Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Branches & Christmas Trees

Large Household Items

& Appliances

Environment DaySaturday, Sept. 14, 2013 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. St. Catharines/Thorold Niagara Region Headquarters Parking Lot3501 Schmon Parkway ThoroldEnvironment Day gives Niagara residents an opportunity to drop off materials, such as electronics, scrap metals and tires, at a designated area for recycling and reuse. Environment Days are limited to residential use only. A list of acceptable drop-off items can be found at www.niagararegion.ca/waste.

Fort ErieWhen:Saturday, May 25

Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: John L. Gibson Operations Centre 1818 Pettit Rd., Fort Erie

Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham and West Lincoln residents ONLYHours: Open year-round: Tuesday to Friday - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. andSaturdays - 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: Niagara Road 12 Landfill Site 7015 Concession Road 7, West Lincoln (enter from Grimsby Road 12)

Niagara FallsWhen: Saturday, May 4 Saturday, July 6 Saturday, Sept. 7 Saturday, Oct. 5

Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: The Recycling Centre parking lot 4935 Kent Ave., Niagara Falls (access from Morrison Street)

Niagara-on-the-LakeWhen: Saturday, June 22

Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Niagara-on-the-Lake Municipal Offices 1593 Four Mile Creek Rd., Virgil (enter from Four Mile Creek Road)

Port ColborneWhen:Saturday, Sept. 21

Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Humberstone Arena (West Arena) 54 Westside Rd., Port Colborne

St. Catharines/ThoroldWhen: Saturday, April 13 Saturday, May 11 Saturday, June 8

Saturday, July 13 Saturday, Sept. 14 Saturday, Nov. 9

Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Niagara Region parking lot 3501 Schmon Parkway, Thorold

WainfleetWhen: Saturday, Oct. 26

Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Wainfleet Arena parking lot Park Street, Wainfleet

WellandWhen:Saturday, April 20 Saturday, June 15 Saturday, Nov. 16

Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Seaway Mall back parking lot 800 Niagara St., Welland (enter off Woodlawn Road)

2013 Collection Guide

Call 905-227-7771 or toll free 1-855-227-7771, at least two working days before your regular garbage day, to arrange collection of large household items and appliances. Collection is restricted to large household items and appliances only, not extra garbage generated from cleaning out your home or as a result of a move.

Large Household Items• Mattresses,

box-springs and bed frames

• Chairs and couches• Dressers and tables• Mattresses• Patio furniture

• Sinks, toilets, fiberglass bathtubs

• Large toys, pool covers and solar blankets

• Carpeting (must be rolled and tied, in lengths no longer than 1.5 m (4.5 ft.)

Appliances and Metal• Washers and dryers• Bathtubs, furnaces,

metal bedsprings• Bikes, exercise

equipment• BBQs• Metal swing sets

• Wheelbarrows, lawnmowers

• Stoves, ovens, rangehoods, microwaves

Refrigeration Units• Air conditioners• Dehumidifiers

• Freezers• Refrigerators

Refrigeration units must have a CFC removal sticker affixed to the unit, prior to being collected. CFC removal stickers are available for $20 each at outlets across Niagara region. Visit our website or call the Waste Info-Line for a list of outlets.Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed or secured to avoid any potential danger.

ElectronicsVisit www.recycleyourelectronics.ca for drop off locations and information about recycling electronics, including televisions and computers.

Visit www.makethedrop.ca for other drop off locations.

NO

YES • Partially full or full

aerosol cans• Antifreeze• Batteries (all types)• Bleach and cleansers• Fertilizers & pesticides

• Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)

• Gasoline*• Herbicides• Insecticides

• Medications• Motor oil• Paint• Needles and syringes

in a puncture proof container

• Pool chemicals• Propane/helium tanks• Solvents and thinners

For a complete list of acceptable materials and drop off locations please visit our website. *Gasoline must be in a sealed container or existing fuel container. Gasoline will not be decanted at the HHW Depot; the container and the contents will be taken for safe disposal.

Where does it go? Not sure whether to put that soft drink cup in the Blue Box or garbage? You can now visit the Region’s garbage, recycling and organics web page to find out. Just type the name of a common household item in the search tool and it will tell you how to properly dispose of it. Check it out at www.niagararegion.ca/waste

PERF

• Ammunition• Commercial or

industrial waste• Construction and renovation

materials

• Electronics (TVs, DVDs, VCRs)• Explosives• Liquid wastes in containers

larger than 20 litres • Microwaves

• PCBs• Radioactive or

pathological wastes• Smoke detectors/alarms

BranchesAcceptable size and weight limits:• Branches must be tied in bundles

• Maximum weight of bundle = 22.7 kg (50 lbs.)

