Spring Cleaning? Start Here.
Have you been doing some spring cleaning recently? We salute you! However, a common challenge we see in our recycling programs is “wish-cycling.” This is when we put items in our curbside carts that we think *should* be recyclable, when they actually are not—or, at least not in the curbside program. It’s easy to assume that everything will find its way to the correct recycling stream, but that’s not usually the case. Wish-cycling could actually contaminate a whole truckload of recycling. Here are a few tips for properly disposing of some common spring-cleaning items.
IF YOUR CLOSET IS FIT TO BURST: Textiles are some of the most wasteful items. First of all, please do not put any clothing, blankets, sheets, shoes, etc. in your blue recycling cart as our recycling program does not accept these items. Instead, consider repairing ripped items or repurposing irreparable ones into rags—perfect for dusting and wiping down the rest of your home during your spring cleanup! You can also sell or donate items that just simply aren’t your style anymore. There are tons of buy-and-sell groups in our area for adults and kids. Clothing swaps with friends can be another fun way to refresh your wardrobe (or your kids') without sending the existing contents of your closet to the landfill.
IF YOUR COFFEE TABLE KICKED THE BUCKET: Furniture, especially wooden furniture, may seem like it can be recycled (it’s made of trees, after all!) but this doesn’t belong in your curbside carts. For instance, we’ve seen whole kitchen chairs in blue carts before, and they just cannot be recycled this way. In fact, bulky, heavy items like furniture shouldn’t be in any curbside cart—black garbage cart included—as they can damage the truck or pose a risk to workers. Please consider selling or donating items that are still in decent condition or find someone who refurbishes furniture for their business or hobby project. Items that are truly beyond hope should go to the Transfer Station in Thornhill.
IF YOU JUST FOUND AN OLD WALKMAN IN YOUR BASEMENT: Electronic waste, aka e-waste, is a huge problem these days, and many people simply throw things in the garbage when they stop working. But wait! While your old rotary dial phone from the 80s or that Tamagotchi from 1996 can’t be tossed in the curbside recycling cart, it absolutely can be recycled! Whether it’s a broken blender, busted hand-held drill, ancient TV set, or old-school flip-phone, there’s a place to take it: our local Return-It, aka Bottle Depot. Find a full list of acceptable items here—you might be surprised what’s on the list!
IF YOU JUST DID ONE HECK OF DEEP CLEAN: Our blue recycling cart is the perfect spot for most of your empty cleaning product containers—but please check the label first! We don’t want hazardous materials in our curbside collection program. Paints, solvents, flammable liquids, and similar items that contain warnings like poison, toxic, corrosive, etc, will need to go to Do Your Part Recycling in Thornhill—but if you’re not certain about a product, check in with the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine before disposing of it. Most regular household cleaners won’t fall into this category, though—if the container has a #1 through #7 material-type indicator on it, then it should be accepted in curbside recycling. That includes spray, pump, and pull-up tops. Just remove the lids and/or spray taps and place all parts into your cart separately. There are lots of “greener” ways to clean, too—try baking soda, lemon, white vinegar, and salt to clean up. Check Recycle Coach for tips!
IF YOU’RE STANDING THERE HOLDING A THING AND DON’T KNOW WHERE TO PUT IT: Just head to Recycle Coach, our handy app/website search tool. It probably has information on the item you’re wondering about. Recycle Coach includes a customized collection calendar for your address, as well as Terrace-specific information about what goes where.
Happy spring cleaning!
recycle@terrace.ca | 250-615-4019
