reusing paint trays and paint brushes can save you money, save the earth, and save you a drive to the hardware store. Cover your paint tray with cling film before you use them then just remove the cling film and it is all clean and useable again. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Cable Wires Cable wires don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Cables and wires get wrapped up in the recycling processing equipment so please don’t put them into your bluebin. Some cable and wire have value and can be taken to your local scrap dealer for rebate. Smaller cables can be included in your Electronics recycling bin. @UIRecycling we would be pleased to provide you with this service. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely... Old Ropes Do you have old ropes cluttering up the garage? Old ropes do not go in the #bluebin. Old ropes should be given a new life rather than take up space in our landfills or end up in our waterways. In the recycling world, old ropes are what are known as tanglers. Tanglers include ropes, cable wire, hoses, chains, and cords. Old ropes are known to tangle up plant equipment, potentially resulting in safety issues for workers and mechanical issues for recycling plant machinery. Keeping your old ropes out of recycling can help keep recycling facilities running smoothly, efficiently, and safety. If the old rope is made of nylon or polyester, and is no longer usable, please dispose of it in the garbage. You can also donate old ropes to the nearest Boy-Scout Troop for their knot tying classes & demos. Groups that work with children are usually very happy to take any old ropes for non-climbing purposes (marking playing fields, tug of war and games) #recyclingitright #recyclesafely Old Chains Do you have old chains cluttering up the garage? Old chains do not go in the #bluebin. Many people still end up dumping things like old chains in blue bins that should go in the garbage. Old chains should be given a new life rather than take up space in our landfills. In the recycling world, old chains are what are known as tanglers. Tanglers include ropes, cable wire, hoses, chains, and cords. A metal chain will get tangled in the mechanisms, potentially resulting in safety issues for workers and mechanical issues for recycling plant machinery. Keeping your old chains out of recycling can help keep recycling facilities running smoothly, efficiently, and safety. Metal is banned from the garbage since it is one of the easiest materials to recycle. If you have larger quantities or other scrap metal, take it to a scrap metal recycling facility. Some metal recycling facilities will pay for non-ferrous metals (metals that don’t contain iron). #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Many people overestimate how much paint they need, creating unnecessary leftover #paint. Paint cans don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. All paint cans, empty or full should be taken to a Product Care Recycling depot for recycling. ... In British Columbia, there are more than 200 recycling locations where you can drop off your leftover paint for free. Paint must be in its original container, with the labels intact, and tightly sealed. For more information, please contact @ProductCareCAN #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Recycling Batteries has never been easier! Getting rid of small batteries? Lithium, Alkaline, Computer and Smartphone Batteries don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Keep batteries out of landfills! Please make sure to separate your batteries and put them in a specific Battery Collection container. If you don’t have access to one, please contact @Call2Recycle or @UIRecycling we would be pleased to provide you with a convenient battery recycling service. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Phone Batteries don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Please make sure to separate your batteries and put them in a specific Battery Collection container. If you don’t have access to one, please contact @Call2Recycle or @UIRecycling we would be pleased to provide you with this service. #recyclingitright #recyclesafel

Computer Batteries don’t go in the #bluebin and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Please make sure to separate your batteries and place them into a specific Battery Collection container. If you don’t have access to one, please contact @Call2Recycle or @UIRecycling we would be pleased to provide you with this service. #recyclingitright #recyclesafely

Alkaline Batteries Alkaline Batteries don’t go in the #bluebox and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Please make sure to separate your batteries and place them into a specific Battery Collection container. If you don’t have access to one, please contact @Call2Recycleor @UIRecycling we would be pleased to provide you with this service. #recyclingitright #recycle safely

Lithium Batteries don’t go in the #bluebox and they definitely should not go in the garbage. Please make sure to separate your batteries and put them in a specific Battery Collection container. If you don’t have access to a Battery Collection container, please contact @Call2Recycle or @UIRecycling we would be pleased to provide you with this service. #recyclingitright #recyclesafel

We hope you and your loved ones have a very Happy Canada Day ! Today we are celebrating this amazing country we call home! Celebrate, be smart, and be safe! ... #canadaday

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new focus on cleanliness and how to prevent the spread of disease through personal contact and contaminated surfaces. With COVID-10, cleaning is in high gear. And, as hand washing habits truly change, how will we dry our hands?... Many people are using disposable paper towels to dry their hands. At Urban Impact, we are concerned for frontline workers who are out there every day. Take care of wet paper towel waste! With hygiene and hand washing at the forefront our daily lives, we need to safely discard paper towels to minimize the likelihood of spreading the novel coronavirus. It is very important that soiled paper towels are properly disposed of to minimize the likelihood of frontline workers getting sick. Wrap it up, Tie it up! Please put soiled paper towel in a sealed garbage bags, not in your recycling bin. Waste must be bagged and sealed tightly before being placed among recycling bins. We are all in this together, and we will get through this together. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. #staysafe #frontlineworkers #flattenthecurve #covid19 #safedisposal #safedisposalsaveslives

Covering up with a Mask? Wrap it up, Tie it up! More and more people are being asked to wear masks in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, the side effect of widespread mask wearing has been that masks are they are being strewn on roads, parks beaches and trails as litter. ... There are dangers that the coronavirus will be spread to frontline workers and others if waste that may carry the infection is not handled properly. The infection can live for hours or even days in moisture and could be transferred should a person touch it. At Urban Impact, we are concerned for frontline workers who are out there every day. We wanted to get the word out about how to safely discard masks to minimize the likelihood of spreading the novel coronavirus. Medical masks are not recyclable. It is very important that these masks are properly disposed of to minimize the likelihood of frontline workers getting sick. Wrap it up, Tie it up! Please put masks in a sealed garbage bags, not in your recycling bin. Waste must be bagged and sealed tightly before being placed among recycling bins. We are all in this together, and we will get through this together. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. #staysafe #frontlineworkers #flattenthecurve #covid19 #safedisposal #safedisposalsaveslives

How do I safely dispose gloves? @UIRecycling recognizes that clear simple messaging can help keep people safe during the COVID-19 crisis. We designed our COVID safety signage to remind our customers to Wrap it up, Tie it up! ... We all use safety products like gloves to protect ourselves but we have to take the initiative to dispose them safely. Removing Disposable Gloves Follow these 3 steps to avoid touching the outside of the glove to your skin. 1) Peel the first glove from the cuff away from your body, pulling it inside out. 2) Hold the glove you just removed in your gloved hand and peel off the second glove by putting your fingers inside the glove at the top of your wrist. 3) Turn the second glove inside out while pulling it away from your body, leaving the first glove inside the second. Wrap it up, Tie it Up! Gloves used for cleaning and personal use must be placed in closed, tightly-sealed garbage bags. Waste must be bagged and sealed tightly before being placed among recycling bins. We are all in this together, and we will get through this together. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.