Home Services Garbage & Recycling Waste and Recycling Facilities Accepted Materials and Fees

Accepted Materials and Fees

Recycling Centre Guidelines

No asbestos-containing materials (e.g. vermiculite insulation, construction/demolition waste)
All loads must be secured and covered. Unsecured loads may be fined
Garbage must be free from recyclables. Garbage that contains recyclables will be fined
Garbage items must not be more than 1.25m (4ft) long or weigh more than 100kg (220lb)
No person may deposit prohibited waste. Call the Recycling Hotline at 250.746.2540 for questions
All dusty materials and fibreglass insulation must be double-bagged and securely tied
Children and pets must remain in vehicles at all times

Accepted Materials and Fees

Material	Fee	Notes
Garbage	$242/tonne ($7 minimum)	No recyclables. Loads containing recyclables will be subject to fine. Contact an onsite attendant for more information.
Asbestos-Contaminated Materials	NOT ACCEPTED	Not accepted at CVRD facilities. Asbestos containing materials may be accepted at the following facilities: Hartland Landfill (Victoria) 250-360-3030 Nanaimo Regional Landfill (Cedar) 250-722-2044 extension 3221 GFL Environmental 250.746.4573
Air conditioners	Free
Antifreeze and Antifreeze Containers	Free	Antifreeze may be new, used, or diluted. All types of antifreeze containers are accepted and may contain residual products.
Appliances (Small) and Power Tools	Free	Includes over 400 plug-in or battery-powered products such as toasters, microwaves, hairdryers, drills, and exercise equipment. Accepted categories include kitchen counter-top, personal care, floor cleaning, weight measurement, air treatment, sports and leisure, power tools, sewing and textile, exercise machines, etc. Visit ElectroRecycle for a complete list of accepted products.
Appliances (Large)	Free	Includes stoves, dishwashers, dryers, air conditioners, washing machines, stoves/ranges, range hoods, microwaves, garburators, and electric hot/cold beverage dispensers.
Batteries (Household)	Free	All disposable, rechargeable, and cell phone batteries accepted.
Batteries (Vehicle)	Free	Car and truck batteries. All sizes and types of lead-acid units accepted.
Couches and Armchairs	$825/tonne (approx $50 – $63/couch)	Upholstered furniture. Soiled, contaminated, or pest-ridden furniture is not recyclable and will be treated as garbage at the same fee as clean furniture.
Clothing	Free	Blankets, accessories, and shoes are included. Must be in a clean, good, reusable condition without any rips, holes, tears, or breakage. (Peerless Road and Bings Creek sites ONLY)
Construction and Demolition Waste	NOT ACCEPTED	Unfortunately it is hard to know if you are working with asbestos as it is incorporated into other materials/products. If you are working in a structure that was built before 1990, it is likely that at least some of the building materials contain asbestos. If you are unsure, contact a qualified professional who can perform testing. DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE SUSPECT MATERIAL YOURSELF. Learn more about asbestos and how to protect yourself during renovations.
Drywall	NOT ACCEPTED	Drywall is not accepted at CVRD Recycling Centres. However, drywall is accepted at the following private processing facilities within the CVRD. Be sure to call ahead as special handling conditions apply: GFL Environmental Duncan 3015 Boys Rd 250.746.4573 Fisher Road Recycling 1355 Fisher Road, Cobble Hill 250.733.2108
Electronics	Free	TVs, computers, cellphones, cables, chargers, e-toys, gaming systems, accessories, media storage devices, and cameras accepted. See Recycle My Electronics for a full list of accepted products.
Flexible Plastics	Free	“Plastic Bags and Overwrap” and “Other Flexible Plastic Packaging” are now accepted together as “Flexible Plastics.” The new combined category includes squishy/cushion foam. For more information about this new category, visit Recycle BC.
Fridges and Freezers	Free	Must be clean and empty.
Gasoline	Free	Maximum 25L per day. Must be in an approved “ULC” container (red jerry can).
Glass Packaging	Free	Clean glass containers, jars, and bottles (clear or coloured). Lids removed. No refundable bottles, or glass products (e.g. mirrors, glassware, windows, etc.) These materials are handled separately on-site. Please ask an attendant for details.)
Insulation	See ‘Garbage’	Fibreglass insulation must be double-bagged and securely tied. Vermiculite insulation is NOT ACCEPTED at CVRD Recycling Centres because it may contain asbestos. Use caution when handling vermiculite. See “Asbestos Contaminated Materials” at the top of the page for disposal information. Learn more about asbestos and how to handle it safely.
Light Bulbs and Lighting Fixtures	Free	All light bulbs and lighting fixtures including flashlights, ballasts, LEDs, halogen, incandescent, fluorescent, and string lights (Christmas lights) accepted. Visit ProductCare for a full list of accepted products.
Lumber and Wood (Painted / Treated)	$242/tonne	Accepted materials include painted wood furniture (e.g. bookcases and desks), pallets, plywood, particleboard, pressure-treated wood, window frames, doors, and dimensional lumber (e.g. fence posts). Creosote-treated wood, upholstered furniture, melamine cabinets and arborite counter tops, laminate-coated materials and large metal hardware (e.g. door hinges, handles, rebar, landscape spikes) are not accepted in this program.
Lumber and Wood (Clean / Untreated)	$165/tonne	Clean, untreated and unpainted wood waste including dimensional lumber.
