COVID-19 update: If you are sick, please place any item that has come into contact with your mouth, nose, or eyes into the garbage. This includes items you would normally put in the blue box, such as water bottles, pop cans, milk/juice cartons, etc. Thanks for protecting our collection crews! Go to our Collection Issues page for more information.
Recycling is a proud tradition in Waterloo Region. After all, the first Blue Box program was invented here!
This page contains information for all blue box users. If you are at an apartment building or townhouse complex that uses large recycling carts, please go to our Cart recycling page.
Wondering how to recycle or dispose of a certain item? Ask the Waste Whiz below:
To report a collection concern, please use our online form. Or contact our Call Centre at 519-575-4400, available 24 hours a day, every day.
Who is eligible? |
We collect blue box recycling from single-family homes, legal duplexes, eligible townhouse units, and small apartment buildings (6 units or less) every week. Apartment buildings of 7 units or more, and most townhouse/condominium complexes do not receive curbside collection from us. Check your eligibility, collection day and services,
Still not sure if your property is eligible? Please contact our Call Centre at 519-575-4400, available 24 hours a day, every day.
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Approved collection containers |
Due to COVID-19 measures, the offices are closed. Blue boxes are available at our Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) depots in Cambridge and Waterloo. If you are a new homeowner/renter in Waterloo Region, have moved within the last six months and receive curbside collection, bring proof of your new/changed residency to pick up a blue box:
Broken blue box? Bring your broken blue box to one of the Household Hazardous Depot (HHW) depots noted above, and we will give you a replacement (and recycle your broken box). Need extra blue boxes or has your blue box gone missing? Please purchase blue boxes that we can collect safely and efficiently:
Containers that are not acceptable to use for blue box collection include wheeled carts, laundry hampers, storage totes, blue plastic "recycling" bags, blue plastic "recycling" cans, large clear or opaque bags, and cardboard boxes. Use these tips to fit more into your blue box. |
What goes in? |
We collect recyclables that are prepared and sorted using the two-box sorting system. COVID-19 update: If you are sick, do not put in any items that touched your face, such as pop cans, and juice cartons. Box 1 - "Containers" blue box accepts the following types of packaging that contained a food, beverage, cleaning, personal or pet care product at the point of purchase:
How to prepare: Empty. Rinse. Do not bag - put items in loose. Learn how to deal with lids and labels. NO broken glass, dishware, light bulbs, containers with food, appliances, car parts, candy wrappers, chip bags, cardboard cans, coffee pods, clothes baskets and hangers, furnace filters, straws, Styrofoam, toys, wooden orange crates.
Box 2 - "Paper products and plastic bags" blue box
NO gloves, masks, sanitizing wipes, stand-up pouches, liner bags from cereal/cracker boxes and other bags that make a "crinkle" sound, bags that contained meat or cheese, mesh bags, bubble wrap, diapers, foil or plastic wrapping paper, bows, ribbons. Wondering if an item is accepted in our Blue Box program? Ask the Waste Whiz! |
Collection schedule and rules |
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Options for dealing with recyclables |
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Tips and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) |
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Where does it go? |
Our collection contractors drop off recyclables at our Nyle Ludolph Materials Recycling Centre (NLMRC), located at 925 Erb Street West (Gate 1), Waterloo. The NLMRC has two sections, one to receive the Paper Products and Plastic Bags, and the other to receive all Containers. Paper products and plastic bags are dropped off in the east side of the facility, and are loaded into large tractor trailers; we do not sort paper, and plastic bags. This material is shipped to Niagara Recycling, where it is further sorted and then sold to market. The Containers are dropped off in the west side of the NLMRC, separated by material type, and shipped to different markets in southwestern Ontario, and northern and east south-central regions of the United States. Ensuring recyclables are sorted properly is key to selling them to market. Early in 2018, China stopped receiving shipments of mixed recyclables. As a result, North American markets have been flooded with recyclables, tightening their requirements, and lowering their tolerance for contamination (unacceptable material). The good news is that with the two-box sort, we can produce marketable materials! Everyone - residents, collection crews, and the NLMRC processor - are responsible to do their part to help meet the demanding requirements and maximize revenues (to help offset program costs). |
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