Check with your medical clinic, doctor's office, or pharmacy to see if they will accept needles and syringes and how you can participate in their collection program. If you cannot dispose of your needles and syringes at your clinic, doctor's office or pharmacy, package them in puncture-proof containers with lids and put them out for regular garbage collection.

If you are unsure about proper disposal, contact 311 for more information. With the exception of homeowners, all other generators of bio-medical waste sharps must comply with the bio-medical waste sharps by-law 6001/92.

Old newspapers and flyers can be recycled throughthe city's Blue box recycling program.

Find out what’s recyclable in your community: SimplyRecycle.ca

The following products canbe recycled in Manitoba through the Manitoba Association for Resource Recovery Corporation (MARRC) Program:

• Used automotive oil and containers
• Used oil filters
• Used packaged antifreeze and their containers (30L or less) and bulk antifreeze (greater than 30L)
• Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol used or intended for use as a vehicle engine coolant.

MARRC currently has 69 rural licensed Eco-Centre collection depots in Manitoba and 10 licensed collection sites in the City of Winnipeg. Call (MARRC) by telephone: (204) 632-5255, or call Toll Free: 1-888-410-1440 for additional inforamtion.

Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) dels with the recovery and recycling of packaging and printed paper normally managed within the municipal waste stream (primarily household packaging and printed paper).

Each municipality defines its own list of what they accept in their program.  For a complete list of materials accepted in your community recycling program please Click Here and select your community.

Leftover paint should NOT be dumped into sewers or drains. Latex paints can be placed out for regular garbage collection if the lids are off the paint containers and the paint is dry and hard. Homeowners should contact the Product Care Association at (204) 477-0741 or 1-888-772-9772, or call Miller Environmental Corporation at (204) 925-9600 for information on how to dispose leftover paints.

Businesses must contact a licensed hazardous waste disposal company to dispose of their paint. They can also contact the Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg ReStore, a building supply store that accepts and resells quality new and used building materials, about donating new, full cans of mis-tinted or over-stock paint directly from suppliers and manufacturers. They do not accept paint from the general public.

Pesticides and insecticides are highly toxic chemicals and must not be dumped into the drainage system or taken to the local landfill.

Please contact the Product Care Association at (204) 477-0741 or 1-888-772-9772, or call Miller Environmental Corporation at (204) 925-9600 to find out how to dispose these chemicals safely.

Telephone sets are a type of designated electronicwaste. Manitoba has a well-established program for collection and disposal of electrical and electronic waste (e.g., home and vehicle audio/video systems, telephone sets and answering machines, desktop and portable computers and accessories, microwave oven etc.). This program is run by the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA).

Please visit http://recyclemyelectronics.ca/mb/ for more information on how to recycle telephone sets.

For information on recycling cell phones, please see the A-Z entry on Cellular Phone.

Gardening containers / plant containers can be recycled through the “Closed Loop Recycling” program. Please follow this link to find a garden centre near you for recycling these containers.

Printers are a type of designated electronic-waste. Manitoba has a well-established program for collection and disposal of electrical and electronic waste (e.g., home and vehicle audio/video systems, telephone sets and answering machines, desktop and portable computers and accessories, microwave oven etc.). This program is run by the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA).

Please visit http://recyclemyelectronics.ca/mb/ for more information on how to recycle printers.

If the printer is in good condition and functioning, you may be able to donate it to Computers for Schools, Manitoba or other organizations such as the Selkirk & District Community Learning Centre Inc.

Propane tanks / compressed gas cylinders have the potential to explode and will not be picked up with regular garbage collection. To recycle your tank:

• Contact the seller. Most retail outlets that refill propane cylinders will accept outdated tanks and have them re-certified.
• Look in the yellow pages under propane or visit tanktraders.com for locations where you can exchange your tank for a new one.

For additional information, please contact the Product Care Association at (204) 477-0741 or 1-888-772-9772, or call Miller Environmental at (204) 925-9600.

