Home / Environment / Binners Collect Thousands of Cups to Boost Recycling and Livelihoods
Binners Collect Thousands of Cups to Boost Recycling and Livelihoods
26 Oct
Summary
- Binners collect cans and bottles for deposit to earn wages and divert waste
- Binners' Project event pays people to bring in disposable coffee cups for recycling
- Over 12 years, the event has collected over 700,000 cups that would have ended up as trash
As of October 26th, 2025, binners—people who scour cities for redeemable materials—are emerging as an important part of the solution to divert more waste from landfills. The Binners' Project, a collective of waste pickers in Vancouver, has been leading efforts to improve economic opportunities and reduce stigma around their work.
Last month, the Binners' Project held its annual event where it handed out over $21,000 to people who brought in disposable, single-use coffee cups. Over the past 12 years, the event has amassed more than 700,000 cups that would have otherwise ended up as trash or litter. These cups can be placed in residential blue boxes for recycling, but often get discarded.
Waste pickers from across Canada and the U.S. attended the event, sharing best practices and advocating for policies that would enhance their work. They argue that if more items had a redeemable value, waste pickers would collect them before they reach landfills or become litter. The provincial government in British Columbia is currently exploring ways to expand its deposit system to include more materials, which could significantly support the livelihoods of binners and improve waste diversion.