• Maximum size of bundle = 1.5 m (5 ft.) in length and 0.5 m (1.6 ft.) in diameter

• Individual branches inside of bundle must not exceed 7 cm (2.8 in.) in diameter

Branches will be collected on your regular collection day, during these consecutive weeks in spring and fall:

Christmas TreesChristmas tree collection will be provided on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 ONLY.

In the following year, Christmas tree collection will be provided on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 ONLY.

Christmas trees wrapped in plastic or buried in snow will not be collected.

Branches and Christmas trees must be at the curb by 7 a.m. SHARP on the designated collection day.

• May 6 to 10• May 13 to 17• May 20 to 24• May 27 to 31

• Oct. 21 to 25• Oct. 28 to Nov. 1• Nov. 4 to 8• Nov. 11 to 15

www.niagararegion.ca

Niagara Region Waste Management Services2013 Collection Guide Inside

Recycling Tune-up

New Household Hazardous Waste Event Schedule

Waste Info-Line: 905-356-4141 or 1-800-594-5542

Although your grocery bags and recyclable film/outer-wrap (i.e. dry cleaner bags, outer-wrap from pop cases, toilet tissue packaging and paper towel packaging) are made of plastic, these materials must be placed in your Grey Box.

Why?

Plastic, bags and recyclable film/outer-wrap can be recovered from the Grey Box sorting line much easier than from the Blue Box sorting line where it can be highly contaminated with food residues and be compacted between metal and glass materials. Placing plastic bags, film and outer-wrap into the Grey Box means more plastic is recycled!

How Can You Help?

Place your plastic bags and recyclable film/outer-wrap together inside one plastic bag, tie the handles together and then place it in the Grey Box where it will be easily sorted from newspapers, boxboard and cardboard.

Remember your “Blue Box Ins and Outs” when preparing your recyclables. Properly sorting your materials will help off-set the cost of waste management services and help keep valuable materials out of the landfill.

Test your recycling knowledge by playing the Blue Box Ins and Outs game at www.niagararegion.ca/waste.

For more information, call the Waste Management Info-Line at 905-356-4141 or 1-800-594-5542www.niagararegion.ca/waste

Household hazardous waste (HHW) can be found in many places in your home. Many common household products contain chemicals that if not disposed of properly can pose a threat to humans, animals and our natural environment. Throughout the year, Niagara Region offers residents opportunities to drop off their household hazardous waste on designated HHW event days.

In 2013, Niagara Region has changed its household hazardous waste event schedule. The Region will still offer HHW events in municipalities throughout Niagara during the year; however the schedule has changed. Please see the HHW schedule on the back page of this calendar for new event dates and details.

The Region encourages residents to continue to properly dispose of their hazardous household materials through HHW events. Residents may also visit www.makethedrop.ca and the Region’s online Enviro Guide at www.niagararegion.ca/waste to find alternative drop-off locations.

Dropping off Household Hazardous Waste at a HHW Site• Ensure all materials are in the original container or a

container that is well-marked to indicate the contents

• Ensure all containers are securely capped

• Liquid wastes must be delivered in sealed containers no larger than 20 litres each. Barrels and/or drums of liquid waste will not be accepted.

• Gasoline must be delivered in a sealed container or existing fuel container. Gasoline will not be decanted; the container and the contents will be taken for safe disposal.

• Materials can only be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. due to operating permits (with the exception of the Niagara Road 12 depot). No materials can be accepted before or after this time due to legal requirements.

• Only bring acceptable household hazardous waste items to the event or depot

NEW 2013 HHW

SCHEDULE!See back page

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Do not place “composite” and “coated” packaging, such as gift wrap, chip bags and plastic coated pet food bags, in your Blue Box or Grey Box.

Why? Items that are made from a combination of different materials are not recyclable. If placed in your Blue Box or Grey Box, they contaminate the recyclable material.

Items with a high intensity of chemicals in their ink and paper coatings, such as greeting cards and wrapping paper, cannot be properly processed at the paper mills and therefore are not recyclable.

Do not place take-out beverage cups in your Blue Box or Grey Box.

Why? Take-out beverage cups, including paper coffee cups, are coated with wax or plastic, making them non-recyclable in Niagara Region’s recycling program.

What to do instead:

• Whenever possible, use glasses, mugs or refillable containers for your beverages

• Place all take-out beverage cups in the garbage

Remove plastic wrapping from cardboard boxes before placing them in your Grey Box.

