What can't go in your blue cart
Some items can’t be recycled and should never go in your blue cart.
These materials injure our workers, get stuck in equipment, shut down the recycling sorting facility or spoil the quality of good recyclables.
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Use What Goes Where to find the proper recycling and disposal answers.
No. Keep these items out of your blue cart
No household garbage
- Black garbage bags and kitchen catcher bags
- Diapers and feminine hygiene products
- Personal hygiene items (wipes, dental floss, cotton swabs etc.)
- Household cleaning products (disposable cleaning pads, sponges etc.)
- Dryer lint and sheets
- Furnace filters
- Food scraps
- Needles and diabetic lancets
- Non-stretchy bags and wrappers (chip bags, candy wrappers etc.)
- Foam packaging
- Toothpaste and lotion tubes
No electronics or batteries
- Vapes or e-cigarettes
- Single-use or rechargeable batteries like AA, C, D, 9-volt, lithium-ion batteries etc.
- Battery containing devices like cell phones, e-readers, toys, headphones etc.
- Electronics like radios, stereos, speakers, projectors etc.
- Small appliances like toasters, blenders, kettles, vacuums, fans etc.
- Cords and chargers
No hazardous materials
If a container has a hazardous symbol (e.g. poison, flammable, explosive), bring it to a household hazardous waste drop-off location, even empty containers.
- Propane tanks and helium canisters
- Aerosol cans
- Bear spray
- Car batteries and motor oil
- Fluorescent light tubes
- Cleaning products and gardening chemicals
- Paint cans
No household goods
Household items in good condition can be donated to charity, given to family and friends, or sold online. Put broken and end-of-life items that can't be reused in the black cart as garbage.
- Cords and tanglers (garden hoses, extension cords, Christmas lights, rope etc.)
- Clothing and fabrics (reusable bags, clothing, backpacks, purses, shoes, pillows etc.)
- Curtain and shower rods, mops and brooms
- Toys, sports equipment, and inflatables
- Laundry baskets and large storage bins
- Patio furniture and tarps
- Tires and rubber items
- Decor and home goods (picture frames, mirrors, lamps, rugs etc.)
No construction materials
Put small amounts of construction material in your black cart (make sure lid can close) or take large quantities to a City Eco Centre (fees apply).
- Wood of any kind
- Carpet, underlay, rugs and flooring
- Blinds and curtains
- Vinyl siding
- Plastic and metal pipes
- Fencing and wire
Have other items to dispose?
Items for blue cart
View what items can go into your blue cart for recycling.
Items for black cart
View what items can go into your black cart for garbage.
Items for green cart
View what items can and can't go into your green cart for compost.