Glass Disposal and Recycling Options
When food waste collection begins in October 2010, household glass food and beverage containers will no longer be accepted in the RDN blue box recycling program. Although glass has been included in the blue box for almost 20 years, after balancing the social, economic and environmental impacts associated with this issue, the Regional Board decided in October 2009 that removing glass from the blue box to enable food waste collection was an acceptable and sustainable trade-off.
Discontinuing glass collection coincides with the introduction of new collection vehicles to support the Green Bin Program. This allows either food waste and garbage or food waste and recyclables to be collected in separate compartments in a single vehicle. Recyclables are delivered to a materials recovery facility where they are mechanically sorted and processed.
In 2009, the RDN blue box program collected 220 tonnes of glass in 2009. However, an estimated 35% of this amount represented glass containers that could have been returned for refund.
With glass no longer accepted as a curbside recyclable, it is important to return deposit glass containers such as pop, juice, wine, beer, and liquor bottles to a Return-It Centre for refund. Non-deposit glass containers such as jars and condiment bottles are not banned from disposal.
Glass containers, which cannot be returned for refund or are unsuitable for reuse, can be placed in the garbage. Individuals wishing to drop-off non-deposit glass for use in on-site construction projects at the Regional Landfill can take glass containers to:
| Facility | Location | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Church Road Transfer Station | 860 Church Road, Parksville | $5.00 |
| Parksville Bottle Depot | 611A Alberni Hwy, Parksville | Free |
| Nanaimo Recycling Exchange | 2477 Kenworth Road, Nanaimo | Free |
| Gabriola Island Recycling Organization | 700 Tin Can Alley, Gabriola | Free |
| Regional Landfill | 1105 Cedar Road, Nanaimo | $5.00 |
For detailed information and background please download the Glass Fact Sheet