These items contain creosote, a preservative, which makes them hazardous. Consider using lumber composites made of plastic and wood. See if someone is interested in reusing your railroad ties in a landscaping project. Railroad ties can be taken to the Brady Road Landfill for disposal if they are dry (i.e. not wet with creosote). Contact 311 for more information on the disposal of railroad ties.

Recycle My Cell  offers recycling of batteries of any condition or brand, as well as cell phones, chargers and wireless cards, at free drop-off spots . Find your nearest location by entering your postal code or print off a free pre-paid label to mail in your items. The program is offered by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) and the Province of Manitoba. Recovered items are either taken apart for scrap at facilities in Alberta and Ontario or refurbished. Program proceeds go to groups such as Resource Conservation Manitoba, Tree Canada and the World Wildlife Fund.

Call2Recycle  offers free recycling of portable rechargeable batteries and cell phones. Locate your nearest drop-off site  by entering your postal code.

Metals can be brought to a scrap metal dealer for recycling. Check the Yellow Pages under "Scrap Metals".

These items such as broken glass, knives, nails, etc., need to be packaged in puncture-proof containers with lids. Once safely contained, they can then be put out for regular garbage collection.

For information on how to safely dispose needles and syringes, please see the A-Z entry for Needles and Syringes.

More information on garbage that needs special handling may be found here.

Up to 10 residential smoke detectors can be put out for regular garbage collection. More than 10 residential or any commercial smoke detectors require special arrangements and approval for disposal at the City's landfill because of the radioactive material in them, so contact 311.

Solvents are considered as hazardous waste and proper disposal is required.

For additional information, please contact Miller Environmental Corporation at (204) 925-9600, or the Product Care Association at (204) 477-0741 or 1-888-772-9772

Recycling styrofoam is difficult and expensive. It is not a "regulated" material in Manitoba for recycling.

However, some retailers may take back packaging materials including styrofoam if those came from products sold by them. London Drugs at 1225 St. Mary's Rd, Winnipeg (204-253-1650) now accepts styrofoam for recycling at no cost.

If it is not convenient for you to take styrofoam to London Drugs or if the material is not clean (used styrofoam cups and plates, take-away food containers), those should be thrown into the garage bin.

Televisions are a type of designated electronic waste. Manitoba has a well-established program for collection and disposal of electrical and electronic waste (e.g., home and vehicle audio/video systems, telephone sets and answering machines, desktop and portable computers and accessories, microwave oven etc.). This program is run by the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA).

Please visit http://recyclemyelectronics.ca/mb/ for more information on how to recycle televisions.

If the television is in good working condition, you may be able to donate it for reuse to a second hand thrift store such as Salvation Army,  Value Village and others.

All tires and tubes generated as scrap in the Province of Manitoba can be recycled through the Tire Stewardship Manitoba (TSM) Program. 

Drop off scrap tires at any of the Depots in the province (choose your town/city for a location nearest you). There is no charge when you drop off scrap tires eligible under the Tire Stewardship Manitoba Program. 

Please visit this link for a list of places where toner cartridges can be recycled.

Leftover varnish is considered as hazardous waste and proper disposal is required.Homeowners can take this item to Miller Environmental Corporation for free disposal. They may be contacted at (204) 925 9600.

For additional information, please contact the Product Care Association at (204) 477-0741 or 1-888-772-9772 for additional information.

Manitoba has a well-established program for collection and disposal of electrical and electronic waste (e.g., home and vehicle audio/video systems, telephone sets and answering machines, desktop and portable comuters and accessories, microwave oven etc.). This program is run by the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA).

Old VCRs are covered by this program. For a complete list of eligible products click here. 

Items such as dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air-conditioners and other large appliances will not be picked up with your regular garbage collection. Contact 311 to arrange for special collection. A fee may apply.

Information on what you can do with your yard waste is available by calling the City of Winnipeg's Recycling and Garbage Information Line at 986-8888, code 9813. For other cities and towns, please contact your local municipal office.