FAQ
**As of January 1, 2025, Ridge Meadows Recycling no longer picks up curbside or apartment recycling in Maple Ridge. ***
For information about curbside or apartment recycling pickup, visit Recycle BC’s website at https://recyclebc.ca/mapleridge/
What do I do with used paint and other hazardous substances?
Unwanted paint, pesticides, and flammable liquids can be dropped off at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot’s Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off site as part of an EPR Program. The Depot is open 7 days a week and located at 10092 – 236th Street, Maple Ridge. Community groups interested in used paint for projects can call us at 604-463-5545.
What does ‘contamination’ mean?
This is when unacceptable material is placed in a recycling box or bag. For example, if someone puts window glass in the grey box with their glass bottles & jars. Window glass is a different type of glass and is not covered in RecycleBC’s printed paper & packaging stewardship program.
What does ‘commingled’ mean?
Commingled means putting different recyclable items together in the wrong recycling box or bag. If there is too much commingled recycling, it could result in the material being unusable by the manufacturer and disposed in a landfill. Prior to 2025, less than 2% of all materials collected curbside had to be disposed of that way. This is because of the care taken by Maple Ridge residents to sort their recycling properly.
Do I need to remove the label from metal cans?
Yes, please! Paper labels on metal cans are relatively easy to remove and can also be recycled in the yellow bag!
The problem is that during the recycling process, the metal is melted at high temperatures, and if enough paper is present, flash fires can erupt in the furnace, endangering the workers and producing impurities in the end product. These impurities cause the metal to be downgraded, thereby reducing the revenue received for the material by the program.
Do I need to remove the label from glass bottles?
No, you do not need to remove the label from glass bottles. First, the labels are often glued on and very difficult to remove. Second, the process for recycling the glass bottles has developed to enable the label to be removed prior to the heating phase. The recycling process for glass bottles involves smashing the glass into particles and then screening the pieces. The screens remove any metal and paper residue.
Why can’t I recycle light bulbs, window panes and Pyrex with my glass?
These glass products all have different physical properties and therefore different melting points, making it impossible to make glass bottles or other glass products from the recycled material without imperfections.
Do I need to remove staples before recycling paper?
It is preferable but not mandatory. During the paper recycling process, the pulp passes through numerous screens to remove staples and other contaminants (many of which are then recycled). You should definitely remove large metal fasteners from corrugated cardboard boxes, as well as bulldog and paper clips from files and papers.
Can I recycle Styrofoam (polystyrene)?
Not in your curbside recycling, but we accept it for free drop off at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot. Styrofoam is a trade name for the material made from polystyrene. In order for this material to be recycled, it needs to be clean. Please clean any polystyrene used for take out food containers as it may be contaminated with food waste.