Why? Cardboard is sorted at the recycling facility before being shipped to end markets. Sorters in the facility cannot effectively separate the plastic wrapping from the cardboard so the entire package is directed to the residue (garbage) stream.

What to do instead:

• Remove plastic wrapping from cardboard packaging. Place the plastic wrapping in a tied plastic bag with other plastic bags and place the bundle in your Grey Box.

• Flatten the cardboard package and place in your Grey Box, or bundle it with other cardboard and place beside your Grey Box

Place only clean containers and plastic packaging in your Blue Box. Items such as plastic toys, children’s pools, lawn edging, hangers, water filters and VHS tapes are NOT containers or plastic packaging and therefore are NOT accepted in Niagara Region’s recycling program.

Why? Materials that are not clean containers or plastic packaging often contain other materials such as rubber, paint or nylon and are not recyclable. These materials contaminate the recyclable material.

What to do instead:

• Consider donating reusable items that are still in good condition• Place any other items that are not containers or plastic packaging in

the garbage

Place only food and beverage cans, in your Blue Box. No other scrap metal items are acceptable in the Blue Box.

Why? Municipal recycling facilities use large magnets and special air currents to capture food and beverage cans. Other types of scrap metal, such as frying pans, toasters, etc., are not captured by the magnets or currents and end up as residue (garbage).

What to do instead:

• Donate items that can be reused• Take scrap metal items that are not acceptable in the Blue Box to a

Regional drop-off depot

Recycling in Niagara is easy. You can help make recycling in Niagara more efficient by sorting your recyclables carefully.The Region has put together a Top 10 list of recycling tips to help residents sort out what to put in their Blue and Grey Boxes. If you have any questions about what should go in your recycling boxes, please contact us: Niagara Region Waste Info-Line, 905-356-4141 or 1-800-594-5542 or visit us at www.niagararegion.ca/waste.

Put all your loose plastic bags, outer-wrap and plastic film inside one plastic bag, tie the bag firmly and place in your Grey Box.

Why put them in the Grey Box? It is much easier to sort bundled plastic bags and film from the paper (Grey Box) stream than from the container (Blue Box) stream. In the paper stream, there is less chance of bags and film becoming compacted between metal and glass materials and becoming contaminated with food waste. If bags are contaminated, they can’t be recycled.

Empty any remaining liquid from beverage containers, flatten large plastic bottles (one litre or greater) and replace the cap before placing in your Blue Box. Any loose caps should be placed in your garbage.

Why? Beverage bottles and cartons are separated from other containers at the recycling facility by optical sensors and air jets. Liquid left in a container makes it too heavy to be picked up by the air jets and the bottle has to be manually sorted off the line. Loose plastic caps are too small to be captured in the recycling facility and become part of the garbage stream.

Place only bottle glass in your Blue Box. Non-bottle glass, such as drinking glasses, window glass and mirrors must be placed in your garbage.

Why? Glass bottles and jars are pure glass and can be readily recycled into a variety of products. Other types of glass, such as drinking glasses and mirrors, contain additives, such as lead, that contaminate the recycled glass. (To protect collection workers, broken glass should be wrapped in paper or plastic and placed in a cardboard box marked ‘glass.’ Book broken glass for collection by calling 905-227-7771 or 1-855-227-7771 at least two working days before your regular garbage day.)

Place beverage cartons (juice and milk cartons and drink boxes) in your Blue Box.

Why? These recyclable containers are processed as part of the Blue Box container stream. If they are placed in your Grey Box they contaminate the paper stream which reduces the quality and value of the paper going to end markets. If the percentage of contamination becomes too high it also decreases the chances that the material will be recycled at all!

Rinse all recyclable food containers before placing them in your Blue Box.

Why? The weight of the left-over food can prevent the container from being properly sorted at the recycling facility, resulting in the container not being recycled at all. By rinsing your recyclables you will also reduce the chance of attracting bugs and rodents.

2013CollectionGuide

YESFrom the Kitchen:• Bones, meat, chicken, fish, shellfish• Bread, muffins, cake, candies, cookies, pies,

pizza and dough• Coffee grounds and filters, tea bags• Cooking oil, grease or fat• Dairy products• Eggs and egg shells• Fruits, vegetables and peelings• Microwave popcorn bags• Nuts and nut shells• Paper egg cartons, napkins, tissues and towels*• Paper towel/toilet paper cores• Pasta, rice, potatoes, flour and grains• Popsicle sticks and toothpicks• Sauces, gravy and dressings• 100% paper plates and take-out trays

