Recycling in the RDEK

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NOTE: As of January 1, 2023, The Plastic Bags & Overwrap and Flexible Packing product categories are now going to be combined. This new category is called Flexible Plastics. This means you can simplify your at home sorting by combining your plastic bags, chips bags, deli meat packaging, net bags, and many more items into one bin. As well, Recycle BC Depots are accepting some new products that were previously not recyclable through the Recycle BC program. To view or download the updated list of the new products and simplified sorting: CLICK HERE.

For more general information on how to recycle things outside the Recycle BC program (such as oil, electronics, household hazardous wastes and medications): check out the "Recycling Directories" links in the Document Library.

To view or download information on the Household Hazardous Waste Depot: CLICK HERE


When it comes to the three Rs there is no mistake as to the order that they appear. Once you have done a great job reducing and reusing, let us help you figure out the best way to recycle. There are many different options in the East Kootenay to keep waste out of our landfills, each one having its place in making things efficient and effective.

Recycle BC Depots
Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling in BC. Recycle BC Depots (located at the Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford Transfer Stations) offer the greatest opportunity for keeping products out of the trash, including paper, cardboard, containers, cartons, flexible plastics, glass, styrofoam and more.

Recycle BC Depots are open at the following locations:

  • Cranbrook Transfer Station - 2405 22nd St N
  • Kimberley Transfer Station - 800 Jim Ogilvie Way
  • Cranbrook Bottle Depot (non RDEK Recycle BC Depot) - 1125 Industrial Rd. #3
  • Fernie Transfer Station - 6000 HWY 3
  • Elkford Transfer Station - 6 Inkaneep Rd
  • Sparwood Transfer Station - 1001 HWY 3
  • Invermere Transfer Station - Industrial 1 Rd in Athalmer

Yellow Bins
The Yellow Bin system has been operating in the RDEK for over 20 years. Through this system we don’t have access to the same markets. The Yellow Bins accept only paper, cardboard, tin cans, grocery bags and plastics 1-6 (no styrofoam).

Municipal Curbside Programs
Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook and Fernie all have curbside recycling programs, check with your municipality to find out which products are accepted by your local program.

Provincial Product Stewardship Programs
When you pay an eco fee on a product, such as oil or electronics, those funds go to Provincial Stewardship Programs for their proper collection and recycling/disposal. These programs are Provincial and are totally separate from the RDEK. There are hundreds of products that can be recycled through these programs including: oil, antifreeze, paint, light bulbs, tires, batteries, cellphones, power equipment, smoke alarms, electronics, medications, small appliances and so many more.

Small Appliances
You can recycle over 300 types of electrical products at the Cranbrook Bottle Depot, Fernie Bottle Depot and Kimberley, Elkford, and Sparwood Transfer Stations. The program accepts small appliances, power tools, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers/curling irons, scales, timers, sewing machines, treadmills and more. To view a full list of accepted products visit www.electrorecycle.ca

Electronics
The environmental handling fees you pay on electronics in BC are managed by Encorp and there are drop-off locations at the Invermere Bottle Depot, Cranbrook Bottle Depot, Fernie Bottle Depot, and Kimberley, Elkford, and Sparwood Transfer Stations. They accept a wide range of electronics, including: televisions, computers, monitors, fax machines, DVD/VHS players, stereos, MP3 players, speakers, earphones, microphones, telephones, radios, vehicle audio and video systems, etc. To view a more complete list of acceptable products visit www.return-it.ca/electronics.

