Once a week, Burnaby residents haul blue boxes filled with plastic bottles, glass containers and tin cans out to the curb.

And once a week, they cart yellow and blue bags full of newspaper and cardboard out as well.

But what about electronics, fluorescent light bulbs and batteries, which are not picked up for recycling by the city?

There are options for getting rid of these items safely.

The provincial government introduced an electronics recycling program in August 2007. Depots accept desktop computers, printers, monitors, televisions, computer periphery and laptop computers.

Residents and businesses can drop off equipment without charge at three locations in Burnaby.

Lee's Bottle Depot at 7385 Buller Ave. accepts electronics Monday through Sunday.

Regional Recycling Burnaby, at 12A 2350 Beta Ave., accepts electronics, except for televisions, Monday through Sunday as well.

The Salvation Army thrift store at 5665 Kingsway accepts electronics from Monday to Saturday but is closed on Sunday.

The provincial take-back program - officially known as product stewardship under the environmental protection division - includes tires, pharmaceuticals, car and rechargeable batteries, and used oil, as well as electronics, at depots throughout the Lower Mainland.

Various private companies around Burnaby collect batteries for safe recycling. Edmonds Batteries at 7471 Edmonds St. accepts household and specialty batteries, including UPS, as well as fluorescent tube lights and compact fluorescent lamps.

Future Shop at Station Square at Metrotown recycles alkaline and rechargeable batteries, cellphones, CD players, CDs and DVDs, portable DVD players and ink cartridges.

Best Buy at Metropolis at Metrotown accepts MP3 players, cellphones, portable DVD players, portable CD players, batteries, ink cartridges, CDs, DVDs and gift cards for recycling.

During the store's trade-in event, which runs till April 29, Best Buy also accepts TVs, remote controls, laptops, desktop computers, cameras, camcorders, telephones, microwaves, monitors and head phones.

Look for the Greentec drop-off bin at Best Buy stores.

London Drugs' green deal recycling program accepts cellphones, PDAs, rechargeable batteries, alkaline batteries, disposable cameras, ink jet cartridges, laser cartridges, metal film canisters, electronic goods, small appliances that have been purchased at London Drugs, compact fluorescent bulbs and fluorescent light tubes.

London Drugs also accepts packaging from products bought in the store. As long as you have the receipt, you can bring cardboard, plastic, plastic wrap and even Styrofoam back to the customer service counter.

There are four London Drugs in Burnaby - at Brentwood Town Centre, Lougheed Town Centre, 4970 Kingsway, and 7280 Market Crossing.

Simon Fraser University's public interest research group also accepts drop-offs at its reception in the rotunda, in the container outside of TC 326 from Monday to Friday. The program accepts cell phones, batteries and toner cartridges. Clothing, books and small household items are also accepted for the free shelf.

Other organizations throughout Burnaby offer many opportunities to recycle all those things you don't want to toss in the dumpster.

For more information, check the Recycling Council of B.C.'s Recyclepedia for drop-off locations: www.rcbc.bc.ca.