2700 Commercial Drive – East Vancouver
At a busy community recycling depot in Vancouver, David Suzuki adjusts his glasses, smiles at the small crowd, and begins:
“Recycling isn’t just housekeeping,” he says. “It’s biology, chemistry, and respect for the Earth. Everything we throw away goes somewhere. The question is — where?”
He gestures toward a row of clearly labeled bins.
🟦 1. Paper & Cardboard
“Paper comes from trees. Trees pull carbon from the atmosphere. So when we recycle paper, we reduce logging pressure and energy use.”
What goes in:
- Newspapers
- Office paper
- Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- Paper bags
What stays out:
- Greasy pizza boxes (oil contaminates fibers)
- Waxed or plastic-coated paper
- Tissues and paper towels
“Flatten your boxes,” Suzuki adds. “Space matters. Efficiency matters.”
🟩 2. Plastics
He lifts a plastic bottle.
“Plastic is fossil fuel in solid form. It doesn’t belong in nature.”
Check the number inside the recycling triangle:
- #1 (PET) – water & soda bottles
- #2 (HDPE) – milk jugs, detergent bottles
“These are widely recyclable.”
Be cautious with:
- #3–#7 plastics — depends on your municipality
- Plastic bags — usually require separate drop-off
“Rinse containers,” he reminds. “Food residue can ruin an entire batch.”
🟨 3. Metals
“Aluminum is a miracle material. Recycling it saves up to 95% of the energy required to make new aluminum.”
Recycle:
- Soda cans
- Food tins (rinsed)
- Clean foil
“Metal can be recycled almost indefinitely,” he says. “That’s circular economy in action.”
🟫 4. Glass
Glass bins clink softly as someone drops in a jar.
“Glass can be endlessly recycled without losing quality.”
Sort by color if required:
- Clear
- Green
- Brown
Remove lids and rinse out residue.
🟪 5. Electronics (E-Waste)
Suzuki holds up an old cellphone.
“This is where modern waste gets dangerous.”
Electronics contain:
- Heavy metals
- Lithium batteries
- Rare earth minerals
Never put e-waste in regular recycling.
Take it to a designated e-waste collection point.
“If we toss this in landfill,” he explains, “toxins leak into soil and water.”
🟫 6. Organics / Compost
He picks up a compost bin lid.
“Nature has no waste. A forest floor recycles everything.”
Compost:
- Fruit & vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Yard waste
Avoid plastics (even if they look biodegradable unless certified for your facility).
⚫ 7. Landfill (Last Resort)
Suzuki grows serious.
“This bin should be the smallest.”
Examples:
- Broken ceramics
- Styrofoam (if not locally accepted)
- Contaminated materials
“Landfill is failure. It’s what we couldn’t redesign, reuse, or rethink.”
🌎 His Final Advice
“Recycling is important — but reducing comes first. Ask yourself:
- Do I need this?
- Can I reuse it?
- Can I repair it?”
He pauses.
“The planet doesn’t need a few people recycling perfectly. It needs millions recycling properly.”
He smiles and tosses a rinsed aluminum can into the metal bin with a satisfying clang.
“And remember — waste is a human concept. In nature, everything cycles. We just have to catch up.”