There will be NO CURBSIDE RECYCLING PICKUP on Monday, September 30 due to the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation statutory holiday.
Regular Monday curbside recycling pickup will resume on Monday, October 7. If you have lots of recycling in the meantime, bring it down to the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot, located at 10092 – 236th Street, just south of River Road in the Albion Industrial Park.
The Recycling Depot will be OPEN on National Day for Truth & Reconciliation from 9:00am – 5:00pm.
NOTE: Starting October 1, the Recycling Depot will switch to WINTER HOURS and will be closing an hour earlier, at 5:00pm, from Monday – Saturday. Sundays and Holidays will remain the same, 9:00am – 5:00pm.
With plastic bag bans now firmly in effect, reusable bags have become the norm. However, many residents are still getting used to remembering to take their bags with them to stores, leading to the purchase of new bags when they find themselves without. Add this to the proliferation of reusable bags now being used for take-out food and the build-up of reusable bags at home can be overwhelming – leading to reusable bags ending up in the trash can.
STEP 1 – REDUCE the Number of Bags You Need or Own
“The first ‘R’ is REDUCE,” says Leanne Koehn, Community Engagement Manager with Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, “Reusable bags are designed to reduce the number of bags we produce and use, so find a system that works for you to ONLY use the same bags over and over again until they wear out – then wash, repair, and keep using them!”
STEP 2 – REMEMBER Your Reusable Bags!
Ridge Meadows Recycling has compiled a series of tips to help residents REMEMBER to bring their reusable bags with them when heading to the store:
Store reusable bags in your vehicle – when you empty your groceries at home, place the bags by the front door as a reminder to return them to your car.
Add “BAGS!” to the start of any shopping lists as a reminder to bring them with you.
Keep foldable or collapsible bags in your bag or on your keychain so they’re always with you.
Leave “Don’t forget bags!” sticky notes near the front door or in your vehicle as reminders.
Set location or time-based reminders on your phone so when you are near the grocery store, a reminder to take your bags will pop up.
STEP 3 – DONATE Unwanted Reusable Bags
As with plastic bags in previous years, some residents are now finding themselves with an abundance of reusable bags that they don’t need and don’t know what to do with. Ridge Meadows Recycling is starting a pilot project at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot where residents can bring any CLEAN and DRY reusable bags and donate them to local organizations that can REUSE them, including Community Services, the Ridge Meadows Hospice Society Thrift Store and the Friends in Need Food Bank.
“For us, this is a way to be able to ensure that we’re providing customer service by continuing to provide bags,” says Kelly Thomas, Manager of the Ridge Meadows Hospice Society Thrift Store.
To donate your bags, visit the Depot at 10092 – 236th Street and look for the Reusable Bag Donation bin hanging next to the Flexible Plastics recycling bin. If the reusable bags have holes or tears and are NOT usable anymore, make sure they are RECYCLED in the Flexible Plastics bin, NOT added to the garbage!
STEP 4 – REPAIR & WASH Reusable Bags As Needed
Remember that reusable bags are DESIGNED to last a long time and replace single-use plastic bags. Don’t treat reusable bags like single-use bags! WASH your reusable bags when they are dirty and REPAIR any small holes to keep them usable for a long, long time.
If you need a hand with repairs, check out when the next Maple Ridge Repair Café is coming up at www.mrrepaircafe.ca
STEP 5 – RECYCLE Reusable Bags When Worn Out
Almost all reusable bags now sold at grocery stores and take-out food bags that look like cloth are actually made of woven plastic fibres. These reusable plastic bags can be recycled in Recycle BC’s Flexible Plastics category. In Maple Ridge, this means when your reuable plastic bags are no longer usable, they can be put into your red curbside recycling box or brought to the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot for recycling
Thank you for REMEMBERING to REDUCE, REUSE, & RECYCLE your reusable bags!
On Saturday, September 21, Maple Ridge Repair Cafés will be on the Bandstand at Memorial Peace Park along with GETI Fest from 10am – 2pm. Bring us your broken stuff!
Repair Cafés are pop-up events where residents can bring their broken items (jewelry, clothing, bikes, small toys or furniture, small appliances, lamps, electronics, etc.) and volunteer expert “fixers” are available to help residents learn to repair their stuff – for free!
Subscribe to our monthly newsletters & get all our recycling updates, news, and tips emailed straight to your inbox! You can unsubscribe at any time.
In this newsletter…
Summer Depot Tour dates have been set! Sign up early to avoid disappointment 🙂
Come say “Hi!” to Perle & Nicole, our 2024 Community Education & Special Event Summer Students at upcoming community events & Repair Cafes
Plastic Free July is coming! Are you up for the challenge? Join our summer students on their journey to reduce single-use plastic usage for the month of July.
Next Repair Cafe is Saturday, June 22 at Memorial Peace Park – part of the awesome National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations!
We’re #3! The Maple Ridge Recycling Depot was once again named one of the TOP 3 collectors of used oil in the province!
