More than half of your household waste can be recycled. Here are a few helpful hints and tips to make recycling more effective in your home.
Fold used paper rather than scrunching it up and flatten used boxes. This will give you more room in your recycling bin.
In Manitoba, plastic bags are not an accepted material in your recycling bin. Fortunately, many retailers in Manitoba accept your used plastic bags. Remember, reduce your use of plastic bags, reuse “single use” bags for hold household garbage, pet waste and other items and finally, recycle the ones already in your home.
Please click here to see a list of local organizations that collect plastic bags.
Fact: Plastic bags are primarily made from natural gas, so recycling this material allows this energy to be made into new products or recovered for its energy value.
You don’t have to remove lids or labels, just ensure they are empty first!
Plastic, glass and metal containers can be cleaned if you have the time. Doing so avoids contaminating other materials, reduces unpleasant odours and the development of mould, and ensures sorting centre employees work in a healthier environment.
Newspapers, magazines, and white paper can all be recycled as long as the paper is clean and dry. Plastic wrap, stickers, or rubber bands should be removed, but staples and plastic window envelopes are okay.
When recycling, removing plastic trays from cookie boxes before placing them in the recycling bin is a great help for sorting operations. Recyclable materials are sorted either manually or through an automated system into various categories. By separating packaging made of different materials at home, you simplify the sorting process saving time and money for your local recycling operation.
Note that it is not necessary to remove the plastic window from envelopes or labels on tin cans. Also, lids on beverage containers can stay together as well.
Don’t put anything in your recycling bin that your municipality hasn’t asked for – if you don’t know if it goes in, check with your municipality. If you put unwanted material out for recycling, it just takes a more costly route to the landfill. For quick and easy answers check out our “what can I recycle” page.
Also, be sure to check for the triangle and number on the bottom of the item. That will tell you what kind of recyclable it is and if your municipality accepts it.
Place the lids inside the tin. If you can, squash the tin, then pop it into your recycle bin.
Don’t throw away old toys and clothes. If they are in good condition, be sure to give them away to charity.
We are very good at recycling our cans, plastic drink bottles, glass bottles, paper and cardboard. Below is a list of other less frequently recycled items you may find in your kitchen that can also be recycled:
- Beverage cartons from milk, juice and soup
- Foods tins, sweet and biscuit tins
- Milk and yogurt bottles.
- Detergent and liquid soap bottles
- Tissue boxes
- Soap dispenser bottles
- Sauce and jam jars
- Vinegar and oil bottles
- Plastic disinfectant bottles
- Window cleaner bottles
- Paper towel and toilet paper rolls
Any plastic packaging or bottle marked with a recycling symbol usually on the bottom of the item can be placed into your household recycling bin. You can also check with your local municipality for a full list of recyclables they accept.
Remember don’t just recycle items from your kitchen. A lot of the materials you recycle in the kitchen can also be found in other rooms around the house; the living room, bedroom, bathroom and home office or study. Put an extra bin in your office, garage or bathroom. It will make recycling even easier!