Recycling Guide: Containers You Can Recycle
August 18, 2023
You might be wondering: Are glass bottles recyclable? How are plastic bottles recycled? What happens to a milk carton? Here’s a quick overview of the most commonly recycled beverage containers and their deposit amounts.
Clear plastic beverage containers
Once melted into plastic pellets, clear plastic bottles are turned into new clear drink containers.
Glass bottles
Once recycled, the glass is crushed and further refined down to a fine powder, then used in fiberglass insulation.
Aluminum cans
Empty aluminum cans are turned into new aluminum cans in as little as 60 days!
Coloured plastic containers
Empty beverage containers made from colourful, dyed plastics are melted down into pellets and then recycled into non-food grade plastic containers and other useful products.
Tetra Brik
Tetra Briks are made of paper, plastic and aluminum. Each container is broken down into its individual materials; the fiber is extracted and used to manufacture paper products, while the residual aluminum and plastics are used in drywall and roofing tiles.
Gable top
Once you are done with your milk or juice cartons, they can be broken down into their separate parts (paper and plastic) and turned into bath tissue, cardboard, writing paper and more.
Bi-metal
Empty bi-metal containers are smelted down and turned into car parts, rebar and grinding rods for mining.
Drink pouches
The materials from your used drink pouches or bag-in-box containers are separated and shaped into new items or converted from waste to energy. The cardboard is recycled into paper products like mixed cardboard and egg cartons, while the pouches/bladders are processed into recycled resin for pots and planks or used as a coal-alternative to fuel cement kilns.
Deposit refunds
When you buy a drink like pop, milk or juice from the grocery store, convenience store, or even a vending machine, the price of your drink includes a deposit for the container. The deposit you pay when buying your drink helps by adding an extra incentive to ensure your beverage containers make it to the recycling depot, rather than the landfill!