Blue boxes are collected for recycling every week by the Region of Durham on the same day as your green bin collection. View your collection day and schedule.
Use 2 or more blue boxes to separate your recyclables using 1 box for containers and 1 box for papers. Set your materials by the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of your collection and no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before.
| Empty, rinse and place these "containers" loose in one blue box |
- all plastic bottles with a twist-off top (lids left on), up to 20 litres in size
- clear molded bakery item trays
- clear cold drink cups and lids
- clear plastic egg cartons
- clear plastic fruit and vegetable containers
- empty aerosol cans with lids removed
- empty paint cans with lids removed
- glass bottles and jars (metal lids removed and placed in blue box separately)
- metal food and beverage containers
- paper milk and juice cartons
- plastic tubs and lids (yogurt and ice cream type containers), up to 20 litres in size
- plastic takeout food containers
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| Place these "papers" loose in a second blue box |
- catalogues, magazines, paperback books and phone books
- junk mail and envelopes
- newspapers, office paper and computer paper
- shredded paper should be placed inside a smaller box, such as a cereal box
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| Cardboard and boxboard |
- fold boxes flat, then tie and bundle the same size as your blue box
- place next to or on top of your blue boxes
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| Household battery collection |
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| Do not put these materials in your blue box |
- batteries unless it is scheduled for collection
- bottles and jars with food or liquid remaining (causes sorting difficulties at the recycling facility)
- clothing and shoes
- furnace air filters
- grocery/shopping bags
- household hazardous waste
- oversized 20 litre jugs
- paper coffee cups
- paper fibre egg cartons or drink trays
- plant pots and trays (check with your local nursery if they take back nursery plant pots and trays for reuse or recycling)
- rigid plastic items such as children's toys, clothes hangers, plastic plates and utensils, watering cans
- metal items such as pots, pans, metal coat hangers and scrap metal
- styrofoam© such as packaging materials, meat trays and egg cartons
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| Blue box recycling tips |
- All blue box recyclables must be set out at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
- Do not overload recycling boxes. Purchase additional boxes if needed, or use rigid open-top containers similar in size to a blue box.
- Flatten small cardboard boxes, and place securely in your blue box, or place large, flattened and tied cardboard bundles securely on top or between your blue box.
- Fold all aluminum trays.
- On windy days, put your recycling out for collection in the morning, rather than the night before.
- Stack recycling boxes to prevent paper from blowing away.
- During winter months, please set out blue boxes on cleared portions of your driveway and not on top of snow banks or icy patches.
- Rinse all containers and ensure they are clean and free of grease, liquid or food.
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| Missed Collection |
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If your collection is missed, contact the Region of Durham at 905-579-5264.
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