Blue Box Recycling Program

Recycle More Than Ever! You can now recycle more materials using your blue box.    In addition to the existing plastics, fibres, metals and glass that are collected, York Region will now accept:   Aluminum foil EMPTY metal paint cans EMPTY aerosol cans Gable top containers such as milk cartons Aseptic packaging including juice boxes All rigid plastic food and household cleaning product containers   To view our advertising campaign click here.  These ads were placed in local newspapers, on the back of buses and in restaurants, fitness clubs and golf clubs across the Region.

What Can Be Recycled?

What Not to Recycle

Plastic Bags and Plastic Film

Why are plastic bags and film not accepted?

York Region offers a co-mingled blue box system allowing residents to set their Blue Box recyclables at the curb unsorted, saving time and reducing collection costs for local municipalities.  The Blue Box materials are then processed through the Region's automated sorting equipment at our recycling facility.  Plastic bags and film can get caught in our equipment, resulting in the facility shutting down or the possible risk of fire.  Plastic film is also a source of contamination in the final sorted products.

Plastic bags caught in sorting screens for corrugated cardboard

How you can help:

• Set out your recyclables at the curb in your Blue Box.  For additional Blue Boxes please contact your local municipality.
• Use reusable bags or grocery bins at the grocery store to eliminate the use of plastic grocery bags when shopping.
• Grocery bags are returnable to many retailers in York Region.  Click here to learn more about York Regions Plastic Bag Take-Back Program.
• Remove the plastic sleeve from newspapers before recycling.  Place newspapers in the blue box and plastic sleeves in the garbage.
• Remove the plastic wrapping from water bottle and pop can cases.  Place the case in the Blue Box and the plastic wrapping in the garbage.

York Region's Plans for the Future

Shredded Paper

Why is shredded paper not accepted in the Blue Box program?

Shredded paper, either loose or in plastic bags, is very difficult for York Region's recycling facility to manage.  This facility is designed to sort the Region's recyclables mechanically by using specialized equipment that separates the materials by size, shape and weight.  Shredded paper is physically different in size to other Blue Box materials and the processing machines are not designed to handle this material.  Due to its light weight nature and physical shape, shredded paper ends up passing through the mechanical screens and is mixed with the broken glass.

Pile of mixed broken glass contaminated with shredded paper.

How you can help:

• Only a small portion of documents need to be shredded.  For example, bills and bank statements - only the name, address and account number needs to be shredded, not the entire page.
• To reduce shredding, tear off your personal information for shredding and place the rest of the page in your Blue Box.

• Shredded paper is compostable and can be placed in your backyard composter.
• Small amounts of shredded paper can be placed in your Green Bin.
  • Shredded paper in the Green Bin must be placed in plastic bags to prevent it from causing litter.  Plastic bags are permitted in the Green Bin program as this material is processed in a different manner.  The Green Bin material is composted and plastic bags are screened from the final product, while the Blue Box materials are mechanically sorted and separated into 12 different product lines.

• York Region's Waste Management Branch will be hosting special events this year where household shredded paper collected in clear plastic bags can be dropped off for recycling.
• For more information on dates and locations, click here.

York Region's Plans for the Future

Blue Box Collection

What Happens After Collection?

• Blue Box materials are picked up from the curb in residential areas and taken to the Region's Waste Management Centre.
• The trucks then dump the materials onto the tipping floor, where they are pushed onto a conveyor belt, which takes them to the first of three sorting rooms.
• Materials are then sorted manually (by hand) and also by mechanical equipment such as magnets, star screens and eddy current separators.  The result is separated paper fibres, glass, steel, plastic and aluminum containers and waste.
• The majority of separated materials are then baled (made into cubes to make it easier to transport), except certain materials like newspaper and glass, which are shipped loose.
• The materials are then stored awaiting shipment to various recycling markets.
• From this point, the recycled materials leave the Waste Management Centre to become new products for consumers.

Recycling Depots

Recycling Depot in Georgina

Recycling Depot in East Gwillimbury

Recycling Facts

• You can save enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours by recycling one glass bottle back into a new bottle.
• Recycled plastic can be used to make plastic lumber, which is said to hold nails and screws better than wood.  This durable material can last for approximately 20 years and is maintenance free.  Please check with your local building department before purchasing these recycled building materials.
• The amount of energy saved from using one tonne of recycled aluminum instead of new materials can be used to power the average home for about two years.
• The Canadian Pulp and Paper Association states that approximately 71% of the fibre used in making Canadian pulp and paper now comes from recycled fibres that used to go into landfills.
• A glass bottle that is not recycled and instead sent to a landfill would take about 1 million years to break down.
• Approximately 95% of Blue Box materials go on to be recycled into new products.  The reason why about 5% of the items put into the Blue Box are not recycled is because the materials are usually too contaminated with non-recyclable materials.  This shows how important it is to make sure your materials are clean and recyclable in the Region before placing them into the Blue Box.

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