From the Yard:• Leaves, plants and weeds• Small twigs and hedge trimmings

max. 1.5 cm (0.5 in.) diameter and 30.5 cm (12 in.) length

In General:• Brown paper bags• Cold fireplace ashes• Dryer lint• Hair clippings• Houseplants• Pet hair and feathers• Pet waste and kitty litter – must be wrapped in

paper or placed in a certified compostable plastic or paper bag

• Sawdust and wood shavings• Pumpkins/jack o’ lanterns – remove candles/

lighting and decoration• Sawdust and wood shavings• Soiled newsprint and cardboard*

* not soiled with hazardous material

Remember...no plastic or grass clippings in your Green Bin or Leaf and Yard Bag!Liner options include newsprint, shredded paper, cardboard, boxboard, paper bags or certified compostable bags with these logos:

All other plastic bags, including oxo degradable and bio degradable bags, are not accepted.Leaf and yard materials may be placed in rigid, reusable containers (clearly marked organics), paper bags or certified compostable bags with the BPI or Compostable logo.

NOFrom the Kitchen:• Foil wrap• Liquids (soup, beverages)• Plastic wrap, containers or wax paper• Paper coffee cups and take-out cups and lids

From the Yard:• Branches – collected separately (see reverse)• Grass clippings (please Grasscycle)• Sod, soil or rocks• Treated wood products (lumber)

In General:• Bandages, sanitizing wipes, lubricants• Cigarette ashes or butts• Dead animals• Disposable mop sheets, dryer sheets• Feminine hygiene products and diapers• Plastic bags, plates, straws and utensils• Rubber products and textiles

Materials must be at the curb by 7 a.m. SHARP on your

collection day.

To decrease wind blown litter, place materials at the curbside in the morning by 7 a.m. rather than

leaving them out overnight.

Collection will take place on all statutory holidays with the

exception of Christmas day and New Year’s day. Collection will be deferred by one day following the

holiday during these weeks.

Containers and bags must measure no more than 91 cm (3 ft.) high by 61 cm (2 ft.) in

diameter and must not exceed 22.7 kg (50 lbs.) when full.

Do not place containers or bags on top of, or behind

snowbanks as materials will NOT be collected.

It may be necessary to shovel a small spot in the snow near the curb for container placement.

YESAluminum Cans and Foil Containers:• Remove food residue

Aluminum Foil Food Wrap: • Remove food residue

Beverage Cartons:• Milk and juice cartons and drink boxes

Cardboard Containers with Metal Bottoms: • Frozen juice cans, potato chip containers,

baby formula containersEmpty Paint and Aerosol Cans:• Metal or plastic paint cans/containers with a

thin layer of residual dry paint are accepted; however, metal handles on plastic paint cans must be removed. Please ensure paint can lids are removed and placed loose in Blue Box for recycling.

• Partially full cans should be taken to a HHW Depot (see back page)

• Plastic lids from aerosol cans must be removed and discarded

Plastic Pails: • 5 gallons in size or smaller• Remove and discard steel handles

Glass Jars and Bottles:• Remove caps and lids

Metal Food and Beverage Cans:• Place lid inside metal can

Plastic Bottles, Jars, Clamshells, Packaging, Flower Pots, Trays, Tubs and Lids:• Remove food or soil residue

Polystyrene Foam Plastic:• Clean foam food trays, foam coffee cups,

clamshells, plates and protective packagingEMPTY ANd RINSE ALL CONTAINERSPlace containers loosely inside the box. dO NOT place containers in plastic bags.To decrease wind blown litter, place lighter weight containers at the bottom of the box with heavier materials on top.do not overfill your recycling boxes.Please continue to separate your Blue and Grey Box materials, however, if your Blue Box is full, you may use another rigid, reusable container (e.g. Grey Box) for your Blue Box items.

NO

YESBoxboard:• Cereal, cookie, cracker, detergent, pop, tissue,

shoe and gift boxes – remove liners Flatten and stuff smaller boxboard boxes into one larger boxboard box.Corrugated Cardboard:• Shipping and pizza boxes – remove excess food

Excess cardboard may be flattened and placed in a cardboard box or tied in bundles no larger than 91 cm (3 ft.) x 91 cm (3 ft.) x 91 cm (3 ft.).

