Apartment & Condo Recycling

What's Accepted:

Please do not place recyclables in plastic grocery bags. Plastic bags are not recyclable in your building's recycling program. Place loose material into chute or designated container. 

If you're not sure whether an item is recyclable, please look it up using the What Goes Where tool.

What's Not Accepted:

• Styrofoam such as packaging, meat trays, take-out food containers
• Plastic bags, bubble wrap, overwrap, milk pouches
• Plastic cutlery, drinking straws, coffee cup lids
• Plastic toys or lawn furniture
• Shredded paper, this goes in the green bin
• Textiles - drop off at Markham textile donation bin
• Batteries – drop off at Markham Recycling Depot, community centre or library
• Hazardous waste such as paint or motor oil. Hazardous waste should be taken to York's Household Hazardous Waste Depot (HHW) for proper recycling and disposal.
  
• Electronics – drop off at HHW

Bulky items such as sofas, chairs, furniture, and mattresses, consider donating for reuse or contact your superintendent for instructions.

Get a Blue Box or Blue Bag

Blue Boxes and reusable Blue Bags can be purchased at any Markham Recycling Depot. Blue bags cost $7.50 each.

Recycling Depots accept cheques and debit/credit cards only. They do not accept cash.

Recycling Reminders:

• Items must be empty and clean, ensure all materials are free of grease, liquid or food. 
• Recyclables should be placed loosely in your building's recycling containers. Do not put them in plastic bags.
• Flatten your cardboard before putting it in the designated recycling container(s).
• Oversized cardboard can be dropped off any Markham Recycling Depot.
  

Tips for Superintendents & Property Managers

• Markham collects garbage and recycling weekly.
• The City is working to collect organics in all buildings.
• Garbage and organics are collected every Wednesday. Recycling is collected every Tuesday.
• Please have your bins out for collection by 7 AM on the day of collection
• If your bins are blocked or your bins are not out, our contractor does not have to return until the next week.
• Collection days can be affected by holidays. If a statutory holiday lands on a collection day, please call us at 905.477.5530.
• You can't have vehicles, snow, ice, or other obstructions in the way of your garbage and recycling.

Ministry of the Environment Regulations

The Province of Ontario has set recycling rules for apartment buildings. If you own a building with six or more dwelling units, you must have a recycling program in place for your residents. This rule can be found under regulation 103/94. For more information, please visit www.e-laws.gov.on.ca.

If your apartment building does not have a recycling program, we would like to speak to you. Please call us at 905.477.5530.