Know a student looking for summer work? We are hiring for 2 Depot/Swamper positions.
Reminder there is NO Curbside recycling pickup on MONDAY, July 1 due to the Canada Day Stat holiday. Recycling Depot will be OPEN on Canada Day from 9am – 5pm.
Thank you everyone who came out to LAST Committee’s Transition Resource Fair on June 6! All attendees had a great time, learned lots to prepare for life after high school, and enjoyed PIZZA!!
Community Events! Check out some of the great things that are happening in Maple Ridge!
In case you missed it…
Have you checked out our Celebrate Earth Day EMERGE map yet? It’s great for exploring your community and has been viewed over 377,000 times! Let us know if we missed anything that should be on the map…
Change is Coming! If you haven’t heard, starting in 2025, Curbside and Apartment recycling collection in Maple Ridge will transition to direct services by Recycle BC, the organization responsible for paper & packaging recycling in British Columbia. Don’t worry! Ridge Meadows Recycling will still operate the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot and our Supported Work program is not going anywhere!
While there will be some slight changes to the way materials are picked up, and your collection day may change, you can use the same boxes & bags or recycling totes you are using now. Recycle BC and their contractors will be doing more education and outreach about any changes in the fall.
If you have questions, let us know! We will be attending lots of upcoming events like Earth Day on April 20, the Ridge Meadows Home Show May 3-5, Canada Day on July 1, and Country Fest July 27 & 28!
Since 2011, the BC Recycling Regulation (part of the Environmental Management Act) requires businesses that supply packaging and paper product to BC residents to assume responsibility for the cost of collecting, sorting and recycling these materials.
Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling throughout British Columbia, servicing over two million households or over 99% of BC through curbside, multi-family and/or depot services…
VISION: To be a recycling leader, inspiring and accelerating innovation in recycling technology, waste reduction, and packaging design.
We ensure packaging and paper product is collected from households and recycling depots, sorted and responsibly managed and recycled. Recycle BC provides recycling services either directly to communities or by working in partnership with local governments, First Nations, private companies, and other not-for-profit organizations. 194 communities participate in our recycling collection program and more are serviced by our recycling depots. Each year, over 200,000 tonnes of material is collected from households and depots.Our program is funded by businesses, like retailers, manufacturers and restaurants that supply packaging and paper products to BC residents, shifting costs away from homeowners.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletters & get all our recycling updates, news, and tips emailed straight to your inbox! You can unsubscribe at any time.
In this newsletter…
Change is Coming! If you haven’t heard, starting in 2025 Curbside and Apartment recycling collection in Maple Ridge will transition to direct services by Recycle BC, the organization responsible for paper & packaging recycling in British Columbia. Don’t worry! Ridge Meadows Recycling will still operate the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot and our Supported Work program is not going anywhere! While the changes to recycling collection won’t happen for a while, here’s a head start to learn more about the transition and Recycle BC!
Calling all Climate Champions… The award-winning Maple Ridge Climate Hub is now accepting nominations for their 3rd annual Climate Champion Awards, to be presented at the Earth Day festival on April 20
Spring Cleaning Time!! Gather your gently used books, toys, clothing, & sports equipment to donate to the Earth Day Family Freecycle!! Learn more about the awesome volunteers that make it happen and bring your items to the drop-off event in front of the Leisure Centre on Friday, April 19 from 5-7pm. At the Earth Day event on April 20, come find something NEW to YOU – for free!!
Bring us Your Broken Stuff! The next Maple Ridge Repair Cafe is on Saturday, March 16 at the Maple Ridge Seniors Activity Centre
Ready to Switch Off?Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 23 from 8:30-9:30pm
Easter Schedule Reminder – NO curbside pickup on Friday, March 29 or Monday, April 1
Summer Hours at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot start on Monday, April 1, 2024.
In case you missed it…
Save the Date! Maple Ridge’s annual Celebrate Earth Day festival will be on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Register to have a booth or activity, perform, or volunteer!
Looking for Volunteer Opportunities? We need you at the Earth Day festival! Learn more & register online!
Have you checked out our Celebrate Earth Day EMERGE map yet? It’s great for exploring your community and has been viewed over 342,000 times! Let us know if we missed anything that should be on the map…
Ridge Meadows Recycling Society has truck driver positions available immediately.
The positions are full time (40 hours/week plus overtime) and pay $27.25/hour. Please send in your application ASAP.
Tasks & Responsibilities: -Responsible for timely pickup of recyclable commodities at houses, apartments, and townhouses
-Responsible for driving recycling truck & commodity pickup (“swamping”)
-Maintain Daily Inspection Report of truck & equipment
-Maintain accurate Tonnage & Milage Reports
-Complete all required reports & paperwork as assigned
-Clear Driving Abstract – to be supplied with application
-Ability to operate other job-related equipment (eg. bin tippers, pallet jacks)
-Customer Service – ability to answer questions & handle individual customer concerns
-Responsible for overseeing Swampers and ensuring their safety
-Processing recyclables at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot
-Other duties as assigned
Requirements: -Truck driving experience
-Able to perform physical labour such as lifting, bending & running
-Able to work in all weather conditions
-Understand and adhere to safety requirements
Qualifications: -Air Brake Licence -First Aid an asset -Neat appearance and good communication skills *Note: The successful applicant will be required to undergo a criminal records check.