Ensure cardboard is placed tightly in the Grey Box, rather than loosely on top, or tie it together.Paper:• Newspapers, flyers, glossy magazines,

catalogues, envelopes, paperbacks, phone books, hardcover books (remove cover and discard)

Shredded paper must be placed inside a firmly tied clear plastic bag.Place all acceptable paper products loose inside the Grey Box. dO NOT place paper products in plastic grocery bags.Plastic Bags/Film/Outer-wrap:• Retail milk and bread bags, dry cleaning bags,

produce bags, clean bubble wrap, clean plastic food wrap and the plastic outer covering from items such as toilet tissue, paper towels and pop cases

IMPORTANT – Remove receipts and stuff all plastic bags/film into one bag and tie handles. Plastic bags/film stuffed into one bag are easily sorted when placed with paper for collection.To decrease wind blown litter, place lighter weight materials (flyers and plastic grocery bags) at the bottom of the box with heavier materials (newspaper) on top.Please continue to separate your Blue and Grey Box materials, however, if your Grey Box is full, you may use another rigid, reusable container (e.g. Blue Box) for your Grey Box items.

NO• Bristol board • Chip bags• Coated paper bags (e.g. pet food bags)• Construction paper• Metal, glass or plastic – see Blue Box• Milk and juice cartons – see Blue Box• Paper egg cartons, paper take-out trays

– see Green Bin• Paper coffee cups and take-out cups and lids• Resealable sandwich/freezer bags• Waxed or coated boxboard such as frozen food

packaging, ice cream cartons, etc.• Wood• Wrapping paper and greeting cards

YESNon-compostable MaterialsNon-recyclable Materials• Large glass or mirror items – seal inside

cardboard box marked ‘glass’ and call to book pick up at 905-227-7771 or toll free 1-855-227-7771

Need more than one bag or can?• Garbage tags are available for $2 each at

outlets across Niagara region. Visit our website or call the Waste Info-Line for a list of outlets.

• You can register with the Niagara Region for exemptions if you live in a single family home or in an apartment with 2-6 units and:A. Your household has two or more

children, under the age of four, in diapers

B. You operate a daycare out of a residential property

C. Someone in your household has a medical condition (e.g. Dialysis treatment, incontinence)

To register for an exemption, please go online at www.niagararegion.ca/waste or for more information call 905-356-4141 or toll free 1-800-594-5542.Note: Collection will be deferred by one day following Christmas day. In the one week following Christmas, all households will be able to put out two garbage bags or cans without garbage tags, on december 26, 27, 28, 30 and 31.

NO• Automotive parts (including tires, etc.)• Construction, demolition and renovation

materials (such as doors, fencing, drywall, wood, siding and cupboards, etc.)

• Dead animals• Electronics• Furniture and appliances

– see details on back page.• Household hazardous waste

– see HHW list on back page.

All Materials

Green BinFood and yard material(every week)

Grey BoxPaper, cardboardand bundled plastic bags only(every week)

BlueBoxBottles, cans and plastic packaging only(every week)

GarbageOne bag or can(every week)

• Aluminum siding• Appliances• Auto parts• Butter wrappings,

cigarette wrappings and foil lined food lids

• Ceramics, light bulbs or window/mirror glass

• Coat hangers • Electronics• Knives• Light bulbs• Mop/broom handles• Needles or syringes

– see HHW• Paper products

– see Grey Box• Paper coffee and

take-out cups

• Plastic blister packs such as packaging for medication and lozenges

• Plastic lawn edging, swimming pools, lawn chairs, garden hoses, pool hoses, etc.

• Plastic strapping• Plastic toys• Pots and pans• Propane/helium

tanks or cylinders – see HHW

• Scrap metal• Silverware• Solar blankets and

tarps • Tools

* Re-usable items that are in good condition may be donated. Check Niagara Region’s online Enviro Guide at www.niagararegion.ca for participating charities and businesses.

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Your efforts to Rethink Your Waste have increased Niagara’s waste diversion rate from 42 per cent to 50 percent! While great work has been done to keep recyclables and organic materials out of our landfills, there is always more room for improvement.

Did you know that more than 50 per cent of the material thrown out in the garbage is actually organic material that can be diverted through the Region’s Green Bin program? Another 13 per cent of the materials are recyclable and can be diverted through the Blue and Grey Box recycling program.

We encourage you to use the Blue/Grey Box and Green Bin programs to reduce the amount of garbage you set out at the curb each week.

50% Organic materials that could be diverted through your Green Bin

37% Garbage

13% Recyclable materials that could be recycled in the Blue or Grey Box

TH A N K YOU A N D K E E P U P TH E GOOD WOR K

YOU

RSELF

CHA

LLEN

GE

to re

think

you

r was

te!

T O P 1 0 R E C YC L I N G T I P S

For additional information on how to sort your recycling visit www.niagararegion.ca/waste and look for the “Where does it go?” search tool.

WHERE DOES IT GO?

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