Global Recycling Day

Did you know that around 40% of the recyclable materials generated by Greater Montreal households are thrown out with the household garbage and sent to landfill? We’d like to take this opportunity to remind you of some important recycling tips!

Container, packaging, printer matter, that’s it

Since January 1, 2025, any container, packaging or printed matter made from plastic, paper, cardboard, glass or metal goes in the blue bin! This includes all flexible plastic bags and packaging (stretchable or not), and all rigid plastic containers (identified with a Möbius strip or not). By definition:

• Containers usually have a cap or lid.
• Packaging: used to easily transport a product.
• Printed matter: paper and other fibres with text, patterns or images.

Despite this, there are a few exceptions that don’t go in the blue bin:

• Aerosol containers go to the ecocenter.
• Polystyrene (Styrofoam) protective packaging goes to the ecocenter.
• Degradable plastic containers and packaging go in the garbage

Best Practices

• Gather items composed of the same material (ex.: make a bag of bags, make aluminum paper balls).
• Separate items composed of different materials (ex.: a glass jar with metal lid).
  Exception: leave small caps on containers
• Empty and rinse product and food containers.
• Disassemble boxes to maximize space in your bin.
• Cover your materials from rain and snow by closing your wheeled bin or by placing a flattened cardboard box over top if you have an open bin.

Every little bit helps us reach our goal of recycling 75% of recyclable materials by 2030. And remember, recycling is good, but reducing is better!

• Consult the standardized list of accepted recyclable materials in Quebec, effective as of January 1, 2025
• Visit Westmount’s recycling information page
• Ask for your new wheeled blue bin
• See how to use your wheeled bin properly