Contamination

Contamination is when things are put in the curbside recycling tote that are not accepted in the curbside recycling, or when acceptable material are left in a way that makes it so they cannot be recycled. (ex. outside of the tote)

Examples of not accepted curbside recycling:

• Glass
• Books
• Soft Plastics
• Electronics
• Wood

These can all be recycled at the Recycling Depot at the Squamish landfill, but because they can hurt workers or damage equipment, they are not accepted in curbside collection totes.

To be properly recycled, material must be able to be sorted by the sorting machines. Bagged and nested material prevent these machines from working properly. 

Acceptable material that has left over food on it, is put in a bag, or nested inside other recycling may not be able to be recycled. 

Contamination of either type can lead to acceptable recycling having to be landfilled, or hazards for collection or recycling depot workers.

For information on contamination and how it affects recycling, RecycleBC has more details.

** Please do not place glass in your curbside recycling tote, as broken glass mixed with the paper products significantly contaminates the recycling efforts of all.

Return glass for a refund where applicable or drop non-refundable glass containers to the Queens Way Recycling Depot, 38950 Queens Way, Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.