Recycling

Today we will talk about recycling.  Recycling is an important way to keep trash out of the landfills.

:)

Melissa

What Goes in Recycling?

Beverage and food containers

Rinse clean and recycle

• Clamshell containers (hinged, clear plastic containers used for food items such as berries and take-out)
• Clear fruit and vegetable containers
• Clear take-out food containers
• Clear molded bakery item trays, egg cartons
• Disposable plastic plates and glasses
• Cold beverage cups/lids
• 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 metal lid inside can and pinch closed - if lid is plastic, recycle loose)
• 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, burner liners, pie plates and roasting pans

Home and personal product containers

Rinse clean and recycle

• Plastic bottles (lids and sprayers screwed on tight)
• Plastic kitty litter tubs with plastic handles
• Plastic laundry detergent tubs and lids

• Aerosol cans (empty; put caps in garbage)
• Metal paint cans & lids (empty, separate lids from cans)
• Clear compact disk cases (empty)

Foam polystyrene and plastic retail shopping bags

Rinse clean and recycle

• Foam food and protective packaging (e.g. drinking cups, egg cartons, meat trays, takeout food containers, electronics packaging)

• Plastic grocery and 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"

• Propane/helium cylinders and tanks
• Medical waste (needles, plastic catheter bags/tubes)
• Squeeze tubes for home and personal products (hair, body, etc.)
• Tools, scrap metal, auto parts
• Toys
• Clothes, shoes, carpets, curtains, bedding

• Small appliances, electronics
• Cassettes, CDs, DVDs
• Batteries, car batteries
• Plastic paint pails (all sizes, with or without metal handles)
• Plastic pails (with metal handles)
• Black plastic plant pots and trays (other colours can be recycled)
• Binders (e.g. three ring), clipboards

 

Other items that don’t go in the Blue Bin

• Hazardous waste: propane/helium tanks & cylinders, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs (Must not be put in recycling or garbage; take to Drop-off Depot.)
• Medical waste: needles are hazardous waste (Must not be put in garbage; take to Drop-off Depot.). Plastic catheter/colostomy bags and tubes are garbage.
• 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
• Plastic: caulking tubes, food storage containers, motor oil jugs, black plant trays, black flower pots, non-disposable plates and drinking glasses, packing peanuts, binders

• 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, binders
• 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