Residents and tenants

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Which bin to put it in?

REMINDER: The paths leading to the recycling and garbage containers must be kept safe and clear of obstructions such as vehicles, debris and snow.

Don't know where it goes?

Check out the Waste Explorer to find out where to bring used household goods like eyeglasses, clean grocery plastic bags, hangers, tires, etc.

Acceptable recyclable material – glass, metal, plastic, cartons:

A city of Ottawa blue bin with wheels and a commercial sized city of Ottawa grey bin next to each other outside.

Glass

  • Glass bottles and jars (remove lids)

Metal                                

  • Steel and tin cans
  • Soft drink cans
  • Aluminum foil (clean or soiled)
  • Aluminum pie plates, take-out containers, roasting pans, etc.
  • Paint cans (empty, lids removed)
  • Jar and bottle lids
  • Aerosol cans  (empty)
  • Frozen juice cans, potato chip tubes

Plastic

  • All food and household plastic containers #1-7 (e.g. bottles, fruit or cake clamshells)
  • Pails (remove metal handle)
  • Planting trays and flower pots
  • Tubs and lids (e.g. margarine, yogurt, ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc.)
  • Single-serve yogurt
  • Clear plastic egg cartons

Cartons

  • Milk and juice cartons
  • Drink and soup boxes

Acceptable paper and cardboard items:

A city of Ottawa black bin with wheels and a commercial sized city of Ottawa yellow bin next to each other outside.
  • Newspapers and flyers
  • Magazines and catalogues
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Cereal and cracker boxes (liners removed)
  • Shoe and laundry detergent boxes
  • Fine paper such as writing paper, computer paper, paper pads, advertising mail
  • Paper egg cartons, toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls
  • Paper gift wrap, greeting cards
  • Clean paper shopping bags or paper packaging
  • Pizza boxes (if your building does not have a green bin)

Acceptable green bin items:

Green bins are available for multi-residential properties. Contact your property manager for more information or to get started.

80 liter city of Ottawa green bin.
240 liter city of Ottawa green bin
  • All food
  • Pet food
  • Kitty litter
  • Animal fur, hair, feathers
  • Cold fireplace ash
  • Dryer lint, vacuum bag and its contents
  • Microwave popcorn bags
  • Soiled paper plates, cups (waxed or unwaxed)
  • Waxed paper
  • Soiled paper towels, serviettes, Kleenex
  • Pizza boxes soiled with food, The food soiled portion of the pizza box can go in your green bin. Please rip the clean portion off and place in your black bin.
  • Wood chips, sawdust
  • Sugar, flour and potato paper bags
  • Yard waste (branches, plants, leaves, grass)

Do not pour fat, oil or grease down sink drains or toilets – they clog your plumbing and City sewer pipes. To properly dispose of fat oil and grease – put in a milk carton in your green bin: OR in your garbage NOT down your sink or toilet.

Unacceptable green bin items:

  • Diapers, sanitary products

Garbage items

A blue commercial sized city of Ottawa garbage bin outside next to a concrete wall.

Glass, ceramics

  • Ceramic dishes, cups and pottery
  • Drinking glasses, window glass, light bulbs and mirrors

Plastic

  • All Styrofoam containers and packaging
  • Plastic grocery bags
  • Meat and cheese wrap, stretch wrap, cereal wrap, snack food bags
  • Plastic dishes, cups, toys, make-up jars, laundry baskets
  • Plastic garden bags for fertilizers, soil, peat moss, etc.
  • Empty motor oil bottles

Metal

  • Scrap metal
  • Utensils/pots and pans

Paper

  • Paper and cardboard lined with foil
  • Cereal and cracker box liners, chip and cookie bags
  • Chocolate bar and candy wrappings
  • Foil wrapping paper, bows, ribbons

Unacceptable items for garbage collection:  

  • Syringes/needles
  • Construction/renovation waste (e.g. carpets, countertop, doors etc.). Do not place construction renovation material in the garbage container.  Contact your property manager for proper disposal information or call 3-1-1.
  • Hazardous waste  (e.g. used paint, unemptied aerosol cans, pool supplies etc.)
  • Large (bulky) items (e.g. sofas, mattresses etc.). Do not place furniture in the garbage container. Contact your property manager for proper disposal information or call 3-1-1.
  • Appliances  (e.g. dishwasher, fridge etc.)
  • Electronic waste (e.g. TVs, computers, etc.)

Electronic waste (or "e-waste")

Electronic items such as: computers, monitors, keyboards, printers, disk drives, fax machines, televisions, radios, telephones, cell phones, batteries etc. must not be placed in the garbage container because they contain valuable components and material that can be safely recycled to manufacture new products.

  • Electronic items can be dropped off at participating retailers. To find out where you can return your electronics, search the Waste Explorer.
  • You can also bring your electronic waste to Trail Road Landfill at no charge.