Here’s what’s happening in the first phase of our customer drop-off recycling reopening.

Customers used to the convenience of dropping off some recycling while shopping at their local London Drugs will be pleased to know we are resuming these services, though with some key differences.

“Customers will once again be able to responsibly recycle many items that are difficult to recycle anywhere else,” says Raman Johal, London Drugs Retail Operations Sustainability Specialist. “In this first phase we are limiting items accepted to those originally purchased at our stores, with some exceptions. (BC beverage containers, BC soft plastics, BC flexible plastics, and BC Styrofoam) We are also restricting the quantities of each customer’s daily recycling, and stores may have to temporarily stop accepting materials from time to time.”

These changes come as the London Drugs teams work to ensure the safety and wellness of our store environment, staff and customers.

Customers can recycle the following items (with quantity limits below) originally purchased at London Drugs:

• Soft plastics – Plastic bags, shopping bags, etc.
• Styrofoam
• Beverage containers
• Electronics
• Appliances
• Ink and toner
• Batteries
• Light bulbs
• Smoke alarms
• BRITA filters
• Medications
• Flexible plastics* – Chip bags, candy bar wrappers, Ziploc bags, etc. (*BC only)

Recycling Quantity Limits (per person per day):

• Plastics and Styrofoam – 1 grocery size bag of each
• Beverage containers – 24 containers
• Electronics and Appliances – 1 large item or 3 smaller items
• Batteries – 1 Ziploc or similar size bag
• Light bulbs – Several light bulbs
• Smoke alarms – Several alarms
• BRITA filters – Several filters
• Medications – 1 Ziploc or similar size bag

For a complete list of items accepted, quantity limits and restrictions visit: www.greendeal.ca/recycling.

Recycling Restrictions Explained

““We know our customers have been collecting hard-to-recycle packaging and items at home over the past few months, but we have to avoid a huge overload of material as we start this phased reopening,” Johal continues, “To help manage the flood of recycling expected, stores will pause accepting drop-offs from customers once levels have reached capacity, until the recycling is picked up – the exception to this being beverage containers, which will continue to be accepted.”

Focusing on London Drugs purchased items is another way to manage our resources effectively.

“It is not fair to our staff for London Drugs to become a major recycling spot for the cardboard, packaging and items generated by other retailers,” says Johal, “We hope our customers will understand, and help us encourage other retailers, online and in-store, to take as much responsibility for their waste as we do for ours.”

Neatfreak Bins and Shelf shown, with London Drugs Compost Container.

Three Steps to Recycling Success

1. Prepare Your Recyclables – Sort by category and with limits in mind. Rinse all containers, put batteries and light bulbs into zip-top bags and make sure everything is tidy.
2. Have a Back-up Plan – If one of your items turns out to be a non-London Drugs purchase, or your store has had to pause their drop-off services, know where your local Recycling Depot is and take your materials there.
3. Be Kind – We really appreciate the efforts that YOU, our customers, make to bring in your recyclables. Please understand that recycling is not an easy job, and our retail staff is doing their best under these new circumstances.

So get your recyclables ready, and help us successfully restart our take-back program.

With the help of customers and staff, in 2019 London Drugs achieved an impressive overall 93% waste diversion rate, with more than 12 million pounds of waste diverted from city landfills across Western Canada.

If we all work together, we can get our recycling back up to speed faster and better.