Oil, Oil Filters & Antifreeze
The BC Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) oversees the used oil program in BC. There are several depots throughout the region. Ensure every drop of used oil and antifreeze, every filter and every container is brought to a collection facility so it can be disposed of properly. To find a drop-off location near you visit www.bcusedoil.com

Paint
There are many drop-off locations for paint and aerosol paint throughout the East Kootenay. Containers must be sealed in paint containers and clearly labeled. If paint cans are dried out and there is no liquid left, the cans can go in the garbage. To find a drop-off location near you visit www.productcare.org

Light bulbs & Fixtures
LightRecycle is the BC residential light recycling program. Accepted products include incandescent lights, LEDs, compact fluorescent, tube fluorescent light bulbs, lighting fixtures, lamps, string lights, and much more. To find a drop-off location in your area visit www.productcare.org/products/lights

Tires
Tire Stewardship BC collects an eco fee when you buy tires to pay for transporting and recycling of old tires. There are depots that take up to 4 tires at a time free of charge throughout the East Kootenay. To find a depot near you visit www.tsbc.ca

Batteries & Cellphones
Alkaline and rechargeable batteries as well as cellphones are recyclable. There are many drop-off locations throughout the region. To find a drop-off location near you visit www.call2recycle.ca

Outdoor Power Equipment
Mowers, lawn tractors, snow blowers and gardening tools – corded, battery powered or fuel powered can be recycled at many locations throughout the East Kootenay. To find a location near you visit www.opeic.ca

Smoke Alarms & CO2 Alarms
There are drop off locations for used or expired smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms throughout the East Kootenay. To find a drop-off location near you visit www.productcare.org

Medications
Unused and expired medicines can be returned to pharmacies participating in the Medications Return Program. to find particiapating location near you visit www.medicationsreturn.ca

Regional Household Hazardous Waste Depot at the Cranbrook and Fernie Transfer Stations.

The RDEK has year-round Household Hazardous Waste Depots at the Cranbrook Transfer Station and the Fernie Transfer Station. Any residents with any of the accepted materials listed in this brochure can take the items free of charge to either of the transfer stations for safe disposal.
If you are in any way unsure whether a product is accepted, feel free to contact the RDEK 250-489-2791, 1-888-478-7335, info@rdek.bc.ca


You can also try the Provincial recycling database here: https://www.rcbc.ca/recyclepedia/search or use the Q&A tool below to ask your recycling questions or view the questions/answers from others!

NOTE: As of January 1, 2023, The Plastic Bags & Overwrap and Flexible Packing product categories are now going to be combined. This new category is called Flexible Plastics. This means you can simplify your at home sorting by combining your plastic bags, chips bags, deli meat packaging, net bags, and many more items into one bin. As well, Recycle BC Depots are accepting some new products that were previously not recyclable through the Recycle BC program. To view or download the updated list of the new products and simplified sorting: CLICK HERE.

For more general information on how to recycle things outside the Recycle BC program (such as oil, electronics, household hazardous wastes and medications): check out the "Recycling Directories" links in the Document Library.

To view or download information on the Household Hazardous Waste Depot: CLICK HERE


When it comes to the three Rs there is no mistake as to the order that they appear. Once you have done a great job reducing and reusing, let us help you figure out the best way to recycle. There are many different options in the East Kootenay to keep waste out of our landfills, each one having its place in making things efficient and effective.

Recycle BC Depots
Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling in BC. Recycle BC Depots (located at the Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford Transfer Stations) offer the greatest opportunity for keeping products out of the trash, including paper, cardboard, containers, cartons, flexible plastics, glass, styrofoam and more.

Recycle BC Depots are open at the following locations:

  • Cranbrook Transfer Station - 2405 22nd St N
  • Kimberley Transfer Station - 800 Jim Ogilvie Way
  • Cranbrook Bottle Depot (non RDEK Recycle BC Depot) - 1125 Industrial Rd. #3
  • Fernie Transfer Station - 6000 HWY 3
  • Elkford Transfer Station - 6 Inkaneep Rd
  • Sparwood Transfer Station - 1001 HWY 3
  • Invermere Transfer Station - Industrial 1 Rd in Athalmer

Yellow Bins
The Yellow Bin system has been operating in the RDEK for over 20 years. Through this system we don’t have access to the same markets. The Yellow Bins accept only paper, cardboard, tin cans, grocery bags and plastics 1-6 (no styrofoam).

Municipal Curbside Programs
Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook and Fernie all have curbside recycling programs, check with your municipality to find out which products are accepted by your local program.

