Green Month: How can I recycle my cannabis packaging?

At BC Cannabis Stores, our employees and customers are passionate about the environment. Here’s how you can help us create less waste by recycling your cannabis containers.

How do I recycle my packaging?

Current federal regulations mandate that cannabis products are securely and individually packaged by licensed producers, sealed with a Canadian Government excise duty tag, and safely transported to the BC Cannabis Stores’ Distribution Centre and stores. Therefore, it’s not possible to bring back containers for a refill; however clean containers can be recycled at your local recycling depot or curbside collection.

Most aluminum, glass, paper, and plastic based packaging can be recycled at curbside, multi-family, and depot collections in the Multi-Material BC (MMBC) residential packaging and printed paper plastic recycling program, depending on your location in BC. For more information, please visit the Recycling Council of British Columbia.

Can I recycle my plastic cannabis containers?

Check the bottom of your plastic container for a code (seen within the recycling symbol), which denotes the type of plastic used to manufacture the product.

You may see a 1, which is a common plastic code that shows the product is made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Soft drink containers (and dried flower packaging) often feature this plastic, which can be recycled into useful items such as pillow stuffing, t-shirts, carpeting, or even more containers.

Plastic code 2 stands for High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), which is commonly found on milk and juice jugs, yogurt containers and shampoo bottles: it can be recycled into blue boxes and playground equipment.

Another common plastic code is 5, which is the symbol for Polypropylene (PP). Often found on syrup and ketchup bottles (and on dried flower packaging), Polypropylene can be recycled into objects such as ice scrapers.

Most paper and card packaging can be recycled, except waxed paper in some locations.

Non-medical cannabis beverage packaging, such as cans and bottles, can be recycled.