Blue Box Program

List of Acceptable Recycling Products

The “Recycling Processing Centre”, which processes the City of Timmins recycling materials has informed the City that there is a large amount of contamination in the recycling. The Environmental Services and Public Utilities, Waste Management Department will be conducting audits of the Blue Carts throughout the City in order to examine quantities, and better inform residents on what can be placed in the Blue Cart.

1. Clear and colored glass containers:

  • Include glass bottles and/or jars.
  • Do not include dishes, crystal or light bulbs.

2. Metal containers and empty dry paint cans:

  • Push lids down inside containers. Remove plastic or aluminum lids or seals.

3. Empty aerosol containers:

  • Include shaving cream, hairspray, and air freshener containers.

4. Aluminum containers:

  • Include soda cans, plates, foil & trays.

5. Plastic containers:

  • Include items with the following recycling symbols: 1, 2 , 4 and 5

6. Polystyrene foam:

  • Items must have the recycle 6 symbol.
  • Do not include any dirty foam.

7. Polycoat containers:

  • Include juice, milk and cream cartons.

8. Aseptic containers:

  • Include packaged milk, juice, soy beverages, sauces, soup broth and liquid meal replacements.

9. Household papers:

  • Include newspapers, phonebooks, flyers, etc.

10. Cardboard and boxboard:

  • No waxed cardboard.
  • Remove any plastic, foil, residue, inserts, and liner bags.

Recycling Problems:

  • Waste material is being placed in the blue recycling carts. (This includes wood, grass clippings, and construction material).
  • Garbage bags are being placed in the blue recycling carts.

Non-Recyclable Material List

  • Clothes/ clothing of any kind is not recyclable - To dispose of such please contact a charitable organization
  • Colored bags in recycling - such as green, black, orange
  • Construction material such as wood, metal ect..
  • Yard Waste such as grass clippings, leaves, branches
  • Animal waste
  • Blueprints/carbon paper
  • Soiled Pizza boxes and soiled cardboard (e.g. grease, mold, paint cluttered cardboard)
  • Aerosol cans (spray paint, bug spray, etc.) and other hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, pesticides) full aerosol cans are not acceptable, should be disposed of at our annual Hazardous Waste Day.

Empty aerosol cans are acceptable

  • Drinking glasses, ceramics, crystal, mirrors, window glass, light bulbs
  • Batteries - Batteries can be disposed at several of our municipal locations such as 912 Pine Street South, Public Library, Landfill (gatehouse) and City Hall.
  • Wax paper, soiled paper, soiled napkins and paper towels, pet food bags, dryer sheets.

Definitions

SOILED: to make unclean, dirty, or filthy, especially on the surface, a spot, mark or strain, dirty. If enough soiled material makes its way into a recycling container the load is considered to be contaminated and will be discarded and sent to the landfill. Taking a few moments to make sure material is unsoiled and dry ensures that all material will be able to be recycled.

Construction Material: metal pipes, wood 2×4, shingles, flooring, carpets, ceramics and drywall.

More Tips

Keep materials loose inside your recycling cart. When materials are put into other bags or inside other plastic they cannot be sorted properly and are usually thrown away.

Any type of plastic that has NO number for recycling (e.g. Trash bags, Ziplock bags, inside of cereal box plastic, bubble wrap, clear plastic wrap, some department store bags, potato chip bags, single cheese wrappers, 6-pack plastic and candy wrappers.) Soiled plastic bottles and bags.

Charitable organization; there are many charitable organizations in the area that will take used clothing.

Break down boxes, as well rinse out all food containers.

Helpful Hints:

  • Do not bag recycling products when placing them into your blue recycling cart.
  • Break down Styrofoam and flatten cardboard and box board.
  • Place the carts 2 feet apart.
  • Place the 2 carts facing the street.
  • Place the carts 3 feet away from any obstructions.

Correct bin placement