Resource Recovery Centre

Resource Recovery Centre

About the Resource Recovery Centre Project

The closure of the Marine Avenue Old Incinerator Site and the build out of a state-of-the-art Resource Recovery Centre and Transfer Station are key components in the region’s Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP). View the History of the Resource Recovery Centre report to learn more about the site reclamation and the development of the Resource Recovery Centre. The Resource Recovery Centre was made possible thanks to substantial grant funding through the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada. The Regional District was honoured to receive a UBCM Community Excellence Award in asset management for incorporating the use of natural asset solutions into the project and won a national Municipal Environmental Leadership & Sustainability Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA).

 

Hours

The Resource Recovery Centre is open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed statutory holidays.

 

Location
The site address is 4924 Marine Avenue, Powell River, B.C. To access the facility, please enter via Marine Avenue between Willingdon Beach Campground and Brooks Secondary School.

 

Recycling Services available at the Resource Recovery Centre:

Free drop-off of a wide range of recyclable and reusable materials, including:

Residential Packaging and Printed Paper

  • Paper, cardboard, plastic containers, metal cans, glass, white and coloured foam, and flexible plastic (Commercial and Industrial packaging is currently not accepted).

Small Appliances, Electric Outdoor Power Equipment, Exercise Machines

  • Electrical kitchen and personal care appliances, electric lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and drills, and treadmills, rowing machines, etc.

Batteries

  • Single-use and rechargeable batteries under 5kg and e-mobility batteries.

Lights and Fixtures
  • Fluorescent tubes, LED bulbs, incandescent bulbs, string lights, lamps.
Metal

  • Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals.

Tires

  • Passenger and commercial tires off rims (fees apply to tires on rims).

Marine Debris
  • Foam floats, ropes, oyster baskets, and netting.

Other disposal services at the Resource Recovery Centre:

Organics

  • Yard waste

  • Food waste

  • Commingled Food & Yard Waste

Note: Invasive plants and branches over 5cm in diameter cannot be included in Yard Waste or Commingled Food & Yard Waste.
Construction and Demolition Waste

  • General construction and renovation debris

  • Drywall, asbestos containing materials, and recyclable materials are not accepted.
Wood Waste
  • Clean wood
  • Contaminated wood
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

  • Disposal of residential and commercial waste that cannot be recycled or composted.
Costs

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Bag Rate:

  • $5.00 per bag (remains unchanged in 2026, with future 2% annual increases starting in 2027)

Mattress Disposal Fee:

  • $35.00 per unit (2025 and 2026)

Contamination Cleanup Fee:

  • $265.00 minimum for the first hour

  • $265.00 per hour for additional cleanup time
Minimum Fees by Weight (based on material):

  • Range from $5.00 to $10.00 depending on the material type and site

  • Minimum fees apply if total calculated weight-based fee is below this threshold
Site Rules and Procedures
Access and General Use

  • Only authorized materials may be deposited.

  • Materials must be sorted and deposited at designated collection points.

  • Loads must be free of contamination (e.g. recyclables in garbage, hazardous or prohibited items).

  • Loads containing dusty material must be securely bagged.

  • Vehicles must be secured (with tarp or tie-down) to prevent spillage during transport.

Weighing and Fees

  • All vehicles must be weighed in and out.

  • Fees are based on the weight difference or per item (e.g. bags, mattresses).

  • If weigh scales are unavailable:

    • Residential users pay minimum fees per material.

    • Commercial users pay based on historical averages or minimums, whichever is higher.

  • All fees must be paid before leaving, unless a credit account has been approved.

Salvaging and Scavenging

  • Permitted only within designated areas, at designated times, and with authorization from the Manager, Supervisor, or their designate.

  • Unauthorized scavenging is prohibited.

  • For more information, please contact environmentalservices@qathet.ca.
Children and Pets

  • Children under 13 are not permitted in high-risk areas unless under direct control of a parent or guardian.

  • Pets must remain inside vehicles where posted. Certified service animals are permitted under control of a handler.

Traffic and Parking

  • Users must obey all posted traffic signs.

  • Vehicles must not be left unattended overnight without approval.

  • Users must exit the site without delay after unloading.

Behaviour and Safety

  • Offensive behaviour is prohibited and may result in removal or banning from the site.

  • Users enter at their own risk; however, a formal liability waiver is now handled through signage instead of bylaw text.

  • Contaminated or improperly handled waste may result in a minimum $265 cleanup fee.

  • Please report all incidents to staff or email environmentalservices@qathet.ca.

 

Contacts

General Enquiries:

Scale House
4924 Marine Avenue
Powell River, BC  V8A 0W2
T: 604-413-6861

E: scalehouse@qathet.ca

Environmental Services Manager:

Jason Kouwenhoven, Manager of Environmental Services
qathet Regional District
#202 – 4675 Marine Avenue
Powell River, BC V8A 2L2

T. 604.485.2260

E: