Blue Box Recycling Collection
Blue Boxes are collected weekly in all municipalities. There's no limit to the amount of recyclables that can be placed at the curb.
Place your Blue Box at the curb with your garbage by 7 a.m. on your regular collection day. Don't place your Blue Box at the curb any earlier than 5 p.m. the day before collection.
Acceptable Items
Search for an item to find out how to dispose of it.
- List of acceptable Blue Box materials
Click on each item below for more information.
Preparing your Blue Box
- Don't place plastic bags in your Blue Box
Bundled bags together and place in your Grey Box - Save space by breaking down materials
Squeeze pop cans, large plastic bottles and beverage cartons to save space - Clean materials before recycling
Make sure items are free of food, liquid and residue before placing them in the Blue Box - Prevent items from blowing away
Get tips on how you can manage your Blue Box items on windy days
Acceptable plastic bags go in your Grey Box. Stuff all of your plastic bags into a separate bag, tie it and then place on top of the Grey Box.
Learn more about proper sorting and preparation for select materials known to cause problems at the Region's recycling centre because sorting your recycling matters.
Buying and/or Replacing a Broken Blue Box
Blue Boxes are for sale at locations across the region. Broken containers can be replaced free-of-charge. Blue Boxes and other curbside recycling containers are also available for purchase online, with pick-up at select locations.
Restrictions for Blue Box Substitute Containers
Residents may also use any other rigid, reusable container for curbside collection as long as it meets these size and weight restrictions and contents are clearly identifiable as acceptable materials.
Size Limitations for Alternate Containers
- Height: 91 cm (36")
- Diameter: 61 cm (24") roundness
- Weight: 22.7 kg (50 lbs) when full
Benefits of Using the Blue Box
Using the Blue Box diverts waste from landfill and saves natural resources by limiting the amount of raw materials required to produce new products.
For example, detergent bottles are ground into flakes and can form new plastic patio furniture, water cans, flower pots or traffic cones. Aluminum cans are melted, cut and rolled into new cans or CDs. Blue Box materials are sorted and sold which offsets program costs to the taxpayer.
© Niagara Region - 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON, L2V 4T7 - Phone: 905-980-6000, Toll-free: 1-800-263-7215
