By using these options, a family of two can get their garbage down to less than one cup (!) per week. This frequently updated and expanded directory lists options for packaging that is recyclable in Kamloops. Of course, the most crucial step is to reduce packaging overall, so we’ll include tips for that too.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are wondering where to recycle any item not listed here, please contact the Recycling Council of BC. Also, occasionally the City of Kamloops offers an opportunity for free disposal of household hazardous waste and electronic waste (such as CDs, DVD players, and phones not otherwise recyclable locally). To get word of when those are, check your newspaper or check the City of Kamloops website.
New! London Drugs has implemented a relatively comprehensive recycling program, for styrofoam, plastics, small appliances, electronics, batteries and a host of other items, whether purchased there or not.
Batteries
- Drop off any and all batteries: Battery Direct 1400A Battle Street (374-8914).
- More drop-off locations for rechargeable (only) batteries, click here.
- For an article about this, click here.
Cell Phones (See also ‘Computers, Electronics’ below)
- Any working phone less than five years old: Any thrift shop.
- Older than five years old or broken, click here to recycle your phone while raising money for the Food Action Centre or here to recycle your phone while supporting Bert Edwards Elementary School or Habitat for Humanity (Kamloops Chapter).
Cloth Bags – Large
- Second-Hand Stores – Value Village usually has a wide variety in stock.
- Grocery Stores
- Farmer’s Market
- Amber Horne – Makes bags out of recycled material. Call 377-7450.
- Cherish or Perish Project (heavy duty cotton tote; water bottle bag; decals). Email ljwall1@telus.net
Cloth Bags – Small
For tips about transporting your bulk dry goods, such as rice, oats and beans, click here.
Compact Disks (CDs) and DVDs
In response to some comments below, we’re including this new category. For reusable disks, see the options listed under ‘Other Reusable Items’, below. In terms of disks that are no longer usable, we don’t know of options for recycling these in Kamloops. However, for ideas on reusing them or on recycling involving shipping, please click here.
Composting
If you have a yard, a simple wire cylinder or a plastic container will do. If you have no yard, check out the indoor worm composting system available through Kamloops’ own All Things Organic.
Computers & Other Electronics (See also ‘Cell Phones’, above.)
- Any working electronic less than five years old: Some thrift shops or charities (Food Bank; Boys & Girls Club, etc).
- TVs and “computer electronics” older than five years old or not working, click here. Note: Encorp does not accept DVD players, etc –just TVs and “computer electronics”.
- For an inspiring article on this topic, click here.
Curbside Pick Up
The City of Kamloops’ curbside pick up program began March 17, 2008. This ended the only private service available locally.
The City of Kamloops does not accept bags, even if labeled for recycling. Plastic bags can be return to stores. London Drugs accepts all plastic bags, but not plastic food wrap. Other un-numbered plastics can be saved up for a trip to Kelowna, which recycles all plastics except toothbrushes. To prevent use of plastic bags, scroll up to ‘Cloth Bags’.
Diapers
Click here.
Dishsoap
EcoVer (Plastic #2) at Nature’s Fare.
Drop Off
See the City of Kamloops Recycling Page for drop-off options.
See also “House & Household”.
Egg Cartons
Egg producers are often in need of egg cartons. The Bernardo family accepts clean egg cartons. It sets up its Farmers Market stall at the corner of 3rd & St Paul (north side, in front of the CFCD office) every Saturday.
House & Household
Sinks, doors, stoves, paint and more. With your donation or purchase, you are both saving money and supporting Habitat for Humanity. ReStore is located at #28 – 1425 Cariboo Place (just up Hillside Drive from the Home Depot).
Light Bulbs – Compact Fluorescents
Home Depot now accepts used CFLs. For details, click here.
Lights – Fluorescent Tubes
London Drugs
Other Reusable Items
- Thrift shops recycle, support community agencies, and/or provide wages. For a list of locally-owned, not-for-profit thrift stores, click here. Most will pick up your items for free.
- For items that thrift shops won’t take, post to Freecycle, an online service whose entire purpose is to divert items from the landfill. Old wheelbarrow? Cracked paddling pool? Post ‘em! FMI click here.
Oil, Paint, Scrap Metal, Solvents, Tires, Toxic Waste
See “House & Household”, above, and the City of Kamloops Recycling Page for drop-off options.
Plastics, Bags & Unnumbered
The City of Kamloops does not accept bags, even if labeled for recycling. Labeled bags can be return to stores. Any bags and un-numbered plastics can be saved up for a trip to Kelowna, which recycles all plastics except toothbrushes. To prevent use of plastic bags, scroll up to ‘Cloth Bags’.
