Information about recycling cart sizes along with recycling cart exchange request form and FAQs can be found here. As of January 1, please use the recycling cart provided by the collection contractor.
Circular Materials has partnered with Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA) to provide residents with the opportunity to recycle their previous recycling containers and create space for their new recycling containers.
In partnership with EWSWA, residents can now drop off their unwanted, outdated recycling container for free at one of these EWSWA Depots until April 15, 2026:
EWSWA Public Drop Off Depot (Windsor) – 3560 North Service Rd E
EWSWA Regional Recycling Depot (Essex) – 7700 County Rd 18
EWSWA Transfer Station 2 (Kingsville) – 2021 Albuna Townline
As of January 1, 2026, residents must use their new recycling cart for collection.
To learn more, click here.
For questions related to:
Please contact:
GFL Environmental
Learn more about recycling collection in Essex-Windsor.
Cardboard boxes
Pizza boxes, direct mail boxes, moving boxes, shoe boxes.
✅ Flatten. No larger than 60 x 60 cm.
Boxboard
Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, egg cartons, rolls from toilet paper and paper towel.
✅ Flatten.
✅ Empty.
Paper laminate packaging
Pet food bags, food service paper bags, and plates.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
Paper laminate containers
Spiral cans, cookie dough package, ice cream containers, and hot and cold beverage cups.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Remove lids.
Cartons
Beverage cartons, juice and milk cartons, coffee creamers, and sugar cartons, soup and sauce cartons.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Paper
Any colour, including flour bags, prescription bags, paper produce bags.
Notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, other printed materials.
Community newspapers, flyers, brochures and magazines.
Greeting cards and envelopes, gift boxes.
✅ Empty.
✅ Place shredded paper in a tied clear plastic bag.
✅ Separate from plastic bags used to cover items, remove elastic bands.
✅ Remove rope handle from bags.
❌ Do not include soft or hard covered books/novels.
Hard plastic containers
Laundry detergent and household cleaner jugs, shampoo, body wash, salad dressing, condiment, dish soap, mouth wash bottles, plastic beverage bottles.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Plastic packaging and containers
Food trays, salad, yogurt, peanut butter, bakery and egg containers, plastic cups, plastic tubs and lids, black plastic containers.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Tubes
Toothpaste tubes, deodorant, hand cream tubes.
✅ Empty and free from residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
Small item plastic packaging
Hand sanitizer bottles, medication bottles, blister packs, plant pots.
✅ Empty and free from food and residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
Flexible plastic packaging
Bags used for dry cleaning, bread, newspapers and flyers. Overwrap (paper towel & toilet paper, beverage containers). Coffee bags or deli pouches, chip bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers, cereal liner bags, plastic gift bags.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
Foam packaging
Meat trays, takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging for products.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Remove film wrap and absorbent pads from meat trays.
Metal containers
Food cans, metal lids, cookie, coffee and tea tins, beverage cans.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Aluminum (foils and trays)
Aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Ball up aluminum foil.
Aerosol containers
Food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant.
✅ Empty.
✅ Lids on.
❌ Aerosols with toxic, corrosive or flammable symbol are not accepted with the exception of:
Glass containers
Clear and coloured glass.
Food containers, jars and bottles, cosmetic containers, spice bottles, oil and vinegar bottles, non-alcoholic glass beverage containers.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Lids off.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Did you notice a yellow oops sticker on your recycling? This means your recycling had one of the following challenges:
How to be recycle ready
Follow these simple tips to ensure your materials are ready for collection and recycling:
Questions?
For questions about oops stickers, contact your recycling contractor.
Yes, as of January 1, 2026, we ask all residents to please use their new recycling container provided by the collection contractor.
EWSWA and Circular Materials will be accepting cart returns at these three locations until April 15, 2026.
This return program will run through until April 15, 2026. We encourage residents to drop off their previous containers anytime until April 15, 2026.
To ensure your previous recycling container (recycling containers used prior to January 1, 2026) is accepted for return and drop off, please ensure that they are empty, cleaned and clear of any materials.
No, previous recycling containers being returned must be cleaned and emptied to be dropped off and processed.
For residents looking to exchange their new recycling carts, more information about the process will be shared at the end of February. Please continue to use the new recycling cart provided by the collection contractor.
