Blue Bin Recycling
What the city requires from you for blue bin recycling?
Maximum size of recycling containers is 95 liters e curbside by 7 a.m., but no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before
(TIP: Putting your blue bins out the day of will avoid morning mess)
Empty and rinse all containers with water
(This is very important not only for the processing but keeps the critters out of your bins as well as keeps them from getting hurt. ex. getting there heads stuck in cans)
Flatten and tie cardboard into bundles no larger than 75 cm X 75 cm X 20 cm (30" X 30" X 8")
Flatten all boxes
Keep paper products separate from food, drink, and liquid containers in your blue boxes
Try your best to separate everything to help the efficiency of the route
Place recyclables 1.5 m (5 feet) from your garbage making it as easily accessible as possible for the recyclers to have access to
Maximum weight of recycling containers is 18 kilograms (40 lbs)
(Tip divide your glass into two bins to lighten bin if needed)
Maximum size of recycling containers is 95 litres
Maximum size of recycling containers is 95 liters
Accepted Blue Bin Recyclables
Paper Product
- Magazines, soft & hard cover books (remove hard covers)
- Household paper of all kinds
- Egg cartons, tubes & boxes (must be flatten)
- Newspapers & flyers
- Cardboard boxes (must be flatten & bundle)
Containers
- Plastic clam shell containers
- Aerosol cans (empty)
- Cartons
- Drink boxes
- Steel cans
- Aluminum cans
- Metal paint cans (empty)
- Aluminum foil
- Pie plates
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic Cups
- Plastic Tubs
- Plastic Jugs
- Spiral wound (cardboard)
- cans
- Glass bottles
- Glass Jars
- Plastic pots
- Plastic trays
- Ice cream tubs (separate lids)
- Paper cups (separate lids)
- Rigid Plastic (remove paper and place in paper bin)
Unacceptable Blue Bin Recyclables
- Dark colored paper
- Construction paper
- Wrapping paper
- Ceramics
- Drinking glasses
- Dishes
- Broken glass
- Plate glass
- Window glass
- Light bulbs
- Mirrors
- Paper tissues/towels
- Styrofoam TM (i.e., cups,packaging)
Wood
- Plastic bags (return to your local grocery store)
- Plastic wrap
- Propane cylinders
- Toys
- Coat hangers
- Pots and pans
- Batteries
- Empty motor oil containers and other household special waste (i.e. pesticides) containers
Where can I get a Blue Box?
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Places To Purchase a Blue Box
Recycling boxes are available for purchase at the four Enviro-Depots and at the City Hall for a cost of $6.00 each (no HST)
Environmental Depot Locations as followed
Oxford Street Enviro-Depots – 1450 Oxford St. W
Clarke Road South Enviro-Depots – 28 Clarke Road
Clarke Road North Enviro-Depots – 21463 Clarke Road, Arva
W12A Landfill Site – 3502 Manning Drive
City Hall – 300 Dufferin AveThere is a limit of two boxes per purchase.
Recycling boxes are 95 liters in size, available in blue (for containers) and grey (for paper).
Retail outlets sell recycling boxes in sizes that may not comply with the City’s collection by-law. For example, recycling cans or large bins on wheels will not be collected. The maximum capacity of a Blue Box is 95 liters. They do sell all sizes depending on where you shop. The maximum weight for each Blue Box, including the recyclables is 18 kg (40 lbs). There is no limit to the number of Blue Boxes that will be collected. Please recycle as much as possible and have it sorted.
Damaged Blue Boxes
Blue Boxes that have been damaged by collection crews or snow plows will be replaced at no charge. Contact them es@london.ca.
Newly Constructed Homes
Residents of newly constructed homes are provided by the city with two blue bin recycling containers at no charge. Contact them at es@london.ca.
Why was my recycling not collected?
Your recycling may not have been collected for a number reasons
- The Blue Box or bag weighed more than 18 kg (40 lbs)
- the Blue Box had a capacity of less than 45 liters or greater than 95 liters
- the Blue Box or bag had a large quantity of non-recyclable materials
- the paper products and containers were mixed together in the same container
- the cardboard was not flattened and bundled
- food, drink and liquid containers were set out in grocery bags
- the Blue Box or bag was not at the curb by 7 a.m. for collection
- the recycling was set-out in an oversized can, cardboard box, plastic crate, laundry basket, etc.