Many want to do their part for the environment by recycling, however, there are rules and regulations that, if not followed, can slow down and spoil the process. When people are unsure what can and can’t be recycled, some may forfeit the practice all together while others may be too inclusive with their efforts, throwing everything the can into the recycling bin.

There are numerous items that are able to be recycled back into products including:
• aluminum beverage cans, plates, trays, foil and tin cans
• plastics #1 to #7
• mixed paper and cardboard including egg and milk cartons, phone books, and cereal and cracker boxes

Among the items that are welcomed, there are still protocols that need to be followed to ensure a safe and effective recycling process including:
• empty and rinse all containers
• remove lids and caps
• flatten cardboard boxes
• place paper shreds into a paper or clear plastic bag

Ruebecca Fiddler, manager at Loraas Environmental, said contaminated items could even contaminate recyclable material making it unrecyclable. Other dangerous contaminates (oil, hazourdous waste, cat litter, needles, glass, batteries, metal) also have the potential to create unsafe environments for the staff in the facility and can even cause damage to the machinery.
Fiddler also shared that when people put non-recyclable items into the recycling, although there are processes and procedures in place to catch some of these items, at any stage, this can cause delays even to the point of shutting down the large machines to fetch out the item. In turn, Fiddler said these delays if persistent, makes it difficult to keep the cost down to the consumer.

Some common items that are not able to be recycled through your blue bin include:
• all stretch plastic film
• Styrofoam
• electronics
• scrap metal
• batteries
• wood waste
• plasticized, waxed or laminated paper
• light bulbs
• grocery bags

Fiddler explained that after their process is complete, other markets then take the materials to reuse to make other items. In the way of plastic grocery bags, China, where reportedly half the worlds recyclables were being sent, set new rules on foreign waste which has eliminated the common grocery bag among other items from being accepted by local recycling programs.

As society focuses their attention more towards environmental sustainability, Fiddler urges consumers to be aware of the recycling processes and to make an effort to replace one-time use items such as plastic grocery bags with a more sustainable option, such as reusable cloth bags. 

Click here for an infographic from the Town of Kindersley on what can and can’t be recycled.