Big 5: Items you can recycle at York Region depots

YorkRegion.com
Sept. 14, 2016
By Teresa Latchford

Every week, York Region residents make sure their recycling hits the curb, but there are some things that just don't fit the bill when it comes to the blue box program.

There are plenty of items that can still be recycled at one of York Region's drop-off locations.

• Cooking oils: Liquid cooking oil such as vegetable, canola, sunflower and olive poured down the drain result in costly sewage pipe repairs every year, according to York Region. These used oils can be recycled into biodiesel if taken to a local drop-off depot in a tightly sealed container.

• Electronics: While some parts of electronics can't be recycled, others are valuable resources that can be reused. Examples of accepted electronic items include cellphones, telephones, laptops, modems, keyboards, monitors, printers, TVs, cameras and stereo equipment.

• Scrap metal and appliances: Metal can be melted down and reused, while parts of appliances can be refurbished for use. Barbecues, bicycles, dishwashers, dryers, humidifiers, lawnmowers, metal bathtubs, power tools, swing sets, microwave ovens, refrigerated appliances, stoves and washing machines can all be dropped off at depots.

• Styrofoam packaging: Large, clean foam packaging used to pack large electronics can be dropped off at select York Region depots. It is then transferred to a company that turns it into foam insulation for the construction industry.

• Tires: Passenger and light truck tires on or off the rim as well as tractor tires can be dropped off. The rubber from the tires can be broken down and used to make landscape tiles, mulch, playground surfacing, roofing shakes, athletic flooring in gyms, carpet pads and rubber bricks or paving.

SIDEBAR
York Region drop-off locations include:

• East Gwillimbury Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Depot, 225 Garfield Wright Blvd.
• Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre, 1124 Elgin Mills Rd. E.
• Georgina Waste Transfer Station, 23068 Warden Ave., Keswick
• Markham Household Hazardous Waste Depot, 403 Rodick Rd.
• McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre, 130 McCleary Ct., Vaughan
• Vaughan Household Hazardous Waste Depot, 2840 Rutherford Rd.