Recycling

The Municipality of Highlands East promotes the diversion of waste through recycling. We operate a two-stream recycling program for fibres and containers. We also have diversion programs for things like Plastic Containers that once held hazardous materials like oils and antifreeze, Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics and Batteries.

Use the guide below that outlines our recycling categories and tells you what items are acceptable for recycling in Highlands East. If you have any questions please ask your Landfill Attendant. You can also use our Waste Wizard app to get answers to your waste and recycling questions right on your smartphone or computer.

Containers Recycling Guide

Please rinse out your bottles, jars and other containers before putting them in your recycling box. This will reduce smell and insect problems for you and ensure our recycling materials are not contaminated and stay out of the landfill.

Glass Bottles and Jars

All clear and coloured glass food and beverage containers are accepted. Please rinse.

Do not recycle drinking glasses, ceramics or china (plates, bowls, mugs, etc.), crystal, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors, pottery, Pyrex, pots and pans, or cosmetic containers.

Plastic Containers and Lids

Allowed items include clean plastic pop and water bottles, yogurt, margarine and ice cream containers, windshield washer jugs, dish soap and shampoo bottles, plastic milk jugs, ketchup bottles, peanut butter jars, laundry detergent, fabric softener and bleach bottles, P.E.T. plastic egg cartons, clear fruit and veggie containers, vitamin bottles, etc. Flatten bottles and replace caps.

No toys, CDs or DVDs, plastic barrels, vinyl siding, vinyl shower curtains, blister packs, food/stretch wrap, mini-blinds, plastic cutlery, garden furniture, or flower/plant pots.

Metal Cans and Foil

Recyclable items include all tin and aluminum food and beverage cans, clean aluminum foil, pie plates and take-out food trays. Please rinse and remove lids on tin cans, place inside can and pinch closed. Do not put aluminum cans inside tin ones.

Do not recycle aerosol cans, BBQ propane cylinders (turn them in on Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day), coat hangers, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, paper-backed foil (such as lids from take-out food), or foil laminates (such as foil gift wrap or potato chip bags).

Polystyrene (Styrofoam)

Styrofoam meat and bakery trays, egg cartons, coffee cups, fast food containers, etc. can be recycled. Please rinse.

Blue or pink Styrofoam insulation, packing Styrofoam, packing peanuts or beads cannot be recycled.

Plastic Bags

Plastic milk, bread, shopping and dry cleaning bags, wrap from toilet paper and paper towels, etc. can be recycled. Place multiple items inside one bag and tie the handles.

Do not include bubble wrap, boat wrap, tarps or other large sheets of plastic film, chip bags, snack bar wrappers or stand up pouches.

Fibres Recycling Guide

 Please do not package newspapers or other fibres in plastic bags.

Newspapers, Magazines and Flyers

Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, advertising inserts, phone books, soft cover books, and glossy flyers can be recycled. Do not package multiple items in plastic bags.

Waxed or foil-coated paper cannot be recycled.

Boxboard and Mixed Paper

Accepted items include household and office paper, junk mail, envelopes, writing paper, computer paper, wrapping paper, greeting cards; cereal, detergent, tissue and shoe boxes, paper towel and toilet paper tubes, fibre egg cartons, paper grocery and shopping bags, plastic lined dog and cat food bags, etc. Staples are allowed.

Do not include tissues, paper towel, waxed or foil-coated paper, frozen juice cans or tube chip containers (with metal ends).

Corrugated Cardboard

Pizza box tops (do not include greasy bottom portion) and cardboard boxes are allowed but must be clean and flattened. Staples are okay.

Do not recycle waxed corrugated boxes or items that are soiled with food or dirt.

Tetra-Pak Boxes

Juice, milk, soup and other 'Tetra Pak' type boxes are allowed. Please rinse.

No straws allowed.

"Gable-Top" Cartons

Polycoat (waxed) milk, juice, sugar and liquid egg cartons, etc. are recyclable. Please rinse, crush and replace plastic lids.

Plastic Hazardous Container Recycling

Special collection stations are located at our landfills and transfer stations for the recycling of empty plastic containers that once held hazardous waste such as oil, antifreeze and other lubricants.

Procedure

  • Emptied containers need to have the caps on and placed into provided bags.
  • Pails will have lids removed and stacked into a separate provided tote. Pails and lids can go into the same tote.
  • Oil jugs and pails should not be mixed together in the bags or totes. Please use separate totes for each or stack the pails beside the totes.

List of plastics that can be picked up

  • Any kind of oil container.
  • Any kind of automotive hazardous waste plastic such as antifreeze jugs.
  • Plastic pails that have had any kind of lubricant in them. Do not include paint pails as these need to be brought to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day.
  • Big drums, drained and plugs replaced.