Sort It

• Sort recyclables into two types – containers and paper products.
• Make sure everything’s clean. Rinse food containers and milk cartons so there’s no food left inside to spoil or sour.
• Remove wrap or plastic from boxes and paper.

Bag It

• Put papers and containers in separate, see-through blue bags as we can only take recyclables that aren’t mixed together.
• Use see-through blue bags only; available for purchase at most retail stores where garbage bags are sold.
• Cardboard can be put in a tied up blue bag or can be broken down and placed in bundles at the curb. If bundled it must measure no more than 60 cm by 60 cm by 30 cm (2 ft by 2 ft by 1 ft) so it will fit in the recycling truck. DO NOT bundle cardboard and then put it in a blue bag; either bundle it or bag it.
• Put loose recyclables in your blue bag; don’t put recyclables in smaller plastic bags and then in your blue bag. The blue bags are recyclable, however, other plastic bags aren’t.

Curb It

• Put your recycling blue bags at the curb on your recycling day at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from your automated garbage cart.
• Recycling doesn’t need to be covered with a net, blanket or put in a container however you can cover it if you wish (ie. on windy days).

Curbside Recycling Collection Tips and Rules

• Use our app or sign up for reminders of your recycling and garbage days to receive notification if collection has been postponed or cancelled. Set up your reminders online, or call Access St. John’s at 311 or 754-CITY (2489).
• Recycling is to be placed at the curb on the scheduled day only between 6 and 8 a.m.
• Recycling must be in regular-sized see-through blue bags only; there is no limit to the number of recycling blue bags put at the curb.
• Do not put any glass in your curbside recycling.  Put broken glass and other sharp objects in a puncture-proof container so that no sharp edges are sticking out.  The container must be clearly labelled “broken glass” and put in with your garbage – put it in a clear garbage bag, and if you have a City-issued cart put the bag in the cart.  Packaging broken glass and other sharps in this way avoids injuries to yourself, pedestrians and collection staff.