Thetis Island Recyling Program

In order to maintain the arrangement with the recycling facility where our materials are presently deposited we need to abide by the following guidelines.  

If we are not able to keep the recyclable materials “clean” we will be forced to take them elsewhere, probably requiring further sorting and ultimately a lot more time and effort.  Humans still sort most of your recyclables before they are baled, shipped off to be processed and then reused.  Please be considerate and help make our recycling program successful.  

GUIDELINES

Materials to be recycled MUST BE CLEAN (empty and rinsed at least)… this means no food residue and no cross contamination (like aluminum foil stuck to plastic or big paper labels stuck to plastic film).  

A recycling symbol with number indicating type of plastic should be on material unless it is a commonly used material like a grocery bag.  Technically all plastics are recyclable, but the processor has to be able to determine what kind of plastic they are dealing with.  

Take lids off plastic bottles. Although these small items are recyclable they are too small to be included and are left on the floor of the processing facility so instead of being baled small items are landfilled.  

Personal hygiene items like toothbrushes and hairbrushes are NOT recyclable.  

Main Categories of Recyclable Materials on thetis

Cardboard – clean corrugated, boxboard and paper egg cartons, no waxed cardboard
	
Mixed Paper – clean and dry newsprint, office paper/envelopes, magazines and 	directories 

Plastics – clean, numbered plastics.  Unless numbered, plastic wraps and films should be limited to grocery/produce bags.  Small items like bottle lids are not recyclable in our program.  Motor oil containers may be recycled, but must be separated from other plastics.  Although technically recyclable, #6 expanded 	polystyrene packaging material cannot be accepted at this time.

Tin/Aluminum – clean food/pet food containers, empty and dry paint cans

Glass – clean bottles and jars

Other items (in small doses)
	Computer Electronics (see www.encorp.ca/cfm/index.cfm?It=925&Id=91)
	Batteries of all types
	Propane bottles
	Tires
	Fluorescent light tubes/compact
	Waxed paper milk or milk alternative containers (clean)
	Tetra Pac milk or milk alternative containers (clean)
	Motor Oil and Filters
	Other metals
	Paint