Think

Re

Frequently

Asked Questions

  • Some of our revenue comes from sale of commodities. We also manage service contracts for the Yukon Government such as the Recycling Club for Kidsand E-Waste Collection Depotand we operate a BCR Depot.

    We also operate businesses such as Papersave commercial paper pickup, Raven’s Reuseful and Raven Scrap Metals.

    Raven invests revenues gained from our businesses into improving recycling infrastructure, educating and advocating for better management of recycled materials, and providing reuse options within Yukon communities.

  • We get asked this question a lot. Recycling is a global industry and with global markets in a state of flux, the end-markets for Yukon’s recycled materials are a hot topic.

    Click here for a list of some of the items we process, and where they currently end up after you drop them off at Raven. As these end points depend on markets and demand, this list is subject to change.

    All our materials are shipped out via backhaul, filling up trucks that would otherwise go south empty.

  • In concert with the Government’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations coming into effect, Raven will be changing operations.

    As these changes come into effect, we will continue to work with the City of Whitehorse, Yukon Government and private partners to ensure the best possible transition of our territory’s recycling system.

    For more on this change and future operational plans, please read our latest news piece on the topic.

Where Does My

Recycling Go?

Glass

  • Unfortunately glass is hard to recycle given our location. Due to its abrasive nature and high weight, as well as our distance from glass recycling markets, we are unable to ship glass out of territory for recycling.

    In the past, crushed glass has been used for sandblasting, construction aggregate, landscaping material, and for products made by local businesses. When there is no local market for crushed glass, it was used as landfill cover to compact materials and help prevent windblown litter.

    But there is good news! We are working with Lumel Studios to develop a Yukon-based, value-added glass industry. We have purchased a furnace for recycled glass and will begin processing as of Sept 16th, 2024. The intention is to start small and then go big!

    >>Interested in partnering with us or have ideas for the end product? Get in touch!

    This is one of our favourite projects at the moment.

  • We will now begin processing non-refundable glass! This includes all glass containers that DID NOT hold a beverage when purchased (i.e. pickle jars, pasta jars, sauce bottles, and oil bottles). Just make sure that containers are clean and lids are removed, please.

    >>Check out our glass page for what is and is not accepted.

  • Refundable Glass (i.e. beer, wine, pop, milk, coffee-to-go bottles) will still be accepted at Raven. Any glass container that held a beverage can be brought to the depot for a refund.

    Domestic glass beer bottles (e.g. Budweiser, Canadian, Yukon Brewing and others) are shipped back to the brewers to be cleaned and refilled.

    All other refundable glass will be included in our glass recycling project with Lumel Studios. The deposit on refundable glass pays for collecting and processing the glass.

  • Raven will start processing glass immediately and is currently partnered with Lumel Studios, a local glass blowing studio in Whitehorse who will use the end product.

    In addition, Raven is seeking other partnerships and options for the processed material. Glass is an extremely useful material and can used for things beyond art. For example, it's an inexpensive, yet effective building material, so architects and developers should contact us.

    Of course, there are other uses out there, so we encourage the public to get in touch with their ideas!

Textile Products

  • Textiles are shipped to Trans-continental Textile Recycling Ltd.

    “Trans-Continental Textile Recycling Ltd (TCTR) is a British Columbia owned and operated company that has processed recycled textiles since 1990. Over fifteen years ago TCTR developed a locally based recycling programme that enables the public to recycle their unwanted clothing and, by doing so, help generate hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for local charities, schools, and non- profit organizations.”

    Raven chose to work with TCTR because their values align with ours. We have visited their site many times and are impressed with their dedication, creativity and equitable employment practices.

  • Raven’s textile program is run in partnership with the Whitehorse Firefighter’s Charitable Society. The WFCS approached Raven with the idea to combine forces and meet our individual and mutual objectives. We split the proceeds of textile sales and the diversion credits with the WFCS and they donate their proceeds to various charities. Our half keeps the program running! Please visit the WFCS here.

BATTERIES

  • Lead acid batteries are shipped to Metalex Products Ltd. in Richmond, which is owned by Davis Trading. Lead is re-smelted and sold for various purposes, the plastic is recycled and the acid is repurposed. Other materials are also extracted from the batteries for resale.

    On behalf of Metalex Products Ltd, Gabe Davis has this to say:

    “We are extremely proud of being the only family owned secondary lead smelter in the Pacific Northwest, providing the most environmentally sustainable methods to solving our societal recycling needs related to lead products. Our best in class operation includes systems and processes for recycling every component for end of life batteries, with minimal waste stream. This refined lead product is circulated back into the economy for the purpose of manufacturing new batteries, piping, ballasts, telecommunication cables, stain-glass windows, and the Canadian military and police.”

    Household batteries are sent to Call2Recycle, a producer organization leading the charge on responsible battery management across Canada.

  • Lead Acid Batteries - We will purchase your lead acid batteries. Generally, these are batteries from vehicles, but include any that have a Pb symbol (identifying them as lead). If you have numerous batteries, please secure them on a pallet, which will allow for timely offloading. We will pay 20% more on palletized batteries, if they are secure & do not need to be re-stacked. Batteries may be stacked on a pallet 3 layers high.

    Household batteries can be brought to the bottle depot.

Metals

  • Metal recycling is one of the most impactful forms of recycling in terms of GHG reduction and avoidance. Many metals are infinitely recyclable and we offer this service because, in theory, recycling metal reduces the need to mine for new material. It is hard to know if this is an actual outcome because human populations and infrastructure are ever changing but our community has voted yes by continuing to use our metal recycling services, and we are hopeful that we are contributing to an increasingly effective recycling system.

  • Aluminum is one of the most highly recyclable commodities we ship and one that results in the greatest greenhouse gas emissions avoidance. Beverage cans are remade into aluminum cans right here in North America.

    All of our non-ferrous metals are shipped to Davis Trading in B.C. We are happy to be working with a family-owned, forward-thinking company.

  • Ferrous metal is sent to General Recycling in Alberta.

E-Waste

  • E-waste is collected in cages and shipped to Quantum Lifecycle Partners LP (formerly Global Electric Electronic Recycling (GEEP)) in Edmonton, AB.

    Raven Recycling has had a close relationship with Quantum since 2009, and have visited their facility to ensure that our materials are being responsibly recycled. Quantum is registered with the Alberta Recycling Management Authority as an electronics processor.

    Materials sent are broken down into component parts. Plastics, metals, and glass are then shipped to various North American locations to be recycled or reused. The same goes for valuable materials such as copper, computer chips and precious metals.

  • Please see our list of accepted items here.

Have a question about a specific material? Get in touch!