Provincial Product Stewardship Programs
When you pay an eco fee on a product, such as oil or electronics, those funds go to Provincial Stewardship Programs for their proper collection and recycling/disposal. These programs are Provincial and are totally separate from the RDEK. There are hundreds of products that can be recycled through these programs including: oil, antifreeze, paint, light bulbs, tires, batteries, cellphones, power equipment, smoke alarms, electronics, medications, small appliances and so many more.

Small Appliances
You can recycle over 300 types of electrical products at the Cranbrook Bottle Depot, Fernie Bottle Depot and Kimberley, Elkford, and Sparwood Transfer Stations. The program accepts small appliances, power tools, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers/curling irons, scales, timers, sewing machines, treadmills and more. To view a full list of accepted products visit www.electrorecycle.ca

Electronics
The environmental handling fees you pay on electronics in BC are managed by Encorp and there are drop-off locations at the Invermere Bottle Depot, Cranbrook Bottle Depot, Fernie Bottle Depot, and Kimberley, Elkford, and Sparwood Transfer Stations. They accept a wide range of electronics, including: televisions, computers, monitors, fax machines, DVD/VHS players, stereos, MP3 players, speakers, earphones, microphones, telephones, radios, vehicle audio and video systems, etc. To view a more complete list of acceptable products visit www.return-it.ca/electronics.

Oil, Oil Filters & Antifreeze
The BC Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) oversees the used oil program in BC. There are several depots throughout the region. Ensure every drop of used oil and antifreeze, every filter and every container is brought to a collection facility so it can be disposed of properly. To find a drop-off location near you visit www.bcusedoil.com

Paint
There are many drop-off locations for paint and aerosol paint throughout the East Kootenay. Containers must be sealed in paint containers and clearly labeled. If paint cans are dried out and there is no liquid left, the cans can go in the garbage. To find a drop-off location near you visit www.productcare.org

Light bulbs & Fixtures
LightRecycle is the BC residential light recycling program. Accepted products include incandescent lights, LEDs, compact fluorescent, tube fluorescent light bulbs, lighting fixtures, lamps, string lights, and much more. To find a drop-off location in your area visit www.productcare.org/products/lights

Tires
Tire Stewardship BC collects an eco fee when you buy tires to pay for transporting and recycling of old tires. There are depots that take up to 4 tires at a time free of charge throughout the East Kootenay. To find a depot near you visit www.tsbc.ca

Batteries & Cellphones
Alkaline and rechargeable batteries as well as cellphones are recyclable. There are many drop-off locations throughout the region. To find a drop-off location near you visit www.call2recycle.ca

Outdoor Power Equipment
Mowers, lawn tractors, snow blowers and gardening tools – corded, battery powered or fuel powered can be recycled at many locations throughout the East Kootenay. To find a location near you visit www.opeic.ca

Smoke Alarms & CO2 Alarms
There are drop off locations for used or expired smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms throughout the East Kootenay. To find a drop-off location near you visit www.productcare.org

Medications
Unused and expired medicines can be returned to pharmacies participating in the Medications Return Program. to find particiapating location near you visit www.medicationsreturn.ca

Regional Household Hazardous Waste Depot at the Cranbrook and Fernie Transfer Stations.

The RDEK has year-round Household Hazardous Waste Depots at the Cranbrook Transfer Station and the Fernie Transfer Station. Any residents with any of the accepted materials listed in this brochure can take the items free of charge to either of the transfer stations for safe disposal.
If you are in any way unsure whether a product is accepted, feel free to contact the RDEK 250-489-2791, 1-888-478-7335, info@rdek.bc.ca


You can also try the Provincial recycling database here: https://www.rcbc.ca/recyclepedia/search or use the Q&A tool below to ask your recycling questions or view the questions/answers from others!

Q&A

Have a question about what goes where? Want clarification on recycling?  Leave your question here and we will get it answered as quickly as we can!

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    I am hearing conflicting reports about plastics being recycled. Is there some sort of certification or assurance that the plastic that RDEK is sending out to be recycled, actually is?

