Recycling and Blue Box

Everything placed in the blue box needs to be loose (not in bags or inside other containers) and empty, clean and free of food.

Here are some common items that are accepted in the blue box. 

• Aerosol cans (empty, lids separate)
• Aluminum foil, trays and plates
• Boxboard (cereal, cracker, tissue boxes)
• Cardboard boxes
• Egg cartons
• Glass bottles and jars (lids separate)
• Metal food and beverage cans
• Metal paint cans (empty, dry, lids separate)
• Milk and juice cartons, juice boxes (no straws)
• Newspaper, household paper and envelopes
• 100% paper cups (with no plastic or wax coating)
• Paper-based cans (frozen juice, cookie dough containers, coffee cans, chip cylinders – lids separate)
• Plastic bottles, drink containers (no straws), jars and jugs (used for food or beverage)
• Plastic food tubs (yogurt, margarine, sour cream, cottage cheese, or ice cream containers)
• Plastic pails or bottles less than five litres in size (laundry soap bottles, dish soap containers)
• Plastic, rigid, clear containers/clamshells (no foam packaging)

NOTE: All containers must be empty and clean, free of food or any other residue. Cardboard and boxboard must be flattened and bundled.

For information about specific items, use Bindicator

Anything not found on the accepted list is considered contamination when it goes into the blue box. This includes plastic bags, like grocery/retail bags or plastic bags full of recyclables or newspapers still in their plastic sleeve. Other items that should not go in your blue box include foam packaging like Styrofoam, black plastic, take-out cups and any food left in containers. 

Items not accepted in the blue box include:

• Plastic bags of any kind (refer to Bindicator for plastic take-back options)
• Black plastic (including black plastic take-out containers)
• Batteries (do not put in garbage, refer to Bindicator for safe drop-off locations)
• Clothing, linens, shoes, towels and other textiles (take reusable items to a donation centre)
• Coat hangers, mirrors, window glass and light bulbs
• Coffee pods
• Cookie bags and potato chip bags
• Drinking glasses, cups, dishes, pots, pans and utensils
• Drink pouches, food wrappers
• Facial tissue, paper towels (these go in the green bin)
• Flat take-out cup lids
• Food-soiled paper, like dirty paper plates and pizza boxes)
• Furnace filters
• Large foam packaging often used to protect electronics
• Foam dishware, like take-out bowls, cups and plates and meat trays (these go in the garbage)
• Household hazardous waste like cleaners, compact fluorescent light bulbs, motor oil, needles and paint  (take to a Household Hazardous Waste Depot)
• Lawn furniture, garden hose, string and rope
• Motor oil containers
• Newspapers left in plastic sleeves (remove and discard plastic sleeve bags before recycling your newspaper)
• Plastic bags from bread, produce and frozen vegetables
• Pill bottles (less than two inches or five cm in diameter)
• Plastic re-sealable zipped food bags
• Plastic food wrap, wax paper, parchment paper
• Plastic/foil pill or gum packets
• Plastic pails, bottles and jugs larger than five litres in size
• Plastic straws and cutlery
• Plastic toys (take reusable items to a donation centre)
• Propane tanks or cylinders (take to a Household Hazardous Waste Depot)
• Shredded paper (take to a Community Environmental Centre or place in the green bin)
• Take-out cups (coffee and pop cups)

For information about specific items, use Bindicator

If you missed your curbside collection day or you have more than your blue box can hold, you can drop off your blue box recyclables at:

• East Gwillimbury Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Depot
• Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre
• Georgina Transfer Station, Hazardous Waste and Recycling Depot
• McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre

For addresses and hours of operation, please visit york.ca/WasteDepots
 

My blue box was missed for collection, who do I contact?

Until the end of 2025, blue box curbside collection questions should be directed to your city or town.

 Why is the blue box changing?

A new Blue Box Regulation was approved by the Ontario government to help create a waste-free province and build a circular economy. 

This change in blue box recycling means: 

• More items will be recycled
• The same items will be accepted in blue boxes across Ontario no matter where you live, work or visit
• Any change to what is allowed in the blue box or how those materials are collected and processed will be communicated to residents by Circular Materials

Who do I contact if I have questions about blue box recycling?

Until the end of 2025, contact your city or town about blue box curbside collection and York Region at 1-877-464-9675 or email @email about blue box processing and recycling.

All questions about the future Blue Box program should be directed to Circular Materials at @email or call 1-877-667-2626.

Where should I put shredded paper?

To reduce the amount of shredded paper you produce, consider shredding only the small portion of the document that contains personal or sensitive information and recycling the rest of the pages.

Shredded paper can be placed in backyard composters, in your green bin (in small amounts) or dropped off in clear plastic bags at the Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre or the McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre.

Are there any depots in York Region that accept foam packaging for recycling?

York Region waste depots do not accept foam packaging for recycling, but it can be dropped off as garbage at the following depots:

• Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre
• Georgina Transfer Station, Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Depot
• McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre

For addresses and hours of operation, please visit york.ca/WasteDepots

What happens with our blue box recyclables?

Until the end of 2025, collected materials are currently sent to York Region’s Material Recovery Facility where they are sorted into material types, like paper, cardboard, aluminum, steel, plastic and glass. Once sorted, they are sold and shipped to various companies or end markets to be recycled.