Applications & resumes can be also submitted in person at the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society office, 10092 – 236th Street (at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot office).
If you are atruck driver and have your air brake endorsement, you can send your resume to gary@rmrecycling.org and we will keep it on file.
Thank you for your interest in working for Ridge Meadows Recycling Society!
Job Application
Interested applicants can apply for RMRS jobs through this form.
In partnership with the City of Maple Ridge, Ridge Meadows Recycling Society administers the Spring & Fall Brush Chipping Program for Maple Ridge residents.
The deadline for setting out branches for pickup for Maple Ridge residents WEST of 224th Street is Monday, March 25.
The set-out deadline for residents EAST of 224th Street is Tuesday, April 15.
All brush MUST be set out by the deadlines to be picked up.
Please do not set your branches out for the brush chipping program more than 3 weeks before the set-out deadline for your area.
Chipping in each area will take up to two weeks to complete. The number of days spent on each area depends on the amount of brush set out and the number of residents using the program.
The program includes pick up and disposal of tree & shrub branches up to a total volume of 3 cubic meters (1 meter x 1 meter x 3 meters, roughly 3 feet x 3 feet x 9 feet – chippers are instructed to spend no more than 20 minutes at each household).
Subscribe to our monthly newsletters & get all our recycling updates, news, and tips emailed straight to your inbox! You can unsubscribe at any time.
In this newsletter…
Save the Date! Maple Ridge’s annual Celebrate Earth Day festival will be on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Register to have a booth or activity, perform, or volunteer!
Looking for Volunteer Opportunities? We need you at the Earth Day festival! Learn more & register online!
Last chance before the AGM! Want to stay or become a member of Ridge Meadows Recycling Society? We’d love to have you 🙂 Renew or sign up for membership before Thursday, March 7 to vote at the April 4 Annual General Meeting.
Have you checked out our Celebrate Earth Day EMERGE map yet? It’s great for exploring your community and has been viewed over 334,000 times! Let us know if we missed anything that should be on the map…
Subscribe to our monthly newsletters & get all our recycling updates, news, and tips emailed straight to your inbox! You can unsubscribe at any time.
In this newsletter…
Recycling Basics Review – Curbside & Apartment Recycling Guides, Depot Hours, and “A to Z” of things to bring to the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot
Thank you!! RMRS has been nominated for the inaugural “Environmental Leadership Award” at the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards!
Year 7 of Maple Ridge Repair Cafes launches on Saturday, February 10 – bring us your broken stuff!
It’s Membership Renewal Time! Want to stay or become a member of Ridge Meadows Recycling Society? We’d love to have you 🙂 Renew or sign up for membership before Thursday, March 7 to vote at the April 4 Annual General Meeting.
Speaking of awards…Founding Member Candace Gordon recalls travelling to Victoria to accept the BC Minister of Environment award back in 1993
In case you missed it…
Have you checked out our Celebrate Earth Day EMERGE map yet? It’s great for exploring your community and has been viewed over 327,500 times! Let us know if we missed anything that should be on the map…
“The first ‘R’ is REDUCE,” says Leanne Koehn, Community Engagement Manager with Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, “Reusable bags are designed to reduce the number of bags we produce and use, so find a system that works for you to ONLY use the same bags over and over again until they wear out – then wash, repair, and keep using them!”
As with plastic bags in previous years, some residents are now finding themselves with an abundance of reusable bags that they don’t need and don’t know what to do with. Ridge Meadows Recycling is starting a pilot project at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot where residents can bring any CLEAN and DRY reusable bags and donate them to local organizations that can REUSE them, including Community Services, the Ridge Meadows Hospice Society Thrift Store and the Friends in Need Food Bank.
If you need a hand with repairs, check out when the next Maple Ridge Repair Café is coming up at 
Almost all reusable bags now sold at grocery stores and take-out food bags that look like cloth are actually made of woven plastic fibres. These reusable plastic bags can be recycled in Recycle BC’s Flexible Plastics category. In Maple Ridge, this means when your reuable plastic bags are no longer usable, they can be put into your red curbside recycling box or brought to the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot for recycling
Plastic Free July is coming! Are you up for the challenge? Join our summer students on their journey to reduce single-use plastic usage for the month of July.
Apartment recycling collection in Maple Ridge will transition to direct services by Recycle BC, the organization responsible for paper & packaging recycling in British Columbia. Don’t worry! Ridge Meadows Recycling will still operate the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot and our Supported Work program is not going anywhere! While the changes to recycling collection won’t happen for a while, here’s a head start to learn more about the transition and 
Ridge Meadows Recycling Society has truck driver positions available immediately.
