Note: these are general tips for recycling. Some municipalities have different rules, so check what’s recyclable in your community.
Manitoba’s residential recycling rules are unique to the province (and sometimes communities). You can put most packaging and printed paper in your blue bin, but there are exceptions. This list is a brief overview of common materials that can and can’t go in your blue bin. If you don’t see a material you’re curious about, or need more context for the materials below, look them up in the Recyclepedia.
*Non-blue bin materials with an asterisk have options for recycling at drop-off locations.
Which containers to recycle?
Do Recycle:
- Plastic containers, including all bottles, pails, tubs, and jugs, provided they aren’t foam, black plastic, or contained hazardous materials.
- Aluminum drink cans.
- Steel/tin food cans.
- Milk, cream, juice, and soup cartons.
- Juice boxes.
Don’t Recycle (in your blue box)
- Cellophane, plastic film, and plastic bags*.
- Containers for hazardous products* such as antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, bleach, pesticide and herbicides. You can identify hazardous products by the danger symbols (e.g., corrosive, explosive, poison and flammable).
- Aluminum foil or foil pie plates.
- Foil or foam takeout food containers.
- Foam packaging, foam egg cartons or foam meat trays.
Tips
- Leave lids on containers and caps on bottles.
- Crush plastic bottles, milk jugs and milk and juice cartons to leave more room in your blue box.
Which paper-based items to recycle?
Do Recycle
- Newspapers and inserts, flyers, and junk mail.
- Magazines, phone books, household paper, shredded paper, and envelopes.
- Cardboard egg cartons and paper tubes.
- Flattened cardboard and boxboard no more than 1 metre in any direction (e.g., cereal, cracker, tissue, laundry, shoe, and packing boxes).
- Pizza boxes (unless they’re considerably greasy).
Don’t Recycle
- Soiled paper or boxes.
Tips
- Leave staples in paper, labels on containers and windows in envelopes.
- When you’re recycling paper and boxes, fold and flatten them to save space.
Which glass items to recycle?
Do Recycle
- Glass jars and bottles (clear and coloured).
Don’t Recycle
- Mirrors, window glass, or light bulbs.
- Drinking glasses, ceramics, or cookware.
- Broken glass.
Tips
- Leave lids on containers, caps on bottles.
