Recycling

For issues regarding recycling collection or for blue boxes, please call Emterra at 1-888-597-1541.

Starting January 1, 2024 responsibility for the collection of recyclables will be provided by Circular Materials. There are no changes to recycling collection or schedules for City of Peterborough residents. For issues with missed or incomplete collection, please contact Emterra directly at 1-888-597-1541. If you are not able to resolve your recycling issues with Emterra, please direct all concerns to Circular Materials at customerservice@circularmaterials.ca or 1-877-667-2626.

Recycling is one way that we contribute to environmental sustainability and reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill, which in turn decreases long-term costs by extending the life of the landfill site. Recyclable materials are not accepted in garbage collection.

Materials sorting

You sort materials into two streams – a container box and a paper box.

You can search by item using our online sorting wizard below.

Container box

Accepted items

Glass bottles and jars
Steel and aluminium cans, aluminium foil and pie plates
All plastic food and beverage containers
Food and beverage cartons (e.g., milk, juice and soup containers) and coffee cups (lids go into the garbage)
Empty paint and aerosol cans

Keep all containers loose
Rinse containers if they are excessively soiled
Flatten containers whenever possible
Remove lids from coffee cups – the lids are garbage

Don't

Bag containers, keep them loose
Put in ceramics, china or non-container glass
Put in Tupperware-type containers
Put in styrofoam

Paper box

Accepted items

Newspaper, magazines, novels
Cardboard, boxboard, file folders
Office paper, envelopes
Hard-covered books (covers removed)
Film plastic
Inner tubes from wrapping paper
Brown bags

Bundle and tie loose cardboard
Put light items on the bottom so they won't blow out
Place paper items in a grocery bag to reduce blowing
Stuff all plastic film into one bag and tie the top of the bag
Remove hard covers from books

Don't

Put in waxed cardboard
Put in paper towels or tissues
Put in chip bags, cheese wrappers or stretch wrap

You should put out recycling no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before your collection day and no later than 7 a.m. the morning of your collection.

Blue boxes shouldn't be any heavier than 22 kg (50 lbs) when full. Please use only proper blue boxes (22-, 16- and 6-gallons) for setting recyclables to the curb for collection.

Frequently Asked Questions about recycling

Collection schedule and What Goes Where

You can use the online tool below to find the day of your collection schedule, changes due to holidays, whether a particular item is recyclable in Peterborough, and how your blue box materials need to be sorted.

Material Recycling Facility

The Material Recycling Facility is 390 Pido Rd. is open to drop off recyclables 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Frequently asked questions

Are coffee cups from coffee shops recyclable?

Yes. Paper coffee cups are accepted in the Containers recycling stream (lids off).

How do I dispose of styrofoam?

Bulky white styrofoam only (not plates, trays, cups, etc.) can be dropped off at the Pido Road 24 hour drop off depot. There is no curbside collection of styrofoam.

Can recyclables be placed in bags for curbside recycling collection?

We request that all containers be kept loose for collection. Bagged containers create a major problems at the processing plant, including de-bagging and increased contamination. Any bagged containers will be left uncollected at the curb. Please use blue boxes for recycling. If you need to bag containers for some reason, these should be taken to the Drop-Off Depot at 390 Pido Rd. and emptied.

How do I dispose of shredded papers?

You may place shredded paper in a clear or transparent blue bag and tie the top of the bag. This will prevent the material from blowing out and littering your neighborhood. Plastic film (grocery bags, bread bags, milk bags, etc.) may also be bagged. Stuff all plastic bags into one, and tie off the top to prevent bags from spilling out.

My recycling was not collected. Who do I call?

For issues regarding recycling collection, please call Emterra at 1-888-597-1541. Effective January 1, 2024 Circular Materials is responsible for providing recycling collection. If you are not able to resolve your recycling issues with Emterra, please direct all concerns to Circular Materials at customerservice@circularmaterials.ca or by calling 1-855-667-2626.