Recycling | City of Peterborough

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

For detailed recycling information, visit www.circularmaterials.ca/peterborough.

Responsibility for the collection of recyclables is provided by Circular Materials. 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

Your recyclables are sorted into two streams – a containers box and a paper box. To find out what goes where, you can search with our interactive sorting wizard below.

Containers should be kept loose in your blue bin 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, these should be taken to the Drop-Off Depot at 390 Pido Rd. and emptied.

Container box

Accepted items

Glass containers: clear and coloured glass; food containers, jars and bottles; cosmetic containers, spice bottles, oil and vinegar bottles
Plastic containers: laundry detergent and household cleaner jugs, shampoo, body wash, salad dressing, condiment, dish soap, mouth wash bottles, small item packaging, hand sanitizer bottles, plant pots
Plastic food containers: food trays, salad, yogurt, peanut butter, bakery and egg containers, plastic cups, plastic tubs and lids
Paper laminate containers: spiral cans, cookie dough package, ice cream containers, and hot and cold beverage cups
Cartons: dairy and dairy substitute cartons, molasses and sugar cartons, laundry and cleaning cartons, soup and sauce cartons, coffee cartons
Aluminum (foils and trays): aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays
Metal: food cans, metal lids, candle, cookie, coffee and tea tins
Foam packaging: meat trays, takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging for products
Tubes: toothpaste tubes, deodorant, hand cream tubes
Aerosol containers (empty): food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant

Tips

Do

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

Paper box

Accepted items

Cardboard boxes: pizza boxes, direct mail boxes, moving boxes, shoe boxes
Boxboard: cereal boxes, tissue boxes, egg cartons, rolls from toilet paper and paper towel
Paper laminate packaging: pet food bags, food service paper bags, and plates
Paper: any colour, including flour bags, prescription bags, paper produce bags; notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, other printed materials; community newspapers, flyers, brochures and magazines; greeting cards and envelopes, gift boxes
Flexible plastic packaging: bags used for dry cleaning, bread, newspapers and flyers; overwrap (paper towel & toilet paper, beverage containers); coffee bags or deli pouches, chip bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers, cereal liner bags, plastic gift bags

Tips

Do

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. Shredded paper can be placed in a clear or transparent blue bag and tied at the top to prevent to materials from spilling or blowing and creating litter
Stuff all plastic bags into one bag and tie the top of the bag to prevent contents from spilling

Don't

Put in paper towels or tissues - these go in your green bin

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.

Collection schedule and sorting tool

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 at 390 Pido Rd. is open to drop off recyclables 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.