The Sparwood transfer station remains open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Including recycling programs, yard and garden waste, metal recycling, etc. The blue textile bins and Reuse Centre will be closed until further notice. While visiting this facility, please make sure to maintain appropriate physical distance (2m/6 ft). During this time this facility may be busier than usual. Please be patient, and keep your trips limited to only what is necessary.
The Sparwood Transfer Station is located at 1001 Highway 3.
Hours of Operation:
9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Saturday
(closed Sunday and BC Family Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day)
If you have questions regarding disposal or about the site please contact the Environmental Services Secretary at: 250-489-6900 or send email to environmentalservicesdept@rdek.bc.ca
Even though the Transfer Station is designed to collect garbage from both residential vehicles and municipal Garbage Trucks, you will find many opportunities to recycle or leave items for reuse so they don't end up in the landfill.
Recycling at the Transfer Station:
On March 2, 2019, the RDEK opened its first Recycle BC Depot at the Sparwood Transfer Station. This Recycle BC Depot is for residential recycling and collects a much wider array of recyclables than the regional yellow bin program. CLICK HERE to view the brochure with the list of recyclables accepted at the Sparwood Transfer Station. To help make your visit to the recycling area seamless, setting up a “pre-sort” system at home can save you some time:
- One bin for paper and cardboard - this would be for everything under the “paper & cardboard products” header on the brochure
- One bin for all plastic containers and metal - this would be everything under the “metal containers and plastic containers” headers on the brochure
- One bin for the other categories - the vast majority of recyclables falls into the first two categories. The third “bin” could be for the others - which includes everything in the styrofoam, plastic bags & overwrap, flexible packaging and glass containers headers on the brochure.
The yellow bins take all your paper, cardboard, tin/aluminum cans, grocery bags and household plastics #1-#6 (except Styrofoam).
There are also areas on site to leave your scrap metal, clean wood waste, yard waste, auto batteries and propane tanks.
About Tires:
There is an area at the Transfer Station for tires; however, they are subject to a tipping fee and we strongly encourage residents to take their tires elsewhere. We have a tipping fee on tires because it costs us to handle and transport them. When you pay an eco fee on tires, it goes to Tire Stewardship BC, a Provincial non-profit society established to ensure the collection and recycling of tires. The RDEK does not get any funding from that program; however, you can take 4 tires at a time (off rim) to Sparwood Kal Tire FREE OF CHARGE.
Reuse
There is also a Reuse Centre at the Sparwood Transfer Station, which accepts household items in good working condition. It's free to drop items off, and free to pick items up at the Reuse Centre. Some examples of things that can be taken to the Reuse Centre include:
- Chairs
- Furniture
- Books/Toys
- Light fixtures
- Pictures
- Small dishes
Items that CANNOT be accepted in the Reuse Centre include: large appliances, scrap metal, wood, clothing, automotive parts and mattresses.
Televisions should be taken to the Fernie Bottle Depot for recycling.
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