What can go in a Blue Box

Do your part to conserve our natural resources by recycling your household items in the blue box.

What goes in the blue box?

blue box graphic recycling

  • ‌Newspaper‌
  • Magazines
  • Mixed paper – e.g. office paper, junk mail, envelopes and flyers
  • Telephone books
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Boxboard – e.g. cereal boxes, shoe boxes and tissue boxes 
  • Number 1 to 7 plastic containers and lids – e.g. yogurt cups, detergent containers, food platter trays, and plant pots. Refer to our Plastic Recycling Q&A Backgrounder (pdf) for more detailed information.
  • Metal cans
  • Clean foil pie plates
  • Glass jars and bottles

What doesn’t go in the blue box?

  • Aluminum foil
  • Ceramic/clay pots
  • Chinaware/porcelain
  • Windows or mirrors 
  • Carbon or wax paper
  • Disposable coffee cups (paper or Styrofoam)
  • Gift wrap
  • Paper towels
  • Plastic bags, food wrap or bubble wrap
  • Styrofoam – e.g. cups, packaging and egg cartons
  • Unnumbered plastics – e.g. toys, dishes and cutlery
  • Household hazardous waste – e.g. gasoline containers, motor oil containers, paint cans, propane tanks, and fertilizer, herbicide or pesticide containers

How to prepare recyclables

  1. Remove lids. Discard small lids as they’re too small to be separated out at the sorting facility.
  2. Empty and rinse containers. 
  3. Place containers and large lids in the blue box.
  4. DO NOT put your recycling in a clear blue plastic bag or a plastic grocery bag.

For more information, call the Blue Line at 403-340-BLUE (2583).