For missed pick-ups or collection inquiries please contact GFL Environmental by email or call 236.470.0186.

The CRD curbside blue box program supplies recycling collection services to over 135,000 single-family homes in the region. There is no need to register, and getting started is easy:

  • have your recyclables at the curb by 7:30am on your collection day, and
  • use at least one CRD blue box or blue bag to let the driver know your materials are intended for recycling collection.

GFL Environmental is providing blue box curbside collection services as of January 2, 2024.

To review and download your 2024 curbside collection schedule, visit our collection schedule page or download the Recycling CRD app.

Glass collection resumed on February 1, 2024. Remember to have your glass separated from other recyclable materials.

Collection schedule

Visit our Blue Box Schedules page to:

  • Find your next scheduled collection day.
  • Subscribe for service alerts and reminders via email, voicemail or X.
  • Download the RecycleCRD app.
  • Sign up for service alerts (eg. inclement weather, holidays).
  • Download your schedule to print or add into your electronic calendar.

Note: with the exception of Christmas and New Year's days, collection proceeds as usual on holidays.

Items accepted

To meet Recycle BC processing and quality standards, and ensure that packaging and paper materials placed out by residents get to recycling markets, items are collected in three separate material streams:

  1. Paper, boxboard and cardboard
  2. Metal, plastic and paper containers
  3. Glass bottles and jars

This ensures that materials such as glass are kept separate from paper fibres and plastics so each stream can be efficiently sorted for processing into new materials.

Visit the Recycle BC website for complete list of items accepted and posters.

Note: all items accepted for recycling are banned from residential garbage.

Glass bottles and jars

Glass bottles and jars must be kept separate from your other containers. An old plastic tub or pail can be used to contain your clean glass containers.

Cardboard boxes, paper bags or plastic bags are not suitable receptacles for your glass containers.

Pink "Glass Bottles and Jars Only" labels are helpful for designating your glass bin. To request labels, emails us with your name and address.

Clean recyclables

It's important to make sure containers are clean when placed at the curb.

  • Dirty containers smell and may attract animals, rodents and insects (including wasps and bees).
  • Health risks: drivers and processing plant staff could be exposed to airborne pathogens and mold.
  • Safety risks: if containers have bleach residue or other potentially dangerous substances.
  • Dirt and debris can damage recycling and manufacturing equipment.
  • Heavily soiled items may end up being sent to landfill.

To prepare pizza boxes for recycling, compost all food waste, including liners and inserts. Tear off lid or fold in half and place out with your cardboard.

CRD blue boxes and bags

The program provides residents with one CRD blue box and two blue bags per home. If you are a new resident or require a replacement blue box or blue bag, please contact our collection contractor, GFL Environmental, at 236.470.0186 or by email.

Boxes and bags are also available for pick up at the following locations:

Use of other boxes and bags

The CRD blue box size promotes efficient and safe lifting. If additional receptacles are used, they must be similar in size to the blue box provided by the program. Recycling collectors lift and empty over 2,000 boxes and bags every collection day.

CRD blue boxes are 47 litres (12 gallons) and measure 48 x 40 x 31cm or 19 x 16 x 13" (L x W x H).

Receptacles placed out, in addition to a CRD blue box or bag, do not need have to be blue or contain the recycling symbol. Cardboard boxes, paper bags and plastic bags are not suitable receptacles for mixed containers or glass. Materials left in unsuitable receptacles will not be collected.

Note: Recycling bins measuring 15.5" high available through Home Hardware are an acceptable size and may be used.

Missed collection

Check if your materials have been tagged with a preparation sticker. If there does not appear to be an issue and your items are not picked up by end of day on your collection day, leave materials at the curb and contact GFL Environmental at 236.470.0186 to report it.

There is no limit to the amount of material you may place at the curb.

You can also drop your recyclables off for free at Recycle BC depots in the region.

Inclement weather

Wind

  • Secure your materials on windy days to ensure your recycling doesn’t litter your neighbourhood.
  • Place your blue box on top of cardboard.
  • Pinch tops of blue bags by folding down or placing under box.
  • Consider placing your items out in the morning (by 7:30am).

Ice and Snow

  • Should service be affected by unsafe road conditions, please hold onto your recyclables until your next collection day. There is no limit to the amount of materials you can place at the curb. 
  • You can also drop your recyclables off for free at Recycle BC depots in the region.
  • Subscribe for service alerts to receive service notifications and reminders through our Blue Box Schedules page or by downloading the RecycleCRD app.

Deposit/refund beverage containers

Tips to reduce individuals going through your recyclables:

  • Do not include deposit/refund beverage containers (which now includes milk containers) with your mixed container stream.
  • If you place deposit/refund beverage containers out on collection day, place them in a separate receptacle which is easily identifiable.
  • Place your recyclables at the curb in the morning (by 7:30am) on your collection day.

Visit the Return-it program website for a list of deposit/refund locations.

Note: The CRD scavenging bylaw was repealed in June 2021.

Multi-family buildings

The blue box collection program does not include multi-family dwellings like apartments or condos.

For information on recycling services available to your multi-family residential complex, please contact your strata, property manager or your waste hauler directly.

Program funding & Recycle BC

The CRD blue box recycling program is paid for by Recycle BC, a non-profit stewardship organization that represents producers of packaging and paper products in British Columbia.

The BC Recycling Regulation requires producers of packaging and paper products in the province to be responsible for the recycling costs associated with the material, not residential tax payers. Services are provided through a combination of curbside collection, drop-off depots and multi-family residential programs.

Where to recycle other items

Have extra items? Want to recycle Styrofoam or flexible plastic packaging? Click here for a list of Recycle BC Depots in the region.

For everything else, visit myrecyclopedia.ca to learn how it can be recycled.

Winter Weather

Hold on to your recyclables until your next collection day should service be affected by unsafe road conditions.

Free Drop-off

Missed your collection or have extra items to drop off? Find a Recycle BC drop-off location.

Contacts

Missed collection, replacement blue boxes and blue bags:
236.470.0186
Email

What to include, preparation information:
250.360.3030
Email