Why Reduction Matters
At the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, our vision is a waste-free, socially responsible community. We believe that looking after our local environment is a team effort. While recycling is a wonderful way to give materials a second life, the best way to keep our parks and streets beautiful is to reduce what we use in the first place.
Here’s a quick guide to help us all rethink our habits and keep our community clean.
Every piece of plastic ever made still exists somewhere on our planet. Over time, these items don’t go away; they just break down into tiny microplastics that can harm our local wildlife and water systems. By choosing to reduce and reuse, we:
- Conserve Resources: It takes 95% less energy to recycle aluminum than to make it from scratch!
- Protect Wildlife: We keep harmful plastics out of the food chain.
- Support Our Neighbors: Our Depot provides meaningful work for people of all abilities, and less waste means a safer, cleaner workspace for everyone.
Simple Ways to Rethink Single-Use
Single-use items are things designed to be used once and then tossed, like straws, plastic bags, and takeout cutlery. Making a few small changes can have a big impact:
- Choose to Refuse: Next time you’re out, try enjoying your drink without a plastic straw or take your reusable shopping bags when you go to the grocery store..
- Bring Your Own: Keeping a reusable mug, water bottle, or shopping bag in your car or backpack makes it easy to skip the plastic.
- Rethink the Wrap: When giving gifts, try using fabric or paper wrap that can be reused or recycled. Avoiding foil or plastic-lined wrap helps us “Recycle it Right.”
- The “Dilemma Bag” Challenge: Try to go a week without single-use plastic. If you find something you just can’t avoid, pop it in a “dilemma bag.” It’s a great way to see where we can find better alternatives together!
What Happens When We Recycle?
Not sure where it goes? When you bring your materials to the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot, you’re closing the loop. Here is how your old items are turned into something new:
- Metal & Appliances: We sort and prep your items, including removing the freon from the fridges and freezers, and then ship the metal to a local scrap dealer. From there, it is consolidated and sent to a smelter to be melted down and prepared for its next use.
- Plastics: Most of our plastic packaging is sent to local processors right here in B.C., where it’s turned into pellets to make new crates, pipes, and non-food containers.
- Glass: We keep glass separate to prevent it from breaking and contaminating other items. This way, it can be crushed and turned into brand-new jars or even home insulation.
- Paper & Cardboard: Your old newspapers and boxes are pulped and spun into new paper products, saving trees and energy.
Your Partners in Building a Cleaner Community
Sometimes we think everything with a chasing arrows symbol (Mobius loop) can go in the bin, but some items, like toothpaste tubes or mixed-material packaging, are tricky to separate.
If you’re ever unsure, come visit us at the Depot. We’re open seven days a week and always happy to meet local residents who care. Together, we’re making Maple Ridge a leader in local action!
Online Resources:
To learn more ways to recycle and safely dispose of material around your home, visit the following list for useful recycling resources:
- Stewardship Agencies BC: https://www.stewardshipagenciesbc.ca
- Return it: https://www.return-it.ca
- Recycle My Electronics: https://recyclemyelectronics.ca/bc
- Call 2 Recycle: https://call2recycle.ca/programs/household-batteries/members/members-battery-producers/
- Plastic Free July: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org
- Plastic Oceans Film: https://www.plasticoceans.org
- Recycle BC: https://recyclebc.ca
- Recycle My Cell: https://www.recyclemycell.ca
- ProductCare Recycling: https://www.productcare.org
- Interchange Recycling: https://interchangerecycling.com
- Thermostat Recovery Program: https://www.hrai.ca/trp