Recycling Rants and Raves

Hello,

Styrofoam is currently not accepted in our recycling program. This material goes in the garbage.

Thanks for your question!

Have a great day,

Chris

Hello there,

Thanks for the question!  There are a number of places you can take various items for reuse or 'recycling'.  These can be found by searching our "Which Bin?" tool on our website: https://www.dufferincounty.ca/waste#collection-schedule or through our App, DufferinWaste, on your smartphone.  Have a look where you download your Apps.

There may, however, be other retailers not included on our list that take certain items back. I know in the past there were a few retailers that took back plastic bags, but it is my understanding that these programs are no longer available.

I hope this helps.  Please do not hesitate if you have any additional questions.

Best regards,

Chris

Good morning,

To determine whether a plastic material is accepted, it's best to check for a number, usually within a small triangle at the bottom of the item. Plastics with #1-5 and #7 can be recycled in our program. Number 6 plastics or items with no number are not accepted in our program. The clear plastic container for mixed lettuce is accepted but please double check the number before placing it in your Blue Box. This is the same for Black Plastics and the Clear Tops.

Generally, most items and materials such as plastics are recyclable but it depends on the recycling processing contractor who processes the recycling for each municipality. Currently, our program excludes number 6 plastics and materials such as plastic film.

Chris

Good morning,

Yes, grape and cherry bags are considered plastic film, and are not acceptable in our recycling program.  Currently, our recycling processing contract excludes these items, and they should be placed in the garbage. 

Thanks for your question!

Chris

Good Afternoon,

Broken Blue Bins and Green Bins can be brought into the County office on 55 Zina Street in Orangeville and we can recycle them for you. Alternatively, you can also go to your local municipal office. Please clean out your bins before bringing them in.

Have a great day!

Chris

Good morning!

You can replace your Blue Box by coming to the County office on 55 Zina Street in Orangeville. There is a service desk on the second floor where you can be helped out. Or you can go to your local municipal office. Please bring your old Blue Box so we can recycle it for you.

Have a great day!

Chris

Hello,

Thank you for your question!

Paper plates that do not have a wax coating on them (shiny surfaces) can go in the Green Bin since they can be processed into compost. If they do have a wax coating, please place them in the garbage because it's a complex product that makes it difficult to recycle.

Thank you for your efforts to sort out your waste materials!

Have a great day,

Chris

Hello,

Thanks for the question!

Plastic bags and wrap, also called “plastic film”, are problematic material to recycle, as they wrap around machinery at the sorting facility. While some municipalities accept these materials in their recycling programs, Dufferin County does not. Please place all plastic bags, even if they have a recycling symbol on them, and plastic wrap (e.g. plastic wrap around water bottle cases, etc.) into the garbage.

Thank you for your continued efforts in waste diversion.

Sincerely,

Chris

Good morning,

Thanks for the question! 

You can pick up recycling, organics and garbage posters from 55 Zina Street, Second Floor at the Public Works counter.  We are here Monday to Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.

Thank you for your continued efforts in waste diversion.

Have a great day,

Chris

Hello,

Thank you for your question!

The County explored the option of large blue carts with lids for single-family homes during the County’s Long-Term Waste Management Strategy process, which was finalized in March 2018. Due to the high capital cost of blue carts and more potential for increased contamination (non-recyclable materials) making their way into the cart, this option was not included in the final strategy. Therefore, there are no plans at this time to change to blue carts. Also, with the recent announcement from the Province of Ontario regarding the transition of responsibility for the Blue Box program from municipalities to producers between 2023-2025, no major program changes will likely be planned by the County as we await details.

Here are some tips to help stop blowing recyclables:

-  Don’t fill your blue box to the top. If you require more room, please visit the County’s Waste Services office at 55 Zina St., Orangeville (2^nd Floor), or your local municipal office, for another blue box.

-  Place heavier items such as glass and cardboard on top of the lighter materials (i.e. plastics, paper) in the blue box.

Thank you for your continued efforts in waste diversion.

Sincerely,

Chris