It sounds obvious, but where do you think that pizza boxes should go? If you said that they should go to the recycling bin because they are made of cardboard, you are wrong. Typically only the top half of the box – the part that’s not soiled with grease, cheese, or other food – can go into your curbside recycling bin. Rethink waste and improve your waste management skills.
Recycling in Canada, just like anywhere, can be complicated.
With so many different types of materials and recycling laws that from vary city-to-city and province-to-province, what can be recycled is not always clear. Use this article as a guide to help you out!
Did you know that in order to be recycled, an item must be clean? This is especially true of containers that once held food. For example, if a plastic peanut butter tub is about to be recycled, it needs to be thoroughly washed first. If not, that one plastic vessel has the potential to contaminate huge amounts of plastic that have been cleaned by other people— and all those plastics will then end up in a landfill rather than actually being recycled.
Additionally, Canada’s low recycling rate can be attributed to plastic waste “from offices, institutions or industries.” Large companies and institutions are less likely to adequately wash plastics while mixing non-recyclable items into recycling bins.
Nation-wide, this items are more difficult or can not be recycle:
- Each province has different regulations on whether or not lightweight, film plastics (like grocery and produce bags) can be recycled.
- Provinces also vary on if and how batteries and electronics are recycled.
- Foil chip bags and candy wrappers usually can not be recycled, but again, it depends on your municipality’s list of accepted items.
- Pizza boxes are not typically recyclable because they are often contaminated with food waste – yes, here they are! the pizza boxes!
Ok, but what can be recycled in Canada?
Mainly? You can recycle glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard, and some plastics!
Each province maintains its own rules as to what kinds of plastics are accepted, as well as if and what kind of electronics can be recycled. Some provinces also accept the recycling of materials such as paint, tires, and even oil.
Here you will find a list of what can be recycled in each Province:
How can you become better at recycling? Here we have some tips.
- Only recycle clean items!
- Correctly sort recyclables – Remember to separate your plastics from your glass and your cardboard, etc. Mixed items in recycling can also get things unintentionally sent to landfill.
- Share your knowledge, especially when you spot someone doing something wrong.
- Reduce and reuse before relying on recycling!
- If you can, shop in bulk and bring your own containers, reusable totes and produce bags.
Certified Green Cleaning Recycling Program
We have a Recycling Program in place for our plastic containers.
On a second order, we collect our empty plastic containers, reprocess them and then reuse them over and over again in new orders.
For free.
Our natural cleaning products are green, sustainable, and approved by Health Canada.
Certified Green Cleaning is environmentally and socially responsible. We protect the environment and develop our communities towards a better and brighter future.
Do you still have questions? Get in touch and we will be more than happy to answer them.