Recycling

Paper Recycling

* Effective May 1, 2018, please put  single use black plastic and Styrofoam products in the garbage due to the unpredictability of the recycling market. 

Every plastic container or bottle has a recycling symbol. The symbol is a number ranging from 1 to 7, within a triangle. The City of Hamilton currently accepts #1, #2, #4, #5 and, #6 and #7 with restrictions. It’s important to know even though a plastic type can be recycled, it may not be accepted in our curbside blue box program.

Plastic #1- PETE or PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) includes clear food packaging/clamshell containers such as berry, baked good and pre-made salad containers, pop bottles, water bottles, salad dressing containers, mouthwash bottles and peanut butter containers

Plastic #2 - HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) includes plastic grocery bags, household cleaner containers, detergent bottles, yogurt and sour cream tubs, juice bottles, and shampoo and conditioner bottles

Plastic #3 – PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)  NOT ACCEPTED

Plastic #4 – LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) includes squeezable condiment bottles like mustard, mayonnaise bottles, and stretchy plastic frozen food, grocery and bread bags. Unacceptable #4 plastics include cling wrap and zipper bags. These items are garbage in Hamilton.  

Plastic #5 – PP (Polypropylene) includes plastic tubs and lids like margarine, sour cream and yogurt containers, ,ketchup bottles and syrup bottles.

*Plastic #6 – PS (Polystyrene, Styrofoam and other #6 plastics) includes some plastic cups and containers, lids for coffee cups, and CD and DVD cases. Styrofoam items are not accepted in the curbside blue box program and should be placed in the garbage.

*Plastic #7 – (Miscellaneous Plastics) include many non-recyclable items like sunglasses, computer cases, baby bottles, etc. They also include large 3 & 5 gal water bottles which are accepted in the blue box or at a Community Recycling Centre.

• Flatten your cardboard and tie it in bundles no bigger than 76 cm x 76 cm x 20 cm (or 30 in x 30 in x 8 in).

• Stack a heavier blue box on top of a lighter blue box so your recycling doesn't blow away.

• Stand paper and cardboard up-and-down instead of laying them flat so they don't blow away.

• Paper and cardboard will only be picked up if they are in a blue recycling box from the City of Hamilton, a plastic container that is the same size and shape as a blue box from the City of Hamilton or a clear plastic bag that is tied at the top.

Paper products that don't go in the paper and cardboard stream:

•  Paper plates and paper towels go in your green bin, not in your blue box.

• If the paper product is difficult to rip, or if there is visible plastic or metallic lining, it is garbage.

• Paper coffee cups, milk and juice cartons and juice boxes go in your blue box with glass, plastic, cans, cartons and containers.

• All of your bottles, cans, cartons and jars must be empty before you put them in your blue box.

• Give your bottles, cans, cartons and jars a quick rinse before you put them in your blue box.

• Throw all your metal lids into your blue box.

• Plastic bags and plastic product outer wraps (must be bagged together and double tied)

• Make sure each blue box does not weigh more than 13 kg (or 30 lbs).

• Bottles, cans, cartons and jars will only be picked up if they are in:

  • a blue recycling box from the City of Hamilton,

  • a plastic container that is the same size and shape as a blue box from The City, or

  • a clear plastic bag that is tied at the top.

• Bag all of your stretchy plastic bags and plastic product outer wrap together, double tie the bag, and put it in your containers blue box.

• Plastic bags and product wrap – like bread, grocery, milk and produce bags, and product wrap used on paper towels, diapers, bathroom tissue and water bottles are recyclable.

• You may also be able to return clean, dry, empty plastic bags and product wrap to a retail store, or bring them to a Community Recycling Centre

The City of Hamilton will take bulky, rigid, hard plastic items that are not accepted in the blue box free of charge. Please bring them to a Community Recycling Centre.

• Flatten your cardboard and tie it in bundles no bigger than 76 cm x 76 cm x 20 cm (or 30 in x 30 in x 8 in).

• Make sure each blue box doesn't weigh more than 13 kg (or 30 lbs).

• Put all your paper and cardboard into one blue box, and put all your bottles, cans, cartons and jars into a different blue box.
   

Paper that has food on it doesn't go in your blue box – it goes in your green bin:

• Brown paper bags

• Facial tissues

• Paper coffee cups and cups

• Paper towels

• Waxed paper

• Waxed paper coffee cups and cups

These go in your garbage:

• Carbon paper

• Construction paper (with tape, glue or staples)

• Diapers

• Hard covers from books (The pages go in your papers blue box.)

You will get an Oops! sticker if you put any of these things in your blue box with your bottles, cans, cartons and jars:

Some containers that contained hazardous waste liquids and oils are not recyclable. Empty containers from motor oil, anti-freeze fluid and transmission fluid go in your garbage.