The recyclables that you separate from your trash will depend on the services
provided in your community. The following is general list of recyclables
and how to prepare them for pick-up.
Glass Bottles & Jars
remove caps and lids
rinse
remove labels
separate into clear, brown and green
do not include window, mirror, drinking or frosted glass; pyrex, ceramics,
light bulbs or any other non container glass as these products have different
chemical compositions and are not compatable.
Tin Cans
rinse
remove labels
crushing the can is optional - though it does save on transportation costs.
Please check with your recycler as some require the can to be uncrushed
for identification purposes.
most tin cans are easy to spot, because most have a seam down the side
of the can and they are heavier than aluminum cans. If you're not sure
- test with a magnet : tin cans are made of steel and are magnetic, aluminum
is not.
Newspapers
include only newspapers and non glossy flyers - no tabloids
keep dry and out of the sun as the sun and moisture will cause the decomposition
of the fibres and make recycling impossible
Plastics
rinse
remove all non-plastic labels and parts
separate plastic film and bags from rigid containers before you drop them
off or leave for collection - return whenever possible
avoid over-packaged products
Cardboard
corrugated cardboard only
flatten
remove tape and staples
omit cardboard which is waxed or contaminated with food waste.
Mixed Paper
include flyers, magazines, glossy papers, catalogues, phone books, paper
boxboard ( cereal boxes, shoe boxes ), junk mail writing paper, office
paper, envelopes, paper bags and egg cartons
omit plasticized and waxed papers, paper contaminated with food waste,
and plastics such as envelope windows
Ledger Paper
include only bond paper, photocopy paper, computer paper, computer cards,
index cards, plain white envelopes ( with water soluble glue ), manila
folders, coloured bond
omit stickers, "post it" notes, tape, elastic
staples are okay - they get separated out with magnetic separators
Aluminum
clean aluminum foil, trays, pie plates
lawn furniture frames - remove webbing and steel screws
aluminum cookware
use a magnet to distinguish between aluminum and steel parts - the magnet
will stick to the steel
Other Metals
steel coat hangers, bycicle frames, copper tubing, brass, motors, steel
piping, lead piping, etc.
White Goods
refrigerators, freezers, stoves, water tanks, washers and dryers
take to depot or arrange for pick up
Returnable Beverage Containers
empty of all liquid
return pop and beer cans and bottles to their place of purpose or to a
bottle depot for refund
Used Motor Oil
collect in a closed, unbreakable container
take to service station which accepts used oil
Home Compost
include fruit and vegetable peelings, grass clippings, leaves, fireplace
ashes, wood shavings, floor sweepings, egg shells
do not include fats or cooked foods - they will attract pests
Clothing
clean clothing in good repair can be reused and distibuted through charitable
organizations or sold at secon hand stores
textile recyclers may accept large quantities of non-wearable clothing
fabric
