Thorsen Creek Waste and Recycling Centre (TCWRC)
Hours of Operation
Wednesday 8:30am – 5:30pm
Saturday 8:30am – 5:30pm
Contact: 250-799-5291 Tues. – Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for general information or email info@ccrd.ca
TCWRC is located at the end of Thorsen Creek Road, approximately 6 km east of Bella Coola. The TCWRC offers a wide range of free recycling services, as well as a transfer station for household garbage, construction and demolition debris, yard waste, appliances and metals. Thorsen Creek Landfill is located adjacent to the transfer station and can be accessed by commercial haulers. A transfer station attendant is on-site during hours of operation and can help answer questions and direct the sorting of waste. All customers are to report to the Attendant for any non-household garbage.
Facilities and Programs
Construction and demolition debris, large items (mattresses, furniture etc.) yard waste, metals and appliances are accepted at the TCWRC and subject to tipping fees. Household garbage contained in black garbage bags can be disposed of free of charge until January 1, 2026.
Disposal of items such as vehicles, boats, trailers, asbestos waste, and treated poles/pilings are subject to CCRD approval and must be arranged ahead of time through the CCRD office or landfill attendant.
Important Information
The following items are now PROHIBITED from entering the landfill.
Items must be separated from household and commercial garbage, and taken to the correct recycling or disposal area.
- Cardboard
- Batteries
- Oil and Antifreeze
- Larger Metals
- Wood and Yard Waste
- Appliances and Electronics
- Liquid Wastes
- Waste containing Asbestos
- Biomedical & Radioactive Wastes
- Paint and Paint Cans
- Used Oil or Antifreeze
- Tires
- Propane Tanks (or Other Pressurized Vessels)
- Fishing nets
- Cable
- Cooking Oil
Prior to disposal, we require doors to be removed from all fridges and freezers.
Prior to vehicle disposal, we require verification from a licensed inspection facility that all fluids, batteries, and tires have been removed.
Recycling Information
Thorsen Creek Recycling Depot accepts more than 30 different categories of items for recycling and is a drop off facility for most provincial Product Stewardship Programs.
Our Recycling Depot is staffed by a friendly recycling attendant who is available to assist customers.
All recyclables are shipped to the lower mainland for processing. We currently ship approximately one (1) semi-trailer load per month.
Ready-to-drink beverage containers can be recycled three ways:
- Return to the local Return-It Depot for a refund.
- Donate to local community organizations.
- Include with other recyclable containers at the Thorsen Creek Recycling Centre. NO Deposit Refund.
Below is a list of recyclables accepted for free at our depot. Please note that rims must be removed from tires, or a $5.00 charge will be applied for each rim. Commercial-size tires are not part of the free recycling program and are subject to a charge based on size.
Free Recycling Services
All Items Should Be Clean and Sorted
Residential Cardboard
Paper (plain or coloured) - Residential only
- Newspaper
- Magazines
- Catalogues
- Phone books
- Envelopes
- Flyers
- Junk mail
- Household paper
Box Board - Residential only
- egg cartons
- cereal boxes
- Kleenex boxes, etc
Cartons & Paper Cups – Residential only
- Milk cartons
- Ice cream containers
- Cardboard containers that had liquids in them
Plastic Containers – Residential only
- Milk jugs
- Juice jugs
- Detergent jugs
- Shampoo containers
- Yogurt containers
Glass containers – Residential only
Metal Containers
- Soup cans
- Dog and cat food cans
Film Plastics
- Plastic overwrap from furniture etc.
- Plastic bags from stores, bread bags etc.
Styrofoam (white or coloured) ‐ Residential only
Electronic Goods (TV’s, stereos)
- All electric devices (plug‐in or battery operated)
- Electronic toys
Automotive Batteries
Industrial and Marine Batteries
Rechargeable Household Batteries
Non‐rechargeable Household Batteries
Non‐Ferrous Metals (aluminum , copper, brass, lead and zinc)
Computers & Monitors
Flammables (must be in approved containers)
- Liquids only
- Paint thinners
- Other solvents
- Camp fuels
- Liquid adhesives with flammable symbol
- Other flammables or solvents that have the flame symbol or wording similar to “keep away from open spark or flame”
Aerosol cans
All returnable Ready to Drink Beverage Containers, with deposit. (NO Deposit Refund)
- Glass (eg. wine & beer bottles)
- Tetrapaks (eg. juice containers
- Plastic or aluminum beverage containers
- Milk cartons
- Milk jugs
- Juice jugs
Small Appliances
- Microwaves
- Toasters
- Coffee makers
Household Paint & Paint cans
Household Herbicides & Pesticides
Look for skull & crossbones and Pest Control Product Number (PCP)
Gasoline in approved ULC containers only
Oil, filters, containers etc.
Antifreeze
- Antifreeze jugs
Light truck & car tires
Thermostats
Smoke detectors
Fluorescent/CFC bulbs
Light fixtures
Solid Waste and Recycling
In British Columbia, regional districts develop solid waste management plans under the provincial Environmental Management Act. These plans are long term visions of how each regional district would like to manage its solid wastes in accordance with the pollution prevention hierarchy. This plan will be renewed on a 10-year cycle to ensure that it reflects the current needs of the Central Coast Regional District (CCRD) as well as current market conditions, technologies and regulations.
The CCRD submitted their first solid waste management plan to the Province for approval in 1996. This plan was not approved due to concerns regarding plan financing. Consequently the CRRD revisited the planning process and prepared a revised plan which the Province approved in 2004. The history of the planning process is discussed further in section 2.2.
This draft document represents an update of the CCRD’s solid waste management plan and once approved by the Province (along with any approval conditions), becomes a regulatory document for solid waste management and serves to guide the solid waste management related activities and policy development in the CCRD. In conjunction with regulations and operational certificates that may apply, this plan regulates the operation of sites and facilities that make up the region’s waste management system (seeSection2.3).
The CCRD Board of Directors approved the Solid Waste Management Plan in open public meeting on March 9, 2017. It has been submitted to the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy for review and finalization.