Where to Recycle Non-Blue Bin Items in Manitoba
Your household blue bin is for recycling packaging and printed paper. But there are lots of recyclable items that don’t belong in your blue bin (for reasons outlined below). You can visit drop-off locations, accessible to most Manitobans, to recycle batteries, electronics, tires, and more.
Scroll down to find recycling locations for common household items that don’t belong in your blue bin or garbage. Alternatively, you can search for any of the items below in the Recyclepedia to find out where to recycle them in your community.
Alternatively, you can search for any of the items below in the Recyclepedia to find recycling and safe disposal locations near you.
Where to recycle batteries?
Call2Recycle has over 700 drop-off locations to recycle batteries across Manitoba. Look out for their green and brown cardboard drop boxes (pictured above). They accept single-use and rechargeable batteries that weigh under 11 pounds. You can recycle almost any battery found at home: the little one in your watch, the rechargeable one in your drill, your cell phone battery, and more.
Why can’t batteries go in your blue bin or garbage?
- Batteries are the leading cause of recycling facility fires and can cause garbage and recycling truck fires — they pose fire and explosion risks that can harm workers, damage equipment and delay recycling.
- They contain compounds harmful to the environment.
- They contain metals that are environmentally harmful to mine.
Where to recycle electronics?
Recycle My Electronics (EPRA) accepts most common household and vehicle electronics, with drop-off locations accessible to most Manitobans including several northern communities. Some examples are TVs, portable devices, computer equipment, audio equipment, and more.
Why can’t electronics go in your blue bin or garbage?
- They pose fire and explosion risks that can harm workers and damage equipment.
- They contain compounds harmful to the environment.
- They contain metals that are environmentally harmful to mine.
Where to dispose of medication and medical sharps?
Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA) runs a take-back program for prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications, and natural health products. Most pharmacies participate in the program and will dispose of your unused medications safely. Pills, skin creams, cough syrups, supplements and all other medications are accepted.
HPSA also runs a return program for medical sharps, however the have a different search tool for finding drop-off locations. Participating locations will also provide free sharps containers so you can safely store used sharps until you return them. Accepted sharps include:
- Needles and syringes
- Infusion sets
- Lancets
- Pen tips
- Pre-filled syringes and cartridges
- Auto-injectors
Why can’t medications and medical sharps go in your blue bin or garbage (or toilet)?
Medications — even natural health products — can harm people, animals, and ecosystems if not properly disposed of. There are already traces of pharmaceuticals in our soil and water from improper disposal.
Sharps also pose a risk to the environment and can harm and spread infections to family members, friends, animals, and municipal workers.
Where to recycle Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), Paint, and Lightbulbs?
Product Care Association of Canada has dozens of drop-off locations across Manitoba for recycling harmful products and their containers, including paint, light bulbs, and household hazardous waste. There are exceptions, but most products with a hazard symbol (see image above) are accepted at Product Care drop-off locations.
Why can’t HHW go in your blue bin or garbage?
- They pose fire, explosion, poison, toxicity, and corrosive risks that can harm workers and damage equipment (even when empty).
- They contain compounds harmful to the environment and the public.
Where to recycle motor oil, oil filters, and anti-freeze?
If you change or top up your oil, you should know about Manitoba Association of Resource Recovery Corp’s drop-off locations. They accept oil, oil filters, antifreeze, and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). They also accept empty containers, which can’t go in your blue bin or garbage.
Why can’t oil and antifreeze go in your blue bin or garbage?
- They can harm workers and damage equipment.
- They contain compounds harmful to the environment and the public.
Where to recycle used tires and tubes?
If you’ve run out of tree to build tire swings, end-of-life tires and tubes are accepted at Tire Stewardship partner locations across Manitoba. They accept vehicle and bike tires. In 2022, they reported recycling 18,666 tonnes of tires.
Why can’t tires and tubes go in your blue bin or garbage?
- They can harm workers and damage equipment.
- They contain compounds harmful to the environment.
Where to recycle Thermostats containing mercury?
It may seem odd that there’s a recycling program for thermostats, given that they’re small and don’t need to be disposed of often. But they contain mercury, which needs to be carefully disposed of when you replace a thermostat. You can find a drop-off location near you on HRAI’s website.
Why can’t thermostats go in your blue bin or garbage?
They contain mercury, which is toxic for humans, animals, and harmful to the environment.
One-stop shop recycling depots
4R Winnipeg Depots
If you live in or around Winnipeg, 4R Winnipeg Depots are your ‘one-stop shop’ for recycling. The depots accept the items listed above as well as blue bin materials, yard waste, scrap metal, and more.
The depots are free for residents to use and are open throughout the year. There are three depots in the city:
- Brady 4R Depot – 1777 Brady Road
- Panet 4R Depot – 429 Panet Road
- Pacific 4R Depot – 1120 Pacific Avenue
Community transfer stations and waste disposal sites.
Most communities accept the various materials listed above at their transfer stations or waste disposal sites. Check your community website to find out what you can recycle at your local transfer station.
