Recycling- A Guide to What Goes Where
Sorting your recycling and making sure it gets to the right collection stream is one of the most important parts of the recycling process. The more recycling that is sorted correctly, the less work for collection staff and facility workers, as well as more items that can be recycled without fear of contamination. Sorting can be a difficult process though, with many different types of materials that must be collected and recycled in different ways. This guide will walk you through what goes to specific depots and what can be picked up curbside, as well as some locations to take difficult-to-recycle items like motor oil or batteries.
Why don’t all the recycling streams accept the same items?
Creston has three main streams of recycling collection for your non-deposit recycling, the curbside collection program, the Helen Street core depot, and the Creston Landfill satellite depot. The Return-It depot in town accepts recyclables that you pay a deposit on during purchase. You can return your beverage containers at this location to receive a refund of your deposit.
You may be wondering why the different streams don’t all accept the same materials. This comes down to preventing contamination at the sorting facilities where the recyclables are transferred to. Certain materials, for example flexible plastics, can get caught in sorting equipment when recycled through curbside programs that collect all recyclables together in one bin. Instead they must be sorted and taken to the depot to avoid this issue.
The curbside collection program accepts most types of recyclables except for, most prominently, glass, styrofoam, and flexible plastics. It cannot accept glass because it is dangerous for collectors, and it cannot accept Styrofoam or flexible plastics because they can easily get caught in equipment at the sorting facility and can contaminate other recyclables.
The Helen Street depot, as a core RecycleBC recycling depot, accepts all materials accepted under the curbside program in addition to glass, Styrofoam, and flexible plastics.
The Creston Landfill functions as a satellite depot. This means that, due to space and other factors, it only accepts the most common categories of recyclables: paper & cardboard, plastic & metal containers, and glass.
What Goes Where?
Curbside Collection
Materials |
Examples |
Paper and Cardboard |
Newspaper, magazines, notepads, loose leaf paper, gift wrap, envelopes, boxes, clean pizza boxes |
Paper Packaging |
Milk cartons, paper cups, take-out beverage cups and lids, Cereal boxes, toilet paper tubes, moulded pulp (ex. egg cartons and drink trays), Kraft paper |
Plastic Packaging/Hard Plastic Packaging and Containers |
Bottles, jars, ‘clamshells’, trays, tubs and lids, planter pots, caps, tops, lids and pumps, jugs, hard plastic containers (for example yogurt cups) |
Metal Packaging and Containers |
Steel cans, aluminum cans, spiral wound cans, aerosol bottles (completely empty), aluminum foil and foil containers |
All of these are broad categories and include a wide variety of recyclables, click here for a more detailed list of accepted materials.
Helen Street Depot
412 Helen Street, Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-4pm
The Helen Street Depot accepts all items that the other streams accept as well as glass, styrofoam, and flexible plastics. Before going to the depot, make sure your recycling is sorted and rinsed out.
Materials |
Examples |
Flexible Plastics |
Plastic bags, outer bags and overwrap, crinkly wrappers and bags, flexible plastic with plastic seal, zipper lock and stand-up pouches, woven plastic bags, protective and squishy cushion packaging, bubble wrap and envelopes |
Paper and Cardboard |
Newspaper, magazines, notepads, loose leaf paper, gift wrap, envelopes, boxes, clean pizza boxes |
Paper Packaging |
Milk cartons, paper cups, take-out beverage cups and lids, Cereal boxes, toilet paper tubes, moulded pulp (ex. egg cartons and drink trays), Kraft paper |
Plastic Packaging/Hard Plastic Packaging and Containers |
Bottles, jars, ‘clamshells’, trays, tubs and lids, planter pots, caps, tops, lids and pumps, jugs, hard plastic containers (for example yogurt cups) |
Metal Packaging and Containers |
Steel cans, aluminum cans, spiral wound cans, aerosol bottles (completely empty), aluminum foil and foil containers |
Glass |
Glass bottles, glass jars |
Foam Packaging |
Foam meat trays, foam containers and cups, Styrofoam packaging |
Click here for a more detailed list of accepted materials.