Mattresses	$32 per unit (eg., mattress, boxspring, futon, etc.) $242 per tonne additional surcharge for contaminated mattresses.	Innerspring, latex foam, box spring, futons, and mattresses. Soiled or contaminated mattresses will be subjected to an additional surcharge.
Metal	Free	All types of metal accepted. May have some plastics or rubber attached (item must be 80% metal). No items containing fluids or oils.
Used Needles / Syringes	Free	Small quantities accepted. Must be in a hard plastic container with a secure lid (such as a water bottle) and labeled. Check with an attendant for disposal.
Oil	Free	All engine, hydraulic, and gear oil accepted. Creosote, diesel and furnace oil are NOT accepted. Maximum 20L per day.
Oil Filters and Containers	Free	All sizes and types accepted. May contain residual oils.
Cooking Oil	Free	Used cooking oil is accepted. Must be in a sealed plastic container.
Organics (Food Waste)	First 18L (5 gallon) pail FREE $198/tonne	Includes kitchen scraps (cooked or raw), meat, fish, dairy, grains, vegetables, food-soiled paper, paper towels, tissues, napkins, and pizza boxes. Organics may be contained in paper bags ONLY. ‘Compostable’, ‘biodegradable’ and ‘oxodegradable plastic bags and packaging are NOT accepted. No animal carcasses, pet waste, offal, butchering waste, or personal hygiene products. Yard waste is accepted separately.
Power Tools (Outdoor)	Free	Corded, battery-powered, gas-powered, and electronic outdoor power equipment is accepted. Visit OPEIC for a full list of accepted products.
Paint	Free	All oil- and water-based paints accepted. Limit of 10 containers per day with a maximum container size of 25L. No unlabeled containers; rusted, leaking, or bulging containers; or tar-based products accepted. Pesticides and paint thinners accepted separately.
Paint Aerosol / Spray Cans	Free	All oil- and water-based paints are accepted. Limit of 50 containers per day. No unlabeled containers; rusted, leaking, or bulging containers; or tar-based products accepted. Pesticides and paint thinners accepted separately.
Paper and Cardboard	Free	Newspapers, cardboard, magazines, flyers, catalogs, phone books, writing paper, and paper packaging accepted. Paper containers (e.g. tetra paks, potato chip cans, and cartons) accepted separately. No padded envelopes.
Pesticides (Domestic)	Free	Consumer pesticides with the poisonous (skull and crossbones) symbol and Pest Control Product (PCP) number on the container. are accepted. Maximum container size is 10L.
Propane Tanks and Canisters	Free	Disposable and refillable propane tanks are accepted. Fully-discharged/empty fire extinguishers and bear spray canisters accepted.
Refundable Beverage Containers	Free	Refundable beverage containers including beer, wine, soft drink, and juice containers are accepted at CVRD Recycling Centres. Please note that no refund is issued at these locations, however, all proceeds are donated to a charity of the month. For a refund, take beverage containers to a local bottle depot.
Roofing	$242/tonne	Asphalt, tar, and gravel roofing shingles are accepted. Plastic, metal, and wood materials are not accepted. Sort and recycle metal flashing separately.
Rubble	$94/tonne	Asphalt, bricks, concrete, paving stones, gravel, and rock. No ceramics or glass.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms	Free	All types accepted including combination smoke/CO alarms and expired units.
Solvents and Flammable Liquids	Free	Liquid paint thinners, solvents, camp fuels, and liquid adhesives with the flame symbol. *Must have the flame symbol or a phrase similar to “keep away from spark or open flame” on the label.* For a complete list, visit Product Care. Maximum container size is 10L or 660g for aerosol containers.
Styrofoam	Free	Meat trays, foam egg cartons, takeout drinking cups, foam cushion packaging. Must be clean and dry. No pink or blue insulation. No foam packing peanuts, chips, or noodles.
Thermostats	Free	All mercury-containing thermostats and furnace thermostats are accepted.
Tires (Off Rim)	Free (4 tires per person daily limit)	Residential passenger car, light truck, and bicycle tires accepted. Bicycle tires must be off rim (no inner tubes).
Tires (On Rim)	$6/unit (4 tires per person daily limit)	Passenger car and light truck tires on rims are accepted for a fee.
Yard Waste	Free (residential loads) $110/tonne (commercial loads)	Grass, leaves, and branches less than 3″ in diameter accepted. NO rock, sod, or dirt. NO stumps. The following noxious plants are NOT ACCEPTED with yard waste: – Giant Hogweed – Knotweed – Poison Hemlock – Daphne/Spurge Laurel Note: some of these plants are extremely dangerous to handle and can cause burns, blindness, and rashes. Learn more abouthow to identify, safely handle, and dispose of these plants at CVRD Recycling Centres.

Land Acknowledgement

The CVRD is in the ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations including (but not limited to) Quw'utsun (Cowichan Tribes), MÁLEXEŁ (Malahat), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), c̓uubaʕsaʔtx̣ (Ts'uubaa-asatx), xeláltxw (Halalt), Spune’luxutth (Penelakut), Stz'uminus, Leey’qsun (Lyackson), Diitiidʔaaʔtx̣ (Ditidaht) and P’a:chi:da?aht (Pacheedaht) Peoples. Local First Nations Peoples have stewarded the lands of this region since time immemorial. The CVRD is committed to the ongoing journey of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the region by strengthening cooperation, collaboration, and relationship building.