    Kelly Lardner asked 27 days ago

    The Regional District of East Kootenay offers two streams for paper and packaging products which include plastics. One stream is the Recycle BC Program which is a Provincially mandated recycling program for residential paper and packaging product. This program has regulatory oversight which includes having a clear chain of custody for products to ensure that the material is recycled. They conduct over 1800 material audits a year and have rigorous materials tracking. You can find annual reports for Recycle BC here: https://recyclebc.ca/about-recyclebc/program-overview/annual-reports/ these note specific end markets for different categories of products collected.

    The second option is the Yellow Bin Program where plastics 1-6 and paper products are sorted and sold to different recyclers (end markets). Some of the end markets these plastics end up at are located in Edmonton and New Westminster. The yellow bin program exists in order to service the commercial/business recycling sector which is not currently regulated by the Provincial  Recycling Regulations. Each month the contractor provides reports to the RDEK of all tonnages of recyclables collected in the Yellow Bin Program and how many of those tonnages were unrecyclable. This type of product would be things that aren’t supposed to go into the yellow bin or items that are dirty/wet and therefore can’t be recycled. From January to April this year (2023) over 1490 tonnes of recyclables were collected and prepared to be sold to end markets. Of the total 1490 tonnes collected only 70 tonnes were considered to be “unrecyclable”.

    Recycling of materials can be a confusing topic due to it being a provincially regulated. This means that recycling services vary across Canada. BC has a strong framework of mandated Extended Producer Responsibility Programs which are responsible to managing a product (as defined in the regulations) to the end of its life cycle.

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    Is there a plastic container that is too small, smaller than than the palm of your hand.

    Diane Mack asked 2 months ago

    Nope. Small containers are acceptable.

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    Is there recycling for paper straws?

    Eric asked 2 months ago

    They can be placed in the paper and cardboard bins at any Recycle BC Depot, in your curbside recycling in Fernie, Invermere, Kimberley and Cranbrook as well as in the Yellow Bins.

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    Can items like Pringles cans go with containers? Previously it was noted that they could.

    Eric asked 2 months ago

    Yes indeed they can.

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    Do you compost yard waste? If so, where do I take it?

    clarenceander@gmail.com asked 3 months ago

    Yard waste can be taken free of charge to the Columbia Valley Landfill, Kimberley Transfer Station, Fernie Transfer Station, Sparwood Transfer Station, Elkford Transfer Station, Cranbrook Transfer Station, Tie Lake Transfer Station, Wasa Transfer Station, and the Canal Flats Transfer Station.

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    I have camping fuel containers. Where do they go.

    Bambi asked 3 months ago

    Camping fuel containers can be placed with the propane tanks at of the Kimberley, Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford transfer stations or Columbia Valley Landfill

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    Are the plastic 6 pack rings recyclable? If so, what would they be put in?

    Paula asked 4 months ago

    At this time 6 pack rings are not recyclable. They should be cut up and placed in your household garbage. The rigid black 6 pack rings/caps that are becoming more common are recyclable in the Containers Bin at Recycle BC Depots or in curbside recycling in Kimberley and Cranbrook

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    Can pie pans go in the Curbside recycling?

    Laura asked 4 months ago

    Aluminum pie plates and containers can go in the Recycle BC Curbside programs in Cranbrook and Kimberley.

    In addition, they can be placed in the green CONTAINERS bin at the Recycle BC Depots at the Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford and Invemere Industrial Park Transfer Stations.

    They cannot be placed in the curbside recycling in Invermere or Fernie, or in the yellow bin program.

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    Is the garden waste from the recycling center in Cranbrook taken somewhere to compost? If so, is the resulting compost available to residents?

    Evelyn asked 4 months ago

    The green waste from the Cranbrook Transfer Station is taken to the Central Subregion Landfill where it is chipped, piled to compost, and mixed with topsoil to be used on site.  It is not available to residents at this time.

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    Can I recycle CD s? What about old music tapes?

    Bg asked 7 months ago

    Yes indeed. They can be taken to the Cranbrook Bottle Depot.

Page last updated: 13 Apr 2023, 11:32 AM