What Goes Where
With the help of residents we are working together to reduce waste. Learn if your item can be recycled, put in the organics or garbage bin.
On the move but need a sorting guide? View the PDF version of the Waste Diversion Guide and/or download the Rethink Waste App.
Organics
Yard waste and food waste (like cooking oils, tea, and coffee grounds) belong in the Organics. Items that do not belong in organics include pet waste, diapers, plastic bags and milk jugs.
What Goes In & What Stays Out
What Goes in the Organics Cart? See full list (various translations):
Another way to reduce waste is to compost organic material.
Recycling
Put aerosol cans, plastic products, paper products and metal products in Reycling. Do not put styrofoam, glass jars and bottles, plastic bags, or small propane tanks in the Recycling.
What Goes In & What Stays Out
What goes in the Recycling Cart? See full list (various translations):
Household Hazardous Waste
Batteries, electronics, sharps and other hazardous materials require special handling. Please visit the Regeneration site, the Recycling Council of BC site, or call the recycling hotline at 604-RECYCLE (604-732-9253) for information about the proper disposal procedure and a facility near you.
Branch Collection Program (Surrey Residents only)
- Cost is $25.00 per 1.5 metres x 1.5 metres (5ft x 5ft) pile (length of branches does not matter)
- Branches should be neatly piled on City boulevard with butt ends toward road
- Branches must be less than 20 centimetres (8”) in diameter
- No stumps are permitted
Call 604-591-4340 for service.
Contamination
The City of Surrey is actively checking recycling carts for contamination. Learn why we need stop recycling contamination, what it means if you get a contamination notice, and how to avoid contamination in the future.
Impacts of contamination
Placing unacceptable materials in the recycling cart negatively impacts the recycling process as they must be removed at the processing facility. If the recycling stream is contaminated with unacceptable material this may result in:
- Recyclable material may be rejected and sent to landfill which eliminates the benefit that can be derived from recycling material.
- Safety issues for collection and post collection staff (if hazardous waste is involved).
- Higher cost and financial penalties which may impact utilities costs.
Most commonly found unacceptable items
For information on how and where to dispose of these items, please visit www.MetroVancouverRecycles.org
Contamination Notices
It's far easier, and less costly, if we all do our part to ensure that we are only placing acceptable materials into the recycling cart.
If your household has received a blue and red Recycling Contamination Warning Notice on your recycling cart as noted below, there were unacceptable items found in your recycling cart. Further, placement of unacceptable items will results in your recycling cart not being collected.
If your household has received a yellow Recycling Contamination Notice (as noted below) on your recycling cart, your cart will not be serviced due to high volumes of unacceptable items. Please remove the contaminants for the following recycling week to ensure collection.
Ensure your recycling is collected
To ensure that you receive weekly recycling service, please only place acceptable material in your cart and recycle acceptable depot items to your nearest recycling facility.
Getting Ready to Recycle
%20Solid%20Waste%20Web%20Graphics%20FINALS.jpg)
1. Know what goes in
2. Remove lids
3. Rinse containers
4. Flatten Materials
5. Make sure your materials are sortable
- Place items loose in the cart (do not put them in a plastic bag first)
- Drop containers in one by one (stacked containers are hard to separate at the facility)
Unsortable material refers to material that may otherwise be accepted and recyclable, but has been placed in collection containers or plastic bags in a manner that does not allow the material to be recycled. For example, recyclables in plastic bags (such as grocery bags) or different types cans/cartons are nested together (e.g. a metal can inside a plastic tub). When materials are received in this matter, they can’t be recycled.
