Decluttering your home feels amazing—clearing out old, unused items makes space for what truly matters. But before you start tossing things in the blue bin, are you sure you’re recycling correctly? Many people assume that anything plastic, paper, or metal is automatically recyclable, but that’s not always the case.
When decluttering, you’re likely to come across forgotten, broken, or outdated items tucked away in closets, basements, and garages. Knowing how to dispose of them properly is key to NOT contaminating entire recycling batches, damaging sorting machines, or sending recyclable materials straight to the landfill.
These guidelines follow Calgary’s official recycling rules to help you make informed decisions about what belongs in the blue bin and what doesn’t. In this guide, we’ll break down how to recycle properly when decluttering your home—so you can minimize waste, protect the environment, and ensure your efforts don’t go to waste.
📍 Note: These guidelines apply to Calgary recycling rules, so always check local regulations if you live elsewhere.
Plastic: The Most Misunderstood Recycling Category
Plastic is tricky—not everything plastic is recyclable and improper disposal can cause major issues at recycling facilities.
✅ What You CAN Recycle:
✔️ Plastics numbered 1 to 7 – Look for the number inside the recycling symbol at the bottom of the container.
✔️ Plastic bottles & containers – Must be clean, dry, and empty before placing them in the bin.
✔️ Stretchy plastic bags (grocery bags, bubble wrap, overwrap from paper towels) – Bundle them together inside one plastic bag before placing them in the blue bin. Loose plastic bags can jam sorting machines and disrupt the recycling process.
🚫 What You CANNOT Recycle
❌ Broken plastic toys – These belong in the garbage.
❌ Plastic hangers – Donate them to thrift stores, if broken, put them in the trash.
❌ Mixed-material items – For example, candy boxes with both cardboard and plastic inserts must be separated before recycling. Items made with more than one material that can’t be separated belong in the garbage.
❌ Small plastic lids – If the lid is smaller than your palm, it goes in the garbage—it’s too small for recycling equipment to process.
Paper & Cardboard: Small Steps Matter
Paper and cardboard are some of the easiest materials to recycle—but they must be prepared properly to avoid contamination.
✅ What You CAN Recycle
✔️ Paper products – Newspapers, magazines, flyers, and office paper.
✔️ Flattened cardboard boxes – Remove as much tape and labels as possible before recycling.
✔️ Pizza boxes – A little grease is okay, but if it’s heavily soiled, put it in the green bin instead.
✔️ Coffee cups (like Tim Hortons & McDonald’s) – Rinse them out before recycling.
🚫 What You CANNOT Recycle
❌ Ribbons & bows – These belong in the garbage.
❌ Shiny or metallic wrapping paper – Do the tear test: if it tears easily, it’s recyclable. If not, throw it away.
Still unsure about which holiday packaging is recyclable? This CTV News article explains the “tear test” and other simple tricks to figure out what can go in the blue bin.
Metal: Sorting Matters
Metal is highly recyclable, but not all metal can go in the blue bin.
✅ What You CAN Recycle
✔️ Aluminum cans & food tins – Make sure they are rinsed and empty.
✔️ Tin foil – If clean, it can be recycled. Greasy or food-covered foil belongs in the garbage.
🚫 What You CANNOT Recycle
❌ Wire hangers from dry cleaners – Return them to your local dry cleaner for reuse. Otherwise, they belong in the garbage.
❌ Scrap metal – Do NOT put in the blue bin. Take it to a landfill drop-off for recycling.
Electronics & Batteries: NEVER Put Them in the Blue Bin
Decluttering often means finding old electronics and dead batteries. These should NEVER go into the recycling bin.
Why? If batteries are crushed in recycling facilities, they can explode and cause fires.
✅ Where to Take Them
Batteries, old phones, chargers & electronics – drop them off at battery recycling locations (many stores like Home Depot, Staples or Best Buy accept them).
Broken appliances, like toasters, fans, washing machine etc. – drop them off at the landfill for recycling.
Foam: Recyclable, But NOT in the Blue Bin
Foam (like Styrofoam) can be recycled—but it must be taken to the landfill.
✅ What You CAN Recycle
✔️ White or colored foam packaging – Drop it off at a designated landfill recycling area.
🚫 What You CANNOT Recycle
❌ Black foam – This must go in the garbage.
❌ Foam in the blue bin – Foam is too light and will damage sorting equipment.
Common Recycling Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
🚫 No bagged recyclables – All items must be loose in the bin. Bagged recyclables go straight to landfill.
🚫 No dirty containers – Rinse food containers before recycling. Leftover food contaminates entire recycling batches.
🚫 No partially filled bottles or cans – Everything must be completely empty before recycling.
🚫 No guessing – If you’re unsure whether something is recyclable, throw it in the garbage. Contaminated batches ruin recycling efforts for everyone.
Recycling Done Right: Well Arranged Home’s Commitment
At Well Arranged Home, we care deeply about the environment and believe in responsible decluttering. That’s why we follow all recycling guidelines during our organizing sessions—ensuring that items go to the right place.
As part of our service, we take care of recycling for you, bringing materials to the correct drop-off locations at no extra charge.
🌿 Our Golden Rule: If you can’t clean the containers or separate mixed materials, it’s better to throw it in the garbage than to risk contaminating an entire batch of recycling.
Final Thoughts: Declutter Responsibly, Recycle Right
Decluttering is a great way to refresh your space, but recycling incorrectly can do more harm than good. By following these Calgary recycling guidelines, you can reduce waste, protect the environment, and make your decluttering efforts truly count.
♻️ Ready to declutter your home the right way? Contact us at Well Arranged Home—we’ll organize your space and handle the recycling for you!
Decluttered and now don’t know where to drop it off? Check out our guide on Donations in Calgary or our guide for Donations in Toronto.