Pads & Tampons
The DivaCup, Keeper, and LunaPads are excellent reusuable menstrual supplies and are all sold at Nature’s Fare. They will last a very long time, saving your pocketbook as well as your planet!
Rice, Soy, Cow Milk Beverage Containers
Milk cartons, as well as dairy substitute cartons*, are accepted at the following locations in Kamloops for recycling (no associated deposit or refund).
1) Full Refund Bottle Depot
805 Notre Dame Drive2) Lorne Street Bottle Depot
270 Halston Road
*This includes all empty milk, cream, and milk substitute (soy & rice) beverage containers (plastic, cartons and jugs). ‘Cartons’ include both polycoated and paper board containers like tetra packs or aseptics and gable top cartons. So your dairy and dairy substitute tetra paks are accepted for take back. or additional information on this program please visit Encorp Pacific’s website.
Yogurt
Option 1 : Make Your Own
Option 2 : Nancy’s Yogurt at Nature’s Fare (Plastic #2)
PLEASE NOTE: If you are wondering where to recycle any item not listed here, please contact the Recycling Council of BC. Also, occasionally the City of Kamloops offers an opportunity for free disposal of household hazardous waste and electronic waste (such as CDs, DVD players, and phones not otherwise recyclable locally). To get word of when those are, check your newspaper, check the City of Kamloops website, or subscribe to this site.
Directory compiled by One Hill Productions
Last updated March 18, 2010.
Do you have any info. on battery types and any
info. on their disposal?
Hi Don,
Thanks for your question –it helped me see a gap in the directory’s presentation. I have now modified the directory to name in the heading those items addressed on the City’s recycling page.
If you need any other info, please do post again.
It appears that the Restore is closed. Any suggestions for doors etc?
Hi Brian,
I just called ReStore. They are open 10am-530pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Anyone else out there know any additional sources of doors?
Theses are longer shots – but try some of the thrift stores. I have seen doors at Thrift City downtown on occasion, etc.
i was wondering if you could tell me is this the recyling place that you can bring in your scrap metal for money.
Hi Paul,
Before your question, I did not know which depots might pay for scrap metal. However, in the telephone book under ‘Scrap’ (pages 483 & 484), there are listings for scrap metal depots. The ads for NorthWest Metal Recycling (374-8522) and Kamloops Scrap Iron (554-3491) both state they pay for scrap metal. Others may also.
I hope that helps.
Can you tell me who in Kamloops takes electronics. I know about the Lorne Street Bottle Depot, but they only take computer and TVs. Who takes old stereos, phones, cd players etc??
Hi Angie,
On the assumption that these items are no longer useful (thrift shops, FreeCycle), and that the phones you refer to are landlines as opposed to cell phones, I emailed your question to the Recycling Council of BC, which answered:
“We do not have any private recyclers listed on our database which accept electronic equipment in the Kamloops area, other than those listed as Encorp depots (ie. computers, computer peripherals and televisions)…If they are primarily metal, some metal recyclers may take them.”
They suggested that if you travel outside of Kamloops, there may be depots at those destinations.
If any readers have any tips for recycling landlines, stereos, etc, please post them here!
For cell phone recycling try thINK Food or search “phones for food”. You’ll find a number of drop sites around town within cycling distance from most locations.
Try this link:
http://www.pitch-in.ca/Pitch-In.php
Kamloops has a couple of agencies that collect cell phones. Agencies participating in the pitch-in Canada program receive $1 for every cell phone they collect.
Thanks, Rob and Michelle, for cell phone recycling tips. I have now updated the links in that section.
Cheers!
What about old burned CDs and DVDs? Is there anything I can do about this rather than just throwing them out?
Thanks!
I have a lot of old cd’s, games, and floppy discs. Is there any place to recycle these? I really don’t want to throw them out in the garbage.
Is there a private pick-up recycling service in Kamloops for town home dwellers?
Please advise.
Thank you.
GG
Hi GG,
As far as I know, there is no private pick-up recycling service in Kamloops for townhome dwellers. If any reader has information to the contrary, please do post!
Hi Karen and Ben,
I am not aware of an option for recycling non-reusable DVDs, CDs, floppies, games, etc. You might want to contact the Recycling Council of BC (for a link, see the new red note within the post) to see if there are options.
Here’s an article about dealing with old CDs & DVDs, either recycling or reusing:
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/245/1/DVD-and-CD-Recycling.html
dear Woozers i know a shop that takes everything from: computers, cell phones, batteries, ect.
email me and i will tell u where the shop is
To add an update to my previous replies, occasionally the City of Kamloops offers an opportunity for free disposal of household hazardous waste and electronic waste (such as CDs, DVD players, and phones not otherwise recyclable locally). To get word of when those are, check your newspaper, check the City of Kamloops website, or subscribe to this site.