The Recyclepedia has been around for two years now and is the trusted source of recycling information for the province. While there are over 1,000 material listings in the Recyclepedia, some searches are more popular than others. Here’s the top 10 most searched items, and what to do with them.
- Plastic Tubs and Lids
This encompasses all your margarine tubs, sour cream containers, and other plastic containers you’d keep in the fridge. As long as your containers are empty, they are recyclable in the blue bin! A quick rinse is always appreciated to get rid of any food waste or lingering smells. - Styrofoam
Foam packaging, more commonly known as Styrofoam, is not accepted for recycling. You can read about why it’s not accepted in our previous blog post. If you can, try to reuse foam packing peanuts as stuffing material. Otherwise, try to avoid it if possible. - Black Plastics
With many of us staying home these past two years and supporting local restaurants by getting takeout, we’ve all accumulated some black plastic containers. These plastics are not accepted for recycling because they aren’t detected by the lasers at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF). There is also a limited end market for these plastics. But the good news is that these containers are highly reusable! They’re great for packing lunches, or for storing leftovers. - Plastic Bag
Plastic bags are recyclable, just not in your curbside recycling bin. Plastic bags are problematic at the MRF because they can get tangled in the machinery, causing huge delays and shutdowns. However, plastic bags are recyclable by returning them to a retailer. You can find a list of drop-off locations here.
- Plastic “Clamshell” Container
You’ll see these types of containers used for different types of fruit (i.e., strawberries, blueberries, and grapes) and baked goods. In most areas of the province, these materials are accepted in your recycling. However, in the City of Brandon and surrounding communities, these items are NOT accepted. The recycling collected in this part of the province is taken to a different processor which does not accept clamshells. - Glass Jar
Glass jars, bottles and other containers are all accepted in your blue bin. Glass jars are highly reusable, and are great for canning, storing leftovers, and sauces.
- Building Materials
The 4R Winnipeg Depots accept some building materials for composting and reuse. This includes brick, concrete, gravel, patio stones, non-treated lumber and wood, and yard waste. If you aren’t nearby Winnipeg, check with your community to see if you can bring it to your local landfill or transfer station.
- Light Bulb (not CFL)
Light bulbs that DO NOT fall under the CFL category (i.e., Halogen, HID, LED, and Incandescent bulbs) are not accepted in your recycling. There is currently no program in Manitoba that accepts these types of lightbulbs for recycling. CFL lightbulbs and tubes are recyclable in Manitoba through the Product Care Recycling program. Visit their website for a list of drop-off locations. - Furniture
There are a few different options for reusing and disposing of furniture in Manitoba. If your furniture is in gently used condition, it can be donated to Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a secondhand store, or resold online through Marketplace. Otherwise, arrange for a bulk waste pickup through your community.
- Mattresses and Mattress Toppers
Mattresses are recyclable in Manitoba, thanks to Mother Earth Recycling! There are two ways to recycle your mattress: drop it off at their facility (771 Main Street in Winnipeg) or take it to the 4R Brady Winnipeg Depot. On the other hand, mattress toppers are not accepted for recycling. Try to find ways to repurpose this item in your home, such as stuffing material for bean bag chairs, or to create a pet bed for your dog or cat.
