Educational Resources
Learn about waste reduction and sustainable practices
Waste Reduction Tips
Reduce & Reuse
- • Use reusable shopping bags and water bottles
- • Buy products with minimal packaging
- • Choose reusable over single-use items
- • Refuse unnecessary freebies and junk mail
- • Repair items instead of replacing them
Love Food, Hate Waste
- • Plan meals and shopping lists
- • Store food properly to extend freshness
- • Use leftovers creatively in new meals
- • Compost unavoidable food scraps
- • Understand "best before" vs "use by" dates
Recycle Right
- • Empty and rinse all containers
- • Keep recyclables dry and clean
- • When in doubt, leave it out
- • No plastic bags in blue cart
- • Flatten cardboard boxes
Compost at Home
- • Start a backyard composter or digester
- • Add fruit & vegetable scraps, not meat/dairy
- • Grasscycle: leave clippings on lawn
- • Mulch leaves and yard trimmings
- • Get free compost for your garden
Donate & Share
- • Donate usable items to thrift stores
- • Sell or give away on online platforms
- • Participate in repair cafés
- • Share tools and equipment with neighbors
- • Support local second-hand shops
Avoid Contaminants
- • No plastic bags in recycling cart
- • No hazardous waste in any cart
- • No electronics in regular bins
- • No food-soiled items in recycling
- • Use depot drop-offs for special items
Abbotsford's Waste Diversion Success
Together, we're making a difference
That's 1,100 garbage trucks worth!
We're working together to reach it
Recycle electronics, batteries, paint & more
Official Recycling Guides
What Goes in Your Blue Cart?
Use this official guide to see what items are accepted in your blue recycling cart. All items must be clean, dry, and empty before recycling.
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Remember: Items marked as "Refundable beverage containers" can be recycled in your blue cart, but you'll get money back if you take them to a Return-It depot instead!
Interactive Learning
Abbotsford Sorts Game
Test your recycling knowledge with our fun, interactive sorting game! Available in multiple languages.
Video Tutorials
Watch helpful videos showing how the recycling system works and tips for reducing waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my recycling after it's collected?
Your blue cart recyclables are taken to a sorting facility where materials are separated by type (paper, plastic, metal, etc.). These sorted materials are then sold to manufacturers who turn them into new products. Recycle BC manages this process to ensure materials are properly recycled.
Can I compost meat and dairy in my green cart?
Yes! Your green cart accepts ALL food scraps, including meat, bones, and dairy products. These are composted at a regional facility that can handle these materials. Just avoid putting plastic (even compostable plastic), diapers, or pet waste in your green cart.
Why was my cart not emptied?
Common reasons include: contamination (wrong items in the cart), overflowing lid, cart not at curb by 7am, or blocked access. If your cart has a tag explaining the issue, remove the contaminants and it will be collected next time. For persistent issues, contact the City at 604-864-5640.
Where do I take hazardous waste?
Never put hazardous items (paint, chemicals, batteries, electronics) in your carts. Take them to designated depots that participate in EPR programs. The Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot and Regional Recycling accept most hazardous materials for free. Use our Waste Wizard tool to find the right location for specific items.
How can I reduce my garbage?
The best ways to reduce garbage are: 1) Compost all food scraps and yard waste, 2) Recycle properly using your blue cart and depot programs, 3) Reduce consumption by choosing reusable items, 4) Donate or sell items you no longer need, and 5) Participate in repair programs instead of throwing things away. These actions can dramatically reduce what goes in your grey cart.
Ready to Learn More?
Explore our tools and resources to become a waste reduction champion!