Explain to me what goes into what bin.

My folks don't recycle, and i threatened to call the city on them if they didn't start separating their waste.

But i'm having a hard time explaining exactly what goes where.

They do not want to compost, so we'll be using the green bin.


Green Bin:

Food leftovers
fruit rinds and peels
toilet paper
teabags
etc etc..


Trashcan:

plastic wrap
styrofoam containers
small yogurt plastic cups
plastic forks and spoons
paper plates


Recycling Bin:

hard plastics
glass bottles
cardboard
aluminum foil


That's as much as i know. But what happens with junk mail, shredded documents, kitty litter, bundled newspapers, old lightbulbs, cd-rs, and old computer parts like hard drives and cd-roms?

Just go onto your municipal's website and check there. They will have an extensive list which you can print out of what and not to put in there.

We cant name them all.

The list at the end is easy!

But what happens with junk mail:recycle!
shredded documents: if it's paper, then into the recycle bin! you can leave it in a clear plastic bin and they will pick this up on recycle days.
kitty litter: sorry, garbage...
bundled newspapers: recycle bin! or next to the bin tied together.
old lightbulbs: if they are CFL's then they should go to a toxic waste disposal depot. Or wait for a hazardous waste day that the city runs yearly during the summer usually. they open up a ton of depots. If they are just regular light bulbs, then garbage.
cd-rs: garbage
old computer parts like hard drives and cd-roms? hazardous waste for the most part. a lot of old computer parts have mercury and other harmful substances in them that aren't so safe for the landfill.

Hope that helps!

Called Toronto waste mangement...and Q-tips are considered garbage and do not go into the perishable or recycle bins.

i live in an apartment, and this is what i go by: http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/single...s/pdf/info.pdf

The small yogurt plastic cups have recycling symbols on them so I recycle them. Don't know if it actually works though.

You should check where you live, not all the rules are the same. IIRC some places say no to cardboard tubes.

Location is Brampton and I have a friend 4 miles away also in Brampton that puts grass clippings in the green container and they took it. I wonder if I can do this every second week?

Originally Posted by heffie

shredded documents: if it's paper, then into the recycle bin! you can leave it in a clear plastic bin and they will pick this up on recycle days.

Not in Peel Region. http://www.peelregion.ca/scripts/was...query=shredded says to put shredded paper in the green bin or yard waste -- "Shredded paper is not accepted in your recycling boxes as it contaminates material streams at the Material Recovery Facility." I would assume that's the case in other municipalities as well.

kitty litter: sorry, garbage...

Depends on your city. Toronto accepts kitty litter in the green bin (source), but Peel Region says to put it in garbage.

Originally Posted by Maymybonneliveforever

Location is Brampton and I have a friend 4 miles away also in Brampton that puts grass clippings in the green container and they took it. I wonder if I can do this every second week?

Yeah, that should be fine. I believe all the green bin stuff gets combined with the yard waste to make compost anyway.


Anyway, as others have mentioned, the facilities and policies vary from municipality to municipality, so the best thing is to check with the folks that take your waste.

Originally Posted by heffie

cd-rs: garbage
old computer parts like hard drives and cd-roms? hazardous waste for the most part. a lot of old computer parts have mercury and other harmful substances in them that aren't so safe for the landfill.

Hope that helps!

CD-rs: save them and take to Future Shop or Staples or another place that accepts that waste. Usually take batteries as well.

Computer parts are hazardous waste. Municipality should have programs for taking this stuff. Or look at local companies that take it. Salavation Army also takes old computers as well.