What would you like to Recycle?

Plastic Bags and Overwrap (soft plastics)

overwrap, dry cleaning bags, bread bags, outer wrap, garden produce bags

Glossary
Plastic Bags and Overwrap (soft plastics)
Plastic bags and overwrap includes most grocery, bread and produce bags, the plastic wrapping around toilet paper and multiple packs of facial tissue boxes and bags from soil and bird seeds.

Residential plastic bags and overwrap are managed through the province-wide Recycle BC product stewardship program. A full list of what is accepted for free through their depot network is available on their website. Note - This category does not include zipper-lock bags, bubble wrap and foil-lined bags—those are considered flexible plastic packaging.

Reduce | Reuse | Recycle | Facilities

How do I go green?

There are many alternatives to using cling wrap. Use glass or metal containers to store leftover food. Wrap lunch sandwiches in cloth or recycled foil. Use cotton drop sheets when painting. Use cloth bags whenever possible.

Try washing cling wrap and using it again—you’ll be surprised by how well it works. Bubble wrap can be reused when mailing packages, moving or storing fragile items. Plastic bags can be re-used for all kinds of things from groceries to pet waste.

Residential soft plastics are accepted for free at Recycle BC Depots found here.
Contact facilities listed below regarding size limits and charges.

Facilities

  • Cascades Recovery (commercial only)

    2800 Bridge Street
    Victoria
    250.480.1274

  • Darryl's and James's Digs

    103 East Point Road
    Saturna Island
    250.539.3385

  • Galiano Recycling Depot

    220 Sturdies Bay Road
    Galiano Island
    250.539.5769

  • Grocery Stores



  • Hartland Depot

    1 Hartland Avenue
    Victoria
    250.360.3030

  • Island Return It, Esquimalt

    935 Ellery
    Victoria
    250.381.1482

  • London Drugs

    All locations in the capital region

  • Mayne Island Recycling Depot

    390 Campbell Bay Road
    Mayne Island
    250.539.3383

  • Oak Bay Public Works Yard (Oak Bay residents only)

    1771 Elgin Road
    Oak Bay
    250.598.4501

  • Pacific Mobile Depots (PMD)

    6215 Marilyn Rd
    Sooke
    250.893.3851

  • Pender Island Recycling Depot

    4400 Otter Bay Road
    Pender Island
    250.629.6962

  • Pender Island Waste Management Ltd


    Pender Island
    250.629.6690

  • Port Renfrew Recycling Drop Box

    17055 Parkinson Road
    Port Renfrew
    1.800.663.4425

  • reFUSE

    304 John St
    Victoria
    250.381.6007

  • Salt Spring Island Recycling Depot

    349 Rainbow Road
    Salt Spring Island
    250.537.1200

  • Saturna Island Recycling Depot

    101 Harris Road
    Saturna Island
    250.539.8080

  • Sidney Return-It

    5-10025 Galaran Road
    Sidney
    778.351.2828

  • South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association Recycle

    1625 Bank Street
    Victoria
    250.595.2685

    • The Environmental Story

    Some plastic film is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which has the potential to leach out and into foods when you’re using it, and into the environment if you throw it away. Chemicals in the PVC can cause health concerns for humans and animals alike. Plastic film also takes a long time to break down in a landfill, and when it does, those chemicals can end up in our soils, groundwater and waterways.

    Did You Know?

    You can recycle the plastic bags from compost, soil or other garden products. Just be sure to wash and dry them first.

    Compostable or biodegradable bags are not recyclable. They contaminate the plastic bag recycling stream.