"What Goes Where?" Blue Recycling Bag Tips

Plastic bags are not acceptable in the Blue Recycling Bag as they get caught in the equipment at the recycling facility. Reuse bags as liners for garbage cans or for pet waste.

Plastic wrap and overwrap are not recyclable. Please place these items in the Brown Garbage Cart or consider choosing products with less packaging.

Plastic wrappers from candy, chips, and chocolate are not recyclable. Please place these items in the Brown Garbage Cart. 

Plastic clamshells from berries and baked goods are not acceptable in the Blue Recycling Bag. It may be helpful to cut or stack clamshells when placing them in the Brown Garbage Cart. Or, consider choosing items in alternative packaging like cardboard cartons or paper bags.

Single use to-go drink cups and lids from coffee, smoothies, and fountain drinks are not recyclable and go in the Brown Garbage Cart. Instead, consider using a travel mug or bottle for beverages on the go.

Single serve cups and pouches from yogurt, pudding, and sauces go in the Brown Garbage Cart. These items are made with a mix of plastic and paper that cannot be recycled. Try buying yogurt and sauces in bulk and portioning them out in reusable containers. 

Coffee pods and stir sticks are not recyclable as they’re too small, and will fall between the equipment at the recycling facility. They cannot be made into something new, so please place these items into the Brown Garbage Cart. Coffee grounds can be emptied and placed into the Green Organics Cart.

Go strawless! Say “no thanks” to a straw when dining out. Straws are not recyclable and go in the Brown Garbage Cart.

Plastic utensils are not recyclable and go in the Brown Garbage Cart. Carry a reusable set of utensils in your backpack or purse for meals on the go, instead of using disposable plastic.

Styrofoam cups, food take out containers, plates, packing peanuts, memory foam, #7 items and dirty/soiled packaging are not acceptable for recycling. Please put these items in the Brown Garbage Cart. Certain types of soft foam, coloured foam, meat trays and clean white packing blocks can be recycled at the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot. Learn more at Styrofoam 101.  

Napkins, paper towels, tissues and tissue paper are not acceptable for recycling. Instead, they can go inside the Green Organics Cart to be composted.

Shredded paper is very messy and difficult to recycle. The pieces get stuck onto other recyclables, and get caught in the equipment at the recycling facility. Instead put shredded paper in your Green Organics Cart and it can be composted.

Spiral wound containers from tea, coffee, nuts, and crescent rolls are not acceptable in the Blue Recycling Bag. These items are made of mixed plastic and paper that cannot be recycled. Please place these items in the Brown Garbage Cart.

Glass bottles, jars, and containers are not acceptable in the Blue Recycling Bag. Glass is difficult to recycle as it can break at many points of the recycling journey. Anything broken cannot be recovered and must be sent to the landfill. Glass bottles and jars are accepted at the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot and can also be reused for crafts or home storage.

A 'handy' tip - you can recycle lids the size of your palm or larger. Anything smaller, such as bottle caps and pumps should be placed in the Brown Garbage Cart. These items are too small and will fall between the equipment at the recycling facility.

Non-deposit Tetra Pak containers, such as those from soup or broth, are not acceptable in the Blue Recycling Bag. Please place these items in the Brown Garbage Cart.

Not all plastics can be recycled. Items like plastic toys are not acceptable in the Blue Recycling Bag. Donate or share with others if reusable, or place these items in the garbage.

Household items like plastic toys, lawn chairs or laundry baskets are not acceptable in the Blue Recycling Bag. Dispose of large items through the City’s Seasonal Waste Programs, or place these items in the garbage.

CDs, DVDs, cassettes and VHS tapes are not recyclable. These items get caught in the equipment at the recycling facility and cannot be made into something new. Donate or share with others if reusable, or place these items in the Brown Garbage Cart.