Ethan Clarke
The City of Toronto has a comprehensive recycling program, with specific guidelines for various materials, including plastic. While the city aims to divert waste from landfills, public recycling bins are often contaminated with non-recyclable items, such as food containers with residue, black plastic, and pet waste. Toronto has recently expanded its list of acceptable soft plastics for recycling, but it's unclear if plastic bread bags are included. Some sources indicate that plastic bags should be separated from other recyclables like paper and rinsed before recycling, while others suggest that plastic bags are not commonly recycled by the city.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic bags recyclable in Toronto | Yes, but only laminated plastic film (e.g. chip bags and stand-up resealable pouch bags) and snack food bags (e.g. potato chips, peanuts, cookies) |
| Other plastic items recyclable in Toronto | Plastic stamped #1 (PET) or #2 (HDPE) if clean, aluminum, paper, glass, metal |
| Plastic items not recyclable in Toronto | Black plastic, compostable and biodegradable plastics, plastic-coated papers, plastic bags with food residue |
| Other non-recyclable items in Toronto | Old clothes, shoes, blankets, curtains, diapers, pads, tampons, food scraps, containers with food and liquid, pet waste |
| Suggested disposal methods for non-recyclable items | Garbage, dedicated return programs by retailers/manufacturers, Green Bin |
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What You'll Learn
Toronto's Blue Bin recycling program
To ensure your recyclables are not contaminated, it is important to separate plastic bags and over-wrap from newspapers, flyers, magazines, and water/soft drink cases. Food scraps, such as apple cores, eggshells, and expired leftovers, belong in the Green Bin. Empty and rinse food containers before tossing them in the Blue Bin to prevent food residue from ruining otherwise good recyclables.
While Toronto's Blue Bin program accepts a wide range of materials, there are some items that are not accepted. Old clothes, shoes, blankets, and curtains should not be placed in the Blue Bin as they can damage equipment and cause injuries. Black plastic, including takeout containers and black garbage bags, is also not accepted due to sorting challenges and a lack of market demand. Compostable and biodegradable plastics are not recyclable and should be disposed of in the garbage or returned to retailers/manufacturers with take-back programs.
Toronto has made significant progress in its recycling efforts, adding new types of soft plastic materials to the list of accepted items in the Blue Bin program. As of June 1st, 2015, laminated plastic film (e.g. chip bags) and snack food bags (e.g. potato chips, peanuts) are now accepted. Excess recycling should be placed in large clear bags beside the Blue Bin, ensuring they are within 0.5 meters apart and can fit back into the recycling bin.
While there are varying opinions on the effectiveness of Toronto's recycling practices, the city does recycle metal and other materials such as paper and organics. The city provides guidelines and resources, such as the Waste Wizard, to help residents properly sort their waste and maximize the amount of recyclables diverted from landfills.
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Bread bags are laminated plastic film
Bread bags are typically made of laminated plastic film, which is a thin, flexible sheet of plastic that has been treated with a coating to improve its appearance, durability, and moisture resistance. This type of plastic film is commonly used for food packaging because it is lightweight, durable, and can protect the product during storage and transportation.
While laminated plastic film bread bags may be convenient for storing and transporting bread, they can have negative environmental impacts if not properly disposed of or recycled. In Toronto, the city has implemented a comprehensive recycling program to manage waste and promote sustainability. As part of this program, Toronto has recently expanded its list of acceptable "soft plastics" for recycling. Soft plastics include laminated plastic film, such as chip bags, stand-up resealable pouch bags, and snack food bags.
This expansion of acceptable soft plastics for recycling in Toronto is good news for residents who want to reduce their environmental impact. By including laminated plastic film in the list of acceptable materials, the city is providing a convenient way for people to recycle bread bags and similar packaging. This initiative aligns with Toronto's long-term strategy to reduce waste and increase the amount of recycling collected.
However, it is important to note that not all types of laminated plastic film are accepted in Toronto's recycling program. Black plastic, for example, is not accepted due to the lack of a stable market for recycled black plastic in the city and the limitations of optical sorting technology at the recycling facility. Additionally, compostable and biodegradable plastics are also not recyclable in Toronto's program, as they are designed to break down rather than be made into new products, and can contaminate batches of conventional plastics.
To properly recycle bread bags and other laminated plastic film in Toronto, residents should refer to the city's guidelines and use the designated Blue Bins for soft plastics. By participating in the city's recycling program and staying informed about acceptable materials, individuals can play a crucial role in reducing landfill waste and contributing to a more sustainable future for Toronto.