Creston Landfill
1501 Mallory Road, Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-4pm
Materials |
Examples |
Paper and Cardboard |
Newspaper, magazines, notepads, loose leaf paper, gift wrap, envelopes, boxes, clean pizza boxes |
Metal Packaging and Containers |
Steel cans, aluminum cans, spiral wound cans, aerosol bottles (completely empty), and foil containers |
Plastic Packaging and Containers |
Bottles, jars, ‘clamshells’, trays, tubs and lids, planter pots, jugs, hard plastic containers (for example yogurt cups) |
Glass |
Glass bottles, glass jars |
Click here for more info about the Creston Landfill.
Return-It Depot
1420 Northwest Boulevard, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-3:30pm
Return-It accepts beverage containers that you pay a deposit for at purchase, you just need to sort them, and you can get your deposit back.
Materials |
Examples |
Aluminum cans |
Pop cans, sparkling water cans, beer cans |
Plastic bottles |
Water bottles, large pop bottles |
Glass |
Glass bottles and drink containers |
Gable top cartons |
Milk cartons, juice cartons |
Drink Boxes |
Juice boxes, large drink boxes |
Milk and plant based beverage containers |
Milk and plant based beverage jugs, boxes, cans, cartons |
Liquor plastic, glass, and aluminum containers |
Liquor beverage containers |
Click here for more info on Return-It’s accepted materials and the deposit refund you will receive for each item.
If you’re unsure where something goes check the Creston Recycles app!
The Creston Recycles Web and Mobile Phone App provides you with your curbside collection schedule, reminders, Town notifications, and what-goes-where (Wizard) tool. The Wizard tool can be used for any type of material. Creston Recycles provides information on how to properly dispose of different types of waste and the location of local drop-off sites. You can download this app for free onto your mobile device from your App Store or access it on the Town of Creston website.
Alternative Recycling and Waste Drop-Off
There are many items that RecycleBC does not accept that can still be recycled! Here are some local options for recycling some of those more difficult items.
Recycling Council of BC – Visit them at https://rcbc.ca/recyclepedia/ to find out how and where to properly recycle or dispose of almost any item.
Creston Valley Gleaners – Many items can be donated before ending up in the landfill. Creston Valley Gleaners is an exceptional community organization where you can take your gently used items and clothing to be given a second life.
Online Marketplaces –There are many resources online if you want to sell your gently used items. This is a great alternative to sending them to the landfill or if you don’t have time for a yard sale.
Beverage Containers
Return-It – Return-It Depots accept a variety of different beverage containers.
Yard and Garden Waste
Sullivan Stone (501 Helen Street) – Sullivan Stone is a local business that accepts clean yard and garden waste for free. Accepted materials are leaves, grass clippings, soil, and plants - NO branches or wood products.
Electronics and Appliances
Major appliances - The Creston Landfill accepts most major residential appliances to be recycled for free on behalf of the Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR).
Return-It electronics - Many Return-It depots accept small electronics. The closest depots to Creston that accept them are Cranbrook, Nelson, and Salmo.
ElectroRecycle – ElectroRecycle accepts small appliances and power tools. They host free collection events in Creston periodically. Check the Town website for updates.
Batteries – Multiple locations in Creston accept used batteries to be recycled, click here to find locations.
Motor Oil
Scrap King Autowrecking & Towing is now accepting CLEAN, USED MOTOR OIL. Reach them at: 211 Collis St, Creston | Phone: (250) 428-2323 | Website: https://www.scrapkingauto.com/
Medications
Multiple locations in Creston accept used medications to be recycled, click here to find locations
Scrap Metal
Scrap King Autowrecking & Towing is now accepting scrap metal for recycling. A drop-off bin is available from Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Reach them at: 211 Collis St, Creston | Phone: (250) 428-2323 | Website: https://www.scrapkingauto.com/
Tires
Multiple locations in Creston accept used tires to be recycled, click here to find locations
