York Region blue box busters: 5 of these things don't belong

Thestar.com
April 19, 2021

Only place acceptable items in your blue box. When in doubt, search the region’s waste tool, york.ca/bindicator.

Blue box contamination --things that don’t belong in the recycling stream --is a growing concern. In 2020, the contamination rate was about 19 per cent, up from 12 per cent in 2012.

Contaminants become mixed with good recyclables, which decreases the quality and recyclability of materials.

Here are five things that don’t belong and what to do with them:

DISPOSABLE, SINGLE-USE FACE MASKS
Impact:

• Masks could blow out of blue bins and become litter; and

• Front-line workers at the region’s materials recovery facility sort blue box material by hand and it places these workers at greater risk of transmission of COVID-19.

Do this instead:

• Throw used, disposable face masks in the garbage;

• Tie garbage bags securely before placing them at the curb on garbage day; and

• Use reusable, washable face masks or coverings.

PLASTIC BAGS, BAGGED RECYCLABLES AND NEWSPAPER PLASTIC SLEEVES
Impact:

• Plastic bags get caught in the recycling sorting machines and can jam equipment and stop the sorting line.

Do this instead:

• Put recyclable materials in the blue box, not in a plastic bag;

• Remove newspapers from plastic sleeves before putting the paper in the blue box;

• Plastic grocery bags can be taken back to participating retailers for recycling or plastic bags can be reused at home as garbage bags;

• Other plastic bags or film, such as resealable freezer bags, bread bags or cellophane, go in the garbage; and

• Use reusable bags, food storage containers or beeswax food wraps.

FOOD RESIDUE LEFT IN CONTAINERS
Impact:

• Food scraps can spill and soak paper recycling products, impacting the quality and making paper difficult to recycle.

Do this instead:

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• Empty or scrape food out with a spatula, and rinse containers before putting them in the blue box;

• Use a paper towel to wipe out greasier containers. Paper towel can go in the green bin; and

• Place greasy paper takeout containers, such as pizza boxes, in the green bin.

ITEMS THAT ARE TOO SMALL (LESS THAN 2 INCHES)
Impact:

• Small items, such as shredded paper, scrap pieces of paper and pill bottles, can fall through sorting screens and get mixed in with other recyclables or with garbage.

Do this instead:

• Where possible, reuse small bottles and containers for things, such as seeds, beads, buttons and other small items;

• Small scraps of paper and shredded paper go in the green bin.

• Visit york.ca/wastedepots for a location near you that accepts shredded paper in clear plastic bags for recycling.

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, SUCH AS TOYS, SMALL APPLIANCES, DINNERWARE AND TEXTILES
Impact

• Items may get caught and damage sorting machines and may get mixed with recyclables.

Do this instead:

• Sell, donate or share good condition items; and

• If the item is not usable or repairable, visit york.ca/wastedepots to find a location that accepts these items.