Grey Box Recycling Collection

Grey 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 Grey Box at the curb with your garbage by 7 a.m. on your regular collection day. Don't place your Grey Box at the curb any earlier than 5 p.m. the day before collection.

Acceptable Grey Box items

Search for an item to find out how to dispose of it.

List of acceptable Grey Box materials
Click on each item below for more information.

How to prepare your Grey Box

Flatten and tie large pieces of cardboard
Cardboard may be placed next to your recycling containers only if it's flattened and tied. Cardboard must not exceed 90 cm x 90 cm x 90 cm (3' x 3' x 3') in size.
Save space by stuffing materials
Collapse smaller boxboard materials and place them inside larger boxes
Plastic bags go in your Grey Box
Acceptable plastic bags should be recycled 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.
Clean materials before recycling
Make sure items are free of food before placing them in the Grey Box
Prevent items from blowing away
Get tips on how you can manage your Grey Box items on windy days

Restrictions for substitute Grey Box 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

Contact

As of Jan. 1, Circular Materials is responsible for the residential Blue and Grey Box program.

For questions about your Blue and Grey Box recycling, contact your city / town's recycling contractor.

Miller Waste Systems - Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Welland: 1-833-621-0726

GFL Environmental Inc. - Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Thorold, Wainfleet, West Lincoln: 1-855-769-3760

Niagara Region still provides Blue and Grey Box services to eligible Industrial, Commercial and Institutional properties. Learn more about the residential Blue Box / Grey Box transition.

Benefits of using the Grey Box

Using the Grey Box diverts waste from landfill and saves natural resources by limiting the amount of raw materials required to produce new products.

For example, household paper is turned into more paper or made into paper towels.

Grey Box materials are sorted and sold which offsets program costs to the taxpayer.