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What can go in your blue cart

Your blue cart is for acceptable household paper, packaging and containers.

It is important to recycle the right things in your blue cart and community recycling depots, and properly prepare your materials.

When you put in items that don't belong, it can cause injuries to workers and costly shutdowns at our recycling sorting facility.

Not sure where to put an item? Check What Goes Where.​ You can also see our quick guide for what bags, containers and lids you can recycle​.

See the latest news about plastic clamshell recycling​.
Remember to:
  • Clean/rinse out recyclables
  • Put your recyclables in loose except for:
    • Bundled plastic bags
    • Bagged shredded paper
  • Keep all recyclables inside the blue cart
Print guides for Blue Carts:

Yes. Put these items into your blue cart

Bundled stretchy plastic bags and cling wrap

Bundle all stretchy plastic bags into a single plastic bag and tie closed before recycling. Acceptable bags include:

  • Grocery bags
  • Shopping bags
  • Sandwich/lunch bags
  • Resealable/Ziploc bags
  • Freezer bags
  • Bread bags
  • Dry cleaner bags
  • Plastic overwrap (wrapping on toilet or paper towel, water bottle cases)
  • Plastic film wrap (saran wrap)
  • Bubble wrap

Bag Tip:

  • If the plastic bag/wrap stretches (like a grocery bag) it's recyclable; if it does not stretch, is crinkly or tears (like a chip bag or cellophane), it's not recyclable.
  • Hang a bag off a hook/door handle and fill up with plastic bags as you finish using them. Once full, double-knot bag closed for recycling. Start over with a new bag to fill.
Plastic Bags YES  

Paper and cardboard

  • Cardboard boxes (cereal, pizza, tissue boxes, etc.)
  • Toilet and paper towel tubes
  • Catalogues, magazines and telephone books
  • Newspapers, flyers and brochures
  • Letters and envelopes (remove plastic window)
  • Paper coffee cups and fountain pop cups (no lid)
  • Greeting cards
  • Non-foil paper gift wrap
  • Paper bags
  • Soup and beverage cartons (e.g.Tetra Pak® packages)
  • Milk cartons and juice boxes
  • Shredded paper (in a see-through bag and tied closed)
  • Paperback and hardcover books (separate hardcovers from pages)
Paper and Cardboard YES  

Plastic containers with recycling symbol 1-7

Your blue cart is for plastic containers – if your plastic item is not a container, do not recycle.

  • Milk jugs
  • Yogurt tubs
  • Pop bottles
  • Takeout containers
  • Laundry detergent container
  • Body lotion containers (no tubes)
  • Beverage and juice bottles
  • Mouthwash bottles
  • Shampoo and conditioner bottles (no hand pumps)
  • Molded plastic packaging
    • A plastic holder with a cardboard backing – separate each item for recycling
    • Clamshell packaging
    • Divided food trays like cookie trays or party trays
Plastic Containers YES  

Tin food cans and tin foil

  • Tin food cans
  • Clean tin foil (crumple up)
  • Foil take out containers and pie plates
  • Tin containers (e.g. cookie tins)
  • Pop cans
Tin items YES  

Glass food containers

  • Clean glass jars and bottles
Glass  

Lids and caps – separate from container

  • Metal lids must be larger than 5 cm (two inches) in diameter
  • Plastic lids must be larger than 7.5 cm (three inches) in diameter
Lids tip: if the lid is about the size of the palm of your hand, it's ok to recycle. Please note that all coffee cup lids belong in the garbage. They are too light to be sorted properly at the recycling facility.
Lids  
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