Blue Box Recycling

Contacts

Municipal Office

395 Mulock Drive P.O. Box 328 Station Main, Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 4X7
905-895-5193

Email Us

Blue box recyclables are collected every week on your scheduled collection day. To determine your collection day, please check our online Recycle Coach app or refer to the Waste and Recycling Calendar.

Remember to place blue boxes at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day and no earlier than 5 p.m. the night before collection. Ensure that blue box material set out for collection is in accordance with the Town's waste program requirements. Please remove emptied containers and any uncollected waste from the curb by 8 p.m. on collection day.

COVID-19 Waste Collection Reminders
  • Medical masks, gloves, and used tissues DO NOT belong in the Blue Box. Please place these items in the garbage.
  • Throw used tissues, latex gloves and medical masks in a wastebasket lined with a plastic bag in the garbage.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water after throwing those items away as well as after emptying your waste basket.
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • All garbage bags must be tied. Loose materials left in garbage containers will be left behind.
  • For your safety and that of our waste collectors, it's vital that you respect physical distancing. Please keep a distance of 2 metres (6 feet) at all times.
  • For those who are sick or test positive for COVID-19: Place all disposable items that have come into contact with your mouth, nose or eyes into the garbage -- this includes recyclables such as plastic water bottles, pop cans or milk cartons, or compostables such as facial tissue or paper napkins.
  • Double-bag and place rapid at-home test kit materials in the garbage (please ensure bag is securely tied before placing in the garbage). Paper boxes and instructions can be placed in the Blue Box for recycling. Businesses must make arrangements with a private company to dispose of this item (click here for more information).

Acceptable Containers
  • Blue boxes issued by the Town of Newmarket.
  • Blue boxes that are open-topped plastic containers that are clearly and easily identifiable as containing blue box recyclables. Blue boxes must not exceed 21 in. (53 cm) in height, 16 in. (40 cm) in width and 19 in. (48 cm) in length or 83 Litres (22 gallons).

Unacceptable Containers
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Containers with attached or detachable lids
  • Garbage bags (in any colour)
  • Garbage containers
  • Wheeled containers and oversized containers

Cardboard and Other Waste Paper Material
Cardboard, magazines, newspapers and boxboard may be placed beside your blue box if flattened, bundled and tied with twine or string (no rope). Bundles must not exceed 36 in. x 36 in. x 8 in. (90 cm x 90 cm x 20 cm).
Weight Limit
The maximum weight per blue box and its contents must not exceed 22 kg (50 lbs). Includes bundles.
Waste set-out Reminders
  • Place blue boxes at the curb by 7 a.m. for collection on your scheduled collection day. Do not place containers on the road or sidewalk as it may pose as a hazard to vehicular traffic and other residents. Proper placement will also help avoid damage to containers and will reduce interference with Town operations.
  • Keep blue boxes separate from your neighbours.
  • Do not overfill blue boxes.
  • During winter months, do not place blue boxes on top of or behind snow banks as it can be difficult for the collection operator to access, and may cause waste material to spill onto the roadway.
  • Maximum weight per blue box and its contents must not exceed 22 kg (50 lbs). Includes bundles.
Additional Blue Boxes
To purchase additional blue boxes, please email [email protected] with your name, phone number, address and number of bins required. Our Customer Service Centre will be in touch with you regarding payment and delivery. Please do not send payment information through email. You can also call 905-953-5303 to place your order.
Broken Blue Boxes
Blue boxes are replaced free of charge if broken. Residents can call Green for Life (GFL) at 1-866-421-5625 to schedule a replacement bin exchange. Broken blue boxes must be at the curb on the date of exchange in order to receive a replacement bin.

Missed Waste Collection
For missed waste collection or waste collection inquiries, please contact Green for Life (GFL) at 1-866-421-5625 or via email at [email protected].
Oops Sticker
If you received an 'oops' sticker, please visit Green for Life's (GFL) 'oops' sticker page for more information.

What Happens to my Blue Box Material?
The Town of Newmarket manages the collection of blue box materials, which are delivered to York Region's Material Recovery Facility for processing. To learn more about what happens to your blue box recyclables after collection, watch this video!

Acceptable Materials

Non-acceptable Materials

Newsprint: catalog​ues, magazines, telephone books, newspapers, advertising flyers and any other newspaper inserts (newspapers still in the plastic wrapper are not acceptable)
Polystyrene Foam: foam egg cartons, protective packaging, and take-out food containers
Glass: rinsed, clear and coloured glass bottles and jars that once contained food or beverages (please separate lids)

Unacceptable Glass: no plate glass, window glass, headlights, light bulbs, drinking glasses, cups, dishes, cookware, ceramics, mirrors, etc.

Metal Food and Drink Cans: rinsed metal cans that once contained food or beverages

Plastic Bags/Wrap: grocery, bread, produce and frozen vegetable bags, and other plastic film/wrap items including non-food and beverage formed or bubbled plastic packaging

Corrugated Cardboard: appliance boxes, moving boxes, pizza boxes (clean), and any other corrugated cardboard (bundled no larger than 36” x 36” and tied no thicker than 8”)

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW): propane, paint, motor oil, cleaners and batteries (take these items to a HHW Depot for disposal). No cans that once contained a hazardous material, such as motor oil, brake or transmission fluid

Boxboard: boxboard such as cereal, detergent, pasta, cracker, tissue, shoe and any other boxboard products (plastic liners and food residue removed)

Other: diapers, plastic food wrap, wax paper, garden hose, rope, shredded paper, paper towels, cookie bags, potato chip bags, textiles, coat hangers, pots, pans, kitchen utensils, plastic toys, lawn furniture, furnace filters, coffee cups, black plastic take-out containers

Fine Paper: writing paper, computer paper, flyers and envelopes, egg cartons, greeting cards, tissue paper, etc. 


​Plastic: rinsed and empty plastic bottles, drink containers (no straws), jars and jugs (used for beverage, food, cleaning products), food tubs (yogurt, margarine, etc.), clear fruit and vegetable containers and clear take-out containers

For more information on what goes where, check out Newmarket's Recycle Coach app or York Region's Bindicator.