Updated: Sept. 13, 2011
I live in the fantastic community of Deep Cove in North Vancouver, BC.
Here are a list of resources I use for disposing of my clutter. If you know of more, please e-mail me and I will add them to the list.
A list of resources in your area is only a google search away.
Recycling Resources
Recycling Council of British Columbia
Where to recycle just about anything in British Columbia. Query your item in the Recyclepedia and it provides a list of locations that handle that material. Unfortunately, some depots must charge a small fee to recycle certain items properly. The best rates I’ve found are at the Pacific Mobile Depot.
Picks up once a month at Presentation House Theatre
(third Saturday of the month) click here for updated schedule
333 Chesterfield Ave., North Vancouver
Accepts: most soft or rigid plastics that the curbside service will not accept, styrofoam, acrylic, electronic items all for a fee click here for acceptable items and fees
Changes Recycling Centre (Save-On-Foods)
Blue Box: glass bottles and containers, metal tins, aluminum foil including aluminum food containers, plastics marked 1,2,4 or 5
Yellow Bag: cardboard under 2′x3′ bundled with twine or in bag, mixed paper – no wrapping paper, photos, juice/milk boxes
Blue Bag: newspapers and inserts only
Tip: they will pick up extra mixed paper and newspapers placed in a paper bag and clearly marked “Mixed Paper” or “Newspapers.” You can order a blue box, yellow bag and/or blue bag here.
North Shore Recycling Program Drop Off Depot
29 Riverside Drive, North Vancouver, BC map
Accepts: anything you can recycle in your blue box plus packing boxes and cardboard folded to 4′x4′, clothing (donated to Canadian Diabetes Association) and books (donated to The Reading Tree).
Return-It Bottle Depot (across from Park and Tilford)
310 Brooksbank Avenue, North Vancouver map
Accepts: bottles for refund including alcohol containers, milk containers and electronics.
1493 Dominion St. in North Vancouver.
Accepts: soft plastic, rigid plastic, styrofoam, tetra packs and gable top (milk, juice) containers in their red bag recycling program ($6/large bag), as well as batteries, organics and shredding (see below)
Donation Resources
The Good Stuff Connection Thrift Shop
154 West 3rd Street, North Vancouver
Proceeds and donations benefit women and children staying at SAGE Transition House.
Accepts: gently worn men’s, women’s and children’s clothing items and accessories, books, toys (including plush/stuffed animals), and essential household items (such as towels, linens, glassware, cutlery, dishes, pots and pans).
Also, accepts unexpired toiletries for women and children staying at the SAGE Transition House.
Drop off at the front door between 11am and 4pm.
Developmental Disabilities Clothing Donation Bin
Parkgate Village Shopping Centre (Safeway Complex)
#202-3650 Mt. Seymour Pkwy. map
Accepts: clothing including accessories, bathing suits and undergarments!, linens, sleeping bags
Donation Bins Dollarton Highway (at Accurate Iron Works or The Old Crab Shop)
2464 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver map
Accepts: Clothing, Unbreakable Toys and Housewares, Books, Bottles
Mt. Seymour United Church Thrift shop
1200 Parkgate Ave., North Vancouver map
Accepts: Men’s, ladies and children’s clothing and shoes, toys, jewelry, books, bicycles, handbags, small safe working appliances, household items, art & pottery, flat screen televisions, linens, yarns and fabrics.
Hours to drop off: Monday through Wednesday and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
241 Lonsdale Ave map
Accepts: clothing, household items, clothes, some larger items see list of acceptable items or call first (604) 980-4413
Also has drops bins at Superstore (333 Seymour Blvd) and Lynn Valley Centre (1199 Lynn Valley Rd.)
131 East 2nd Street, North Vancouver map
Accepts: donations of fiction books by women authors, non-fiction books on issues of interest to women, photocopying/printing paper and other stationary items, toiletries for distribution (e.g. shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, body lotions, hair styling products, soaps, etc.), small gifts for women and children
1073 Roosevelt Crescent, North Vancouver map
Accepts and Needs: good quality professional clothing for men and women, work clothes for physical labour, non-perishable food and toiletries – toothbrushes & paste, shampoo, deodorant, and razors
Drop Off Hours: Tuesday – Friday (10am – 4pm), Saturday (10am-2pm)
1820 Pandora Street, Vancouver BC map
Accepts: anything computer related plus CD’s and DVD’s
Drop off bins at any large chain grocery store.
Accepts: non-perishable food items
Needs: canned meat/fish, canned fruit and vegetables, pasta and sauce, peanut butter, baby food/formula
Shredding
1493 Dominion St. in North Vancouver.
Cost: $6 per records box or .25/lb for unboxed paper with a $20 minimum charge. A standard file or bankers box holds 25-30 lbs.
Drop off hours are 9am-3pm M-F.
360 Industrial Avenue
Cost: .20/lb with a $30 minimum charge.
Follow the link for drop off hours and locations.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS:
North Shore Transfer Station - The Dump
30 Riverside Drive, North Vancouver map
Avoid peak hours 10am-2pm minimum charge is $20, all other times minimum charge is $10.00
Click here for hours and acceptable materials.
Fabulous! Thank you for this. I have just finished reading “The Happiness Project” and like your take on minimizing ‘stuff’!!
A fabulous list! I also really enjoyed your post about Habitat for Humanity. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know that we had a local chapter. Thank you!
Thanks Arlaine! I didn’t know about the local chapter either until I found myself with buckets full of bolts. I discover all kinds of cool things through the clutter.
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Hey Christine, I found out that if your new mattress didn’t come from a store that will recycle your old one, Canadian Mattress Recycling http://canadianmattressrecycling.com/ will recycle it for $12, or pick it up from your house, starting at $72. And Vancouver Bicycle Recyling http://vancouverbicyclerecycling.com/about.html will pick up bicycles for repair and redistribution to the community.
In Europe you ‘don’t pay’ to have your items re-cycled! You’re lagging behind Canada!
Thanks Bob. You’re absolutely right!
This amazes me. We have some recycling here, but not as much as you do. What do they do with the styrofoam I thought it couldn’t be recycled? We don’t pay for our recycling of the more common items. But to recycle say a plasma tv there is a pretty hefty charge. What amazes me here is the single charge for garbage pick-up here. It doesn’t matter how much you have out everyone pays the same price. I think people would recycle more and put out less if they could pay less. There’s just no incentive for the non eco-minded person to worry about how much they toss out.