Recyclable Waste

We offer various programs to manage household waste efficiently and sustainably. Garbage sent to landfill contributes to climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. Help minimize climate change by reducing your waste and sorting it properly.

Blue and grey waste collection schedule

Your blue box and grey box are collected on alternating weeks. There is no limit to the number of correctly sorted boxes that will be collected.

Recycling collection rules

Put items in the boxes and place them by the curb on their pickup date before 6 a.m.
Place your boxes on the curb as close to the roadway as possible, without blocking the sidewalk.
Place items loosely in the boxes, do not bag your recyclables.
Put all plastic bags into one plastic bag, tie it closed, and place it in your grey bin.
Help us avoid recycling blowing away on a windy day! Place heavier recyclable items on top or place an unattached piece of wood over top of the box.
Ensure each box and its contents weigh less than 44lbs (20kg).

Blue box

The blue box collects metal, plastic and glass containers, as well as rigid plastic packaging for recycling.

What can I put in the blue box?

Metal food and beverage cans
Pop cans, pie plates and clean aluminum foil
Clear and coloured glass bottles and jars
Plastic bottles
Plastic jars, tubs and lids
White Styrofoam (max 90cm x 60cm x 20cm (3'x2'x8"))
Paper cans with steel lids (eg. potato chip cans)

Do not put the following waste in the blue box:

Grocery bags and stretchy plastic film (goes in the grey box)
Flatware, window glass and mirrors
Coloured (blue, pink, black, etc.) styrofoam
Plastic containers larger than 10L
Styrofoam peanuts
Plastic toys
Lawn furniture and other oversized plastics
Crinkly plastic film, pet food bags and bubble wrap.
Broken glass (goes in the garbage, in a cardboard box, tape it shut, label it)

Grey box

The grey box is used to collect paper products, cardboard and plastic bags. Put all the plastic bags into one plastic bag and tie it. Each grey box and its contents must weigh less than 20kg (44lbs).

What can I put in the grey box?

Plastic bags and stretchy plastic film (placed in a tied plastic bag)
Newspaper, flyers, junk mail, magazines, office paper (all colours), envelopes
Shredded paper (in a clear tied bag max 90cm x 60cm x 20cm )
Boxboard, food and beverage cartons (milk, juice, soup, broth, etc)
Coffee cups – lid removed (place in blue box)
Corrugated cardboard (may be bundled, max 90cm x 60cm x 20cm)
Cardboard pieces inside another cardboard box, (max 90cmx 60cmx 20cm)

Do not put the following waste in the grey box:

Crinkly plastic film, pet-food bags and bubble wrap.
Greasy pizza boxes (these go in your green bin)
Meat packaging
Gift wrap
Cereal/cracker liners
Zipper-style plastic bags

Need a recycling box?

Each property is entitled to two free blue boxes and 1 grey box. You can also get a replacement if yours has been lost, stolen, or broken. Extra boxes cost $6.50 / box. You may use another rigid-plastic box for recycling, but it must have dimensions that are like the boxes we provide: 56 cm (22") long x 43 cm (17") wide x 37 cm (14.5") tall, and be able to hang on the side of the collection vehicles.

Get your boxes at:

The administrative building at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC), 196 Lappan's Lane, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (will also accept damaged bins for replacement).
City Hall, 216 Ontario St., Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except civic holidays).
Rideau Heights Community Centre & Library, 85 MacCauley St., Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except civic holidays).
Kingston East Community Centre, 779 Highway 15, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

City of Kingston
City Hall
216 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3
Canada
contactus@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000
Fax: 613-546-7816

The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.

Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.

Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives .