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Recycling Program
Recycling benefits communities. It diverts materials, including plastics and other materials that do not easily break down, away from landfills. It helps to protect the ecosystem and wildlife. And, under a model of circular economy, recycling makes better use of materials, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling is a key part of Oxford County's work towards achieving zero waste.
How to set out your recycling
To properly recycle plastics, rinsing is important. If recyclable materials are not clean, they will contaminate other recyclables causing them to ultimately end up in the landfill. Here are a few tips to ensure you are recycling the right way.
- Bins. All items should be loose and clean in your bins.
- Sorting. Oxford County collects single stream recycling, except in Woodstock. This means you do not have to separate paper products from containers. All recyclable materials can be placed in the same recycling bin for curbside collection. For questions about specific materials, type the material into the “What goes where?” tool.
- Secure items from blowing out of your blue boxes by stacking your bins, or placing heavier material on top. Residents are responsible for picking up blown out debris from their recycling bins.
- Blue boxes. Make sure your bin says “Recycling” on the side of it. Use a standard blue box to ensure collectors can identify it as recycling. Click here for info on purchasing a blue box from Oxford County
- Weight. Recycling set outs must not weigh more than 20 kg/ 44 lbs
Frequently Asked Questions
| Why was my recycling not collected? |
| Check to see if a sticker has been left on top of the recycling set-out. If there is no sticker and your neighbours' set-out on both sides of the street have been collected, and/or it is past 6:00 p.m., call 519-539-9800 or 1-800-755-0394 to check on your location. You can also check out Wasteline.ca or @WastelineOxford on Twitter for municipality-wide issues, such as weather or traffic related issues. |
| Why was my carboard tagged? |
| Cardboard must be bundled together and no larger than 75 cm (30in) x 75 cm (30 in) x 20 cm (8 in). Cardboard cannot be stuffed inside of another cardboard box for recycling as it must be bundled. Cardboard can also be brought to the Waste Management Facility at no charge. |
| Why isn't my recycling being accepted in blue recycling bags? |
| The County's waste collection contractor cannot accept any bagged recycling or plastic bags and film for recycling. All materials need to be loose in the blue box to be recycled. |
| What is a plastic resin identifier? |
The plastic resin identifier is the “recyclable triangle” with the number inside. This shows the type of plastic used for the material, but does not necessarily mean that the material is recyclable in your community. In Oxford County, all containers and bottles with numbers 1-7 are recyclable except for planter’s pots. Other packaging materials and bulky plastic toys and gadgets are not recyclable. |
| How do I properly set out my materials? |
DO Set recycling out in a neat and orderly fashion, making it less likely that material will be blown away. You can purchase blue box lids for $2.70 each from the Waste Management Facility, the Oxford County Administration Building, or your local municipal office. More Shredded paper should be set out in a clear plastic bag.
Recyclable materials are loosely placed and disorderly, making it likely material will be blown out of the bin, creating litter. Only clear plastic bags can be used for shredded paper. All other plastic bags will not be collected. Food package box is not properly broken down/flattened. Straw from the cup is not recyclable.
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DON'T
Acceptable and Unacceptable recycling materials
| Unacceptable blue box materials: What we can't collect |
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| Acceptable materials: What goes where |
OXFORD COUNTYPut all recycling together in one bin (except for the City of Woodstock) RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
For City of Woodstock residents, find your blue box materials by visiting www.cityofwoodstock.ca
LANDFILL
WASTE DIVERSION at the Waste Management Facility
Need to dispose of something not on the list? Visit www.wasteline.ca or download the Wasteline app and use the “What goes where?” tool. |
| Acceptable Containers |
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All recycling must be placed in a blue box or similar sized rigid container with drain holes and sturdy handles. Note that containers must be rigid and can be rejected by our collection crew based on safety concerns. For purchasing blue boxes, please visit the containers section to learn more. Bags are not acceptable through our program as they cause issues with our machinery and the contamination of the recycling. Only shredded paper are acceptable as bagged material. |
The following items will not be collected if placed in your blue box: