26 Feb

Perhaps you've noticed from our Twitter and Google Plus streams, we like to share interesting news from the world of recycling and environmental responsibility.  There are so many great ideas out there that we feel compelled to share them with you regularly. Sometimes, though, its nice to have a list of great reading material that you can refer to. With that in mind we proudly present: Island Return It's Favourite Blogs 2014 1) Zero Waste Cowichan - This blog is written by the Cowichan Valley Regional District's Zero Waste Challenge team. It includes local news, helpful information and fun facts. 2) UsedBlog - UsedEverywhere.com writes a fun blog centered around reusing products, upcycling and being creative while staying true to green themes and values. 3) My Zero Waste - This blog chronicles the efforts made by one family to dramatically reduce the amount of trash they have created since 2004. 4) Grist - Grist is a "Beacon in...

23:28 / Community
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17 Feb

First things first, Island Return It Recycling Centres doesn't dispose of unused medications. In Canada, pharmacists are the best bet for this as they have a designated stewardship program in place. When you have unused or expired medications in your home it is important that you dispose of them in a safe and responsible manner. In this blog post, we will explain how to safely remove potentially dangerous narcotics and medications from your home. Toss It?  Nope. The easiest thing to do is to simply throw old medicine into the trash. However, we strongly advise that you not do that! Unused pills might be mistaken for candy by small children and sometimes this leads to tragic results. Likewise if a household pet or wild animal were to get into your garbage. Flush It? Nope. Some drugs are safe to flush down the toilet but not all and because expired medicines are not processed during sewage treatment,...

19:40 / Community / Industry News / Recycle Me
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05 Feb

Have you ever had an experience like this: You arrive at your local Island Return It Recycling Centre with a load of empty bottles and cans to recycle. Once you've sorted them, you bring them up to the counter where a staff member counts them and tallies up your refund. Except, first she pulls a few cans out and explains that while she can recycle them, there is no deposit on them to refund. You most likely felt confused and bewildered.  In this blog post, I would like to explain why some cans have deposits and some do not. It's not a matter of international borders (we don't discriminate), it has nothing to do with individual bottle depots or recycling centres and it most certainly is not a preferential thing either. However please keep in mind: this information applies only to B.C. recycling centres. It's much simpler than that. Whether or not you get...

20:28 / Industry News / Recycle Me
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