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Plastic bags are recyclable if clean
The City of Toronto has a comprehensive recycling program with specific guidelines for various materials, including plastic bags. While the city strives to divert waste from landfills, contamination of recyclable materials with non-recyclable items, such as food residue, remains a significant challenge.
When it comes to plastic bags, it is important to understand that not all plastics are recyclable in Toronto's program. The city specifically mentions that black plastic, including takeout containers and garbage bags, should not be placed in the Blue Bin as it cannot be sorted mechanically due to the optical sorting technology's limitations.
However, Toronto has made significant progress in accepting more types of soft plastic materials for recycling. As of June 2015, the city expanded its list of acceptable items in the Blue Bin recycling program to include laminated plastic film and snack food bags. This expansion demonstrates Toronto's commitment to increasing the types of plastics that can be recycled.
It is crucial to keep plastic bags separate from other recyclables, such as newspapers, flyers, and magazines. Clean plastic bags can be recycled separately, and they should not contain any food residue or liquids. Ensuring that plastic bags are clean and free from contamination is essential for successful recycling.
Additionally, residents should be mindful of proper sorting and preparation when recycling plastic bags. Excess recycling should be placed in large clear bags beside the Blue Bin, ensuring that the bags can fit back into the recycling bin and are placed at an appropriate distance apart. This practice helps waste management staff identify and collect the recyclables effectively.
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Black plastic is not accepted
The City of Toronto does not accept black plastic of any kind in its recycling program. This includes black plastic bread bags. Black plastic cannot be sorted mechanically at the recycling facility because the optical sorting technology cannot recognize it. It is recommended that black plastic be disposed of in the garbage.
While Toronto does accept some soft plastics for recycling, black plastic is specifically excluded from this category. Soft plastics that are accepted include chip bags, stand-up resealable pouch bags, and snack food bags. However, it is important to separate plastic bags from other recyclables such as newspapers, flyers, and magazines.
The City of Toronto has made efforts to improve its recycling program and divert waste from landfills. However, contamination of recyclable materials with non-recyclable items, such as black plastic, food waste, and liquid containers, remains a significant issue. Contamination can ruin large batches of recyclables and ultimately send them to landfills.
It is important for residents to properly sort and clean their recyclables to avoid contamination. While some sources claim that Toronto does not recycle plastic, the City of Toronto maintains that it is committed to recycling and diverting waste from landfills. However, there is some debate about the effectiveness of the city's recycling efforts.
In conclusion, while Toronto has made strides in accepting more types of soft plastics for recycling, black plastic bread bags are not accepted. Residents should dispose of black plastic in the garbage to avoid contamination and ensure that their other recyclables can be properly processed.
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Toronto's long-term waste strategy
Toronto's Long-Term Waste Management Strategy is a roadmap for how the city will manage its waste over the next 30 to 50 years. The strategy aims to reduce the amount of waste requiring management and includes recommendations on how to achieve this. The city is working to update its 2016 strategy to better anticipate future needs, reduce waste produced by a growing population, and minimise waste requiring disposal.
The strategy includes various programs that support waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. One such program is the 'Love Food Hate Waste' campaign, which focuses on educating residents about the benefits of food waste reduction. The city has also implemented a Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy, which includes the Circular Food Innovators Fund and a new by-law that took effect in March 2024.
To divert waste from landfills, the city has expanded its list of acceptable recyclable materials. For example, Toronto now accepts more types of soft plastic materials in its Blue Bin recycling program, one of North America's largest residential recycling programs. However, the city does not accept compostable or biodegradable items in its Blue Bin program as they cannot be recycled.
To address contamination in public recycling bins, Toronto installed new lids on 300 bins in parks, with holes designed exclusively for empty beverage cans and bottles. Stickers and signage indicate what items are accepted, aiming to reduce contamination and increase recycling. The city is also developing a long-term strategy to manage waste over the next 30 to 50 years, aiming for zero waste.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic bread bags are recyclable in Toronto. However, they should be put in a clear plastic bag and placed beside the Blue Bin.
Any recycling placed in black bags or bags that are not clear will be considered garbage.
Laminated plastic film (e.g. chip bags and stand-up resealable pouch bags) and snack food bags (e.g. potato chips, peanuts, cookies) can be recycled in Toronto.
No, compostable and biodegradable plastics are not recyclable in Toronto. They must be disposed of in the garbage.
While some sources indicate that Toronto does recycle plastic, others claim that all plastic ends up in landfills. However, it is important to note that recycling plants exist in the city, and the City of Toronto works to divert as much waste as possible from landfills.
