What can you recycle? - an update

Here is a recent update from the ECO school web site regarding the city of Toronto.

What can you recycle?

The City of Toronto now accepts recyclables mixed together (i.e., bottles and cans mixed in with paper products). However, TDSB schools may choose to continue separating containers from paper products if that is preferable. Check with your caretaker before making any changes!

The following is a detailed list of what can and cannot be recycled*. For a summary and a simple way to inform the school population, order our “We Recycle” posters and labels from ecoschools.ca>order form. Or download them from ecoschool.ca>toolkit.

You can recycle the following containers:

Metal food and beverage cans. Put lids inside can and pinch closed.

Plastic bottles and jugs with lids securely fastened.

Milk/drink cartons. Remove and discard straws.

Drink boxes. Remove and discard straws.

Plastic food jars, tubs, and lids such as margarine, yoghurt, ice cream, cottage cheese, and sour cream containers.

Glass bottles and jars. Remove and discard lids.

Cardboard “cans” such as frozen juice, chip, nut, refrigerated dough, powdered drink mix, and powdered cleanser containers. Put loose metal end inside cardboard can and pinch closed. Discard plastic pull-off strip and/or peel-off seal.

Aluminum rigid trays and pie plates.

Empty aerosol cans. Remove and discard lids.

Empty paint cans and lids. Lids must be separated from the can.

Plastic grocery and retail bags without drawstrings, metal, and/or hard plastic handles. Remove receipts and place all plastic bags in one grocery or retail bag and tie handles together.

Foam polystyrene including protective packaging, foam coffee cups, foam plates, foam takeout food containers, foam egg cartons, and foam meat trays. Remove all food remains.

You can recycle the following paper products:

Classroom/office/household paper. Includes writing paper, computer paper, newspapers, envelopes, flyers, and junk mail.

Magazines, catalogues, and books. Includes hard and soft covered books.

“Boxboard” boxes such as tissue, cereal, cracker, and detergent boxes. Remove liners and plastic windows, and flatten boxes.

Corrugated cardboard/pizza boxes. Remove foam packing blocks and food scraps. Must be unwaxed and flattened.

Paper egg cartons, rolls and bags.

Paper gift wrap and cards. Remove ribbons and bows.

You cannot recycle:

Plastic: non-grocery and retail bags including dry cleaning, milk (outer and inner), bread, produce and sandwich bags, fruit and vegetable containers, food storage containers, molded bakery item trays, clear egg cartons, plant trays, flower pots, toys, make-up jars, caulking tubes, pails with metal handles, and motor oil jugs.

Fibres: tissues, paper towels, paper napkins, waxed paper, foil gift wrap, waxed cardboard.

Aluminum: foil wrap and bags (e.g., potato chip bags).

Glass: drinking glasses, dishes, cups, crystal, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors, pottery, pots and pans, make-up jars.

Metal: coat hangers, pots, and batteries.

Note: Some of these items can be recycled at a City of Toronto Drop-off Depot or a Community Environment Day event (May-October). For more information, visit http://www.toronto.ca/environment_days/index.htm






Last updated: December 2008

* adapted from City of Toronto information: http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/publications.htm#cards