What Can and Can’t Be Recycled? A Complete Guide to Reducing Waste

Recycling is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to reduce your household or business’s contribution to landfill waste — but with changing rules and confusing labels, it's not always easy to know what can and can’t go in the blue bin.

In this complete guide, we’ll help you sort it all out. Learn what materials are accepted, which ones should be kept out, and how to recycle properly in Ontario — so your good intentions don’t go to waste.

Why Recycling Right Matters

When non-recyclable materials are mixed into blue bins, entire batches of recyclables can become contaminated and sent to landfill. Worse, items like greasy pizza boxes, plastic bags, or broken glass can damage recycling equipment or pose safety risks to workers.

✅ Proper recycling means:

• Less landfill waste
• Lower waste management costs
• More materials reused into new products
• Cleaner, safer recycling streams

✅ What You Can Recycle in Ontario (Curbside Blue Bin)

Category	Items Accepted
Paper Products	Newspapers, magazines, office paper, envelopes, flyers, paper egg cartons
Cardboard	Clean boxes (flattened), cereal boxes, pizza boxes (no grease/stains)
Plastic Containers	Bottles, tubs, jugs, clamshells — #1, #2, #5 only
Metal Cans	Aluminum drink cans, steel food cans, clean foil
Glass Bottles & Jars	Clear, green, or brown glass (rinsed, no caps or lids)
Drink Containers	Milk cartons, juice boxes, tetra packs (rinsed and flattened)

💡 Always rinse containers before placing them in the bin to avoid contamination.

🚫 What Can’t Be Recycled (Put These in the Garbage)

Item	Why Not Accepted
Plastic bags & film wrap	Tangled in machinery — return to store drop-off if possible
Styrofoam & foam trays	Non-recyclable in most municipalities
Greasy pizza boxes	Oil-soaked cardboard contaminates paper recycling
Takeout coffee cups	Lined with plastic; not recyclable curbside
Chip bags & snack wrappers	Made from mixed materials that can’t be separated
Diapers & sanitary items	Health hazard and contamination risk
Broken glass or ceramics	Dangerous and non-processable in glass recycling streams

🗑 If in doubt, check your local recycling guide — tossing in the wrong item causes more harm than good.

♻️ How to Reduce Recycling Mistakes

✅ Empty and rinse all containers
✅ Flatten boxes and cartons to save space
✅ Keep items loose — never bag recyclables in plastic
✅ Look for the recycling triangle — and check your city’s approved numbers
✅ Separate special materials like batteries, paint cans, and electronics for proper disposal

What About E-Waste, Batteries, and Hazardous Materials?

These items don’t belong in your curbside bins, but they can still be recycled — with the right process:

🔌 E-Waste

Take to a local depot or electronics retailer (e.g., TVs, phones, laptops)

🔋 Batteries

Drop off at hardware stores, grocery stores, or city recycling depots

🧴 Paint, Chemicals, Cleaners

Bring to a hazardous waste depot — never pour down the drain or toss in the trash

🚗 Tires, Oil, Propane Tanks

Accepted at specialized locations — check your city’s waste calendar or website

Recycling Services We Offer:

✅ Curbside bin rentals for cleanouts and renovations
✅ Commercial recycling pickup for offices, stores & warehouses
✅ Junk removal with recycling sorting included
✅ E-waste pickup and drop-off coordination
✅ Zero-waste cleanout programs for events and businesses

👉 Book a Recycling-Friendly Waste Pickup

The more you recycle right, the less we waste — and the cleaner our future becomes. 🌍