What Goes in Recycling?
Yes
Beverage and food containers
Rinse clean and recycle
- Plastic bottles and jugs (lids on)
- Milk/juice cartons and boxes (put plastic tops and straws in garbage)
- Glass bottles and jars (put lids in garbage)
- Aluminum cans
- Plastic food jars, tubs and lids (e.g. margarine, yogurt, ice cream, sour cream containers)
- Metal cans (place lid inside can and pinch closed)
- Cardboard cans (e.g. frozen juice, refrigerated dough, chips, nuts, powdered drink mix – put plastic pull-off strips in garbage; place metal ends inside cardboard can and pinch closed)
- Aluminum trays, pie plates and roasting pans
Home and personal product containers
Rinse clean and recycle
- Plastic bottles (lids and sprayers on)
- Aerosol cans (empty; put caps in garbage)
- Metal paint cans & lids (separate lids from cans)
Foam polystyrene and plastic retail shopping bags
Rinse clean and recycle
- Food and protective packaging (e.g. drinking cups, egg cartons, meat trays, takeout food containers, electronics packaging)
- Plastic retail shopping bags without drawstrings, metal detailing or hard plastic handles (remove receipts: place all plastic bags in one retail or grocery plastic bag and and tie handles together)
Paper
Not contaminated with food or chemicals
- Bags, rolls, junk mail, writing/computer paper, envelopes, window envelopes
- Shredded paper (put in clear plastic bag and tie closed)
- Gift wrap, cards (no ribbons, bows, foil wrap)
- Newspapers, flyers, telephone directories, magazines, catalogues, soft/ hardcover books (remove plastic covers, liners, over-wrap and put in garbage)
- Boxboard boxes (e.g. cereal, tissue, detergent, egg cartons – flatten; remove liners, plastic windows and put in garbage)
- Corrugated cardboard (clean, unwaxed, flattened; pizza boxes must be empty; remove plastic over-wrap from pop/water cases and put in garbage)
No
"Top Bin Sins"
(food item goes in Green Bin, wrap goes in garbage)
- Propane cylinders
- Clear plastic food containers, drinking cups
- Plastic blister packs
- Medical waste
- Tools, scrap metal
- Toys
- Clothes, shoes, carpets, curtains, bedding
- Small appliances, electronics
- Cassettes, CDs & DVDs
- Batteries
- Plastic pails, plastic paint pails (with or without metal handles)
- Binders (e.g. three ring)
Other items that don’t go in the Blue Bin
- Dryer sheets, baby wipes, make-up pads, cotton tipped swabs, dental floss
- Hair, pet fur, feathers, wax, wood pieces, cigarette butts, wine corks, vacuum bags/ contents, fireplace and BBQ ashes
- Hazardous waste: propane/helium tanks & cylinders, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs (Must not be put in recycling or garbage; take to Drop-off Depot.)
- Plastic: make-up jars, caulking tubes, food storage containers, motor oil jugs, plant trays, flower pots, plates, glasses, cutlery, packing peanuts
- Plastic (clear): fruit and vegetable containers, takeout food containers, moulded bakery item trays
- Plastic (bags/wrap): plastic over-wrap (on pop cartons, water bottles, toilet paper), bags holding flyers, dry cleaning, milk (outer and inner), produce, bread, sandwich and plastic food wrap
- Glass: drinking glasses, dishes, cups, crystal, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors, pottery, pots, pans
- Metal: scrap metal, coat hangers, pots, pans, small appliances
- Aluminum: foil food wrap, potato chip bags, metallic gift wrap
- Other paper products: waxed cardboard, waxed paper. Note: Soiled tissues and napkins go in the Green Bin.
- Wood: pieces, flooring, crates for fruit
Note: Some of these items can be recycled at a Drop-off Depot or Community Environment Days.
Household Hazardous Waste
Proper disposal of items like propane tanks, batteries, pesticides, oil, etc. means taking these items to a Drop-off Depot. These types of items must never be put in recycling or garbage. View site.
Drop-off Depots
Addresses, hours, map locators and acceptable items. View site.
Note: The Toxic Taxi provides free pick-up of 10 to 50 litres of HHW materials from Toronto residents. To book an appointment: e-mail 311@toronto.ca or call 311.