Metro Vancouver Recycling Depots: A Guide for People Moving

A move surfaces things you won't take: an old mattress, a broken TV, half-used paint, and a wall of flattened boxes afterward. Most of it can be recycled or dropped off free in Metro Vancouver, and doing it before moving day means fewer items in the truck and a lower bill. This guide lists the main depots by city, and — the part that matters for a move — exactly where each moving-related item goes and what it costs.

Where Each Moving Item Goes

Item	Where	Cost
Cardboard boxes	Curbside recycling (flattened, bundled) or any recycling depot; offer on a Buy Nothing group first	Free
Packing foam and film (bubble wrap, air pillows, plastic wrap)	Recycle BC depot — soft plastics and foam streams. Not the curbside bin.	Free
Mattress and box spring	Municipal transfer station or a mattress-recycling drop-off; some retailers take the old one on delivery	Around $15–$30 per piece
Paint, stain, aerosols	Any Product Care / Return-It paint depot, or a municipal eco-centre	Free
Electronics (TVs, monitors, computers, small appliances)	Return-It Electronics depot or a municipal recycling depot	Free
Large appliances (fridge, washer, stove)	Transfer station or scrap-metal recycler; fridges and freezers need refrigerant removal	Fee for refrigerant units (about $20–$50); scrap metal often free
Batteries, light bulbs, propane tanks, motor oil	Municipal eco-centre hazardous-waste area (limited hours) or a Return-It location	Free
Usable furniture and housewares	Donate first — Habitat ReStore, thrift stores, community groups — before recycling	Free; some offer pickup

How to donate unwanted items when you move covers what's worth donating and who picks up, and seven ways to downsize is the pass to make before you book movers.

Depot Directory by City

Commonly used depots and transfer stations across the Lower Mainland. Accepted materials and hours change, so confirm on the Metro Vancouver Recycles directory before you go.

City	Facility	Address	Handles (for a move)
Vancouver	City of Vancouver Recycling Depot	377 W 30th Ave	Electronics, appliances, scrap metal, cardboard
Vancouver	Vancouver Zero Waste Centre	8588 Yukon St	Cardboard, foam, glass, small electronics, mattresses (fee)
Burnaby	Burnaby Eco-Centre	4855 Still Creek Ave	Paint, oil, batteries, small electronics, foam
Richmond	Richmond Recycling Depot	5555 Lynas Lane	Household recyclables, foam, glass, appliances
Surrey	Surrey Recycling & Waste Centre	9770 192 St	Bulky items, wood, furniture, electronics, mattresses (fee)
Coquitlam	Coquitlam Transfer Station	1200 United Blvd	Bulky waste, furniture, metal, mattresses (fee)
North Vancouver	North Shore Transfer Station	30 Riverside Dr W	General recycling, bulky items, mattresses (fee)
Delta	North Delta Recycling Depot	11439 84 Ave	Paper, bottles, plastics, used oil
Langley	Langley Township Recycling Depot	21409 56 Ave	Small appliances, furniture, electronics
Maple Ridge	Maple Ridge Recycling Depot	10092 236 St	Household waste, paper, metals, tires
New Westminster	New West Recycling Depot	417 Boyne St	Electronics, cardboard, small metal items

Most run roughly 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, with shorter hours for hazardous-waste drop-off. Confirm before a special trip.

Mattresses: The One That Catches People Out

Metro Vancouver bans mattresses from the garbage, so an old one can't just go to the curb. Options:

• Transfer station or mattress-recycling drop-off — roughly $15 to $30 per mattress or box spring, and they're stripped for foam, steel, and fabric.
• Retailer takeback — many mattress stores haul the old one away when they deliver the new one; ask when you buy.
• Large-item curbside pickup — most municipalities collect a set number of bulky items a year by appointment; a mattress usually counts.

Fit Recycling Into the Move

1. Declutter room by room as you pack — set aside anything not coming.
2. Sort by where it goes using the table above, so one trip covers several categories.
3. Prep items — flatten cardboard, pull batteries from electronics, drain fluids, bag foam and film separately.
4. Donate the usable things first, recycle the rest.
5. Book a bulky-item pickup with your municipality for anything too big to haul.
6. Do the depot run before moving day, not after — a lighter load is a cheaper move. How to move for less covers why volume is the main cost lever.

Save the flattened moving boxes for last — drop them at a depot once you've unpacked, or pass them on. Smart unpacking tips covers clearing the cardboard at the other end.

A Few Rules Worth Knowing

• No illegal dumping. Furniture left in an alley or on a boulevard is a bylaw offence in every Metro Vancouver municipality, with fines. Use a depot or a booked pickup.
• Foam and film are never curbside. They contaminate the paper stream; they go to a Recycle BC depot.
• Fridges and freezers need certified refrigerant removal before scrapping — the transfer station handles it for a fee.
• Reuse beats recycle. Boxes, packing paper, and bubble wrap can be sourced secondhand and passed on again after.

Related guides

• West Vancouver Living: Is Luxury Housing Worth It?
• How to Move a Sofa or Sectional Locally in Metro Vancouver
• Vancouver City Guide: What to See, Eat, and Do
• Moving to Vancouver: Housing, lifestyle, opportunities, and relocation tips
• Best Vancouver Neighbourhoods by Rent and Who It Suits
• Vancouver movers on Tingsapp

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I recycle electronics in Metro Vancouver?

Free at any Return-It Electronics depot and at municipal recycling depots such as the City of Vancouver Recycling Depot on West 30th Avenue and the Burnaby Eco-Centre. They take TVs, monitors, computers, phones, and small appliances at no charge.

How do I get rid of an old mattress when I move?

Metro Vancouver bans mattresses from the garbage. Take it to a transfer station or mattress-recycling drop-off for about $15 to $30, use your municipality's large-item pickup, or have the retailer take the old one when a new one is delivered.

Are the recycling depots free?

Common household recyclables, cardboard, foam, paint, and electronics are free. Mattresses, tires, appliances with refrigerant, and construction debris carry a handling fee. Call ahead for anything beyond standard household items.

What do I do with bubble wrap and packing foam?

Not the curbside bin — they go to a Recycle BC depot that takes soft plastics and foam packaging. Bag film and foam separately from rigid recyclables.

Can I book a pickup instead of driving to a depot?

Yes. Most Metro Vancouver municipalities offer large-item curbside collection by appointment — check your city's waste-management page for how many items a year and how to book.

Where do the moving boxes go after I unpack?

Flatten and bundle them for curbside recycling, drop a large amount free at a depot, or offer them on a community group — someone nearby is about to move.

Sources

• Metro Vancouver — Recycles go-to directory, depot and transfer-station locations, disposal bans (mattresses, foam), 2026
• Recycle BC — residential soft-plastics and foam packaging depot program, 2026
• Product Care Recycling / Return-It — paint, electronics, and household hazardous-waste drop-off, 2026

Planning the Move

Recycle and declutter first, then let a vetted crew handle a lighter load. Tingsapp gives you a fixed upfront price for small moves and full home moves across Metro Vancouver — get a quote and book.