--- title: "Waste management refresher: what bin does this go in?" description: Despite our best efforts, many are unfamiliar with how to properly dispose of waste. Check out our quick refresher to improve your disposal habits. image: https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hubfs/featured-recycling.png --- [ ![CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB.png?width=160&height=41&name=CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB.png)](https://caaniagara.ca/) [![CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB.png?width=165&height=41&name=CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB.png)](https://caaniagara.ca/) - [My Account](http://caaniagara.ca/redirect/redirect_myaccount.jsp) - [Find a Branch](https://caaniagara.ca/contact-us) - [Careers](https://caaniagara.ca/careers) - [CAA Niagara Blog](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/) ## Search Search Search - [Membership](https://caaniagara.ca/membership) - Manage Membership - [Join CAA](https://caaniagara.ca/membership/compare) - [Renew Membership](https://caaniagara.ca/membership/renew) - [Compare Memberships](https://caaniagara.ca/membership/compare) - 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April 27, 2020 | Devon Gribble   ![image-recylcing](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/image-recylcing.png?width=1200&name=image-recylcing.png)   Spring is often when we begin to clean up our yards or start a do-it-yourself renovation, often leading to an increase in the amount of garbage and recycling per household. Despite our best efforts, many of us are unfamiliar with how to properly dispose of waste. Check out our quick refresher to improve your household disposal habits. ## **Re-use, reduce, recycle** Before you start preparing waste for collection, you’ll want to decide if any items can be re-used or donated. Doing so will ensure you are limiting the waste you produce on a weekly basis. Once you’ve looked through everything, you can then start to put your recyclables in their proper bins The **blue box** is dedicated to containers and rigid plastic containers. Some common items that should go in these bins include: **cardboard can**s; **cartons and drink boxes**; **empty paint** **and aerosol cans;** **glass jars and bottles**; **metal food and drink containers**; **plastic and foam containers**; **plastic bottles, jugs and pails**; **plastic containers and lids**; and **plastic flowerpots**. As for the **grey box**, this is where **paper, cardboard and plastic wraps/bags** should go. This includes but is not limited to **books (with hard covers removed)**; **paper**; **magazines**; **cardboard boxes**; **toilet paper/paper towel rolls**; **plastic bags/stretchy outer-wrap** stuffed into one bag and tied; **shredded paper** in a tied clear plastic bag ## **The Green Bin and Yard Waste** The purpose of your **green bin** is to stop biodegradable waste and compostable goods from going to landfills. If you are using this method, you must make sure you are lining your bin with the proper material such as a certified compostable bag or newspaper.  Items that are typically placed in here include **coffee grounds**, **filters and tea bags**; **tissue paper**; **food waste**; **paper drink trays and egg cartons**; **paper towels**, **plates and bags**. This is also where you’d put any yard waste like **leaves, small twigs and hedge trimmings**. It's important to remember that grass clippings do not go in here. As a matter of fact, they aren’t even collected at the curb. The [Niagara Region suggests](https://www.niagararegion.ca/waste/disposal/items/grasscycling.aspx)leaving these in your lawn as they only take a few days to break down and return nutrients to the soil. If you would like to dispose of your clippings, you can do so for free at any [landfill in Niagara](https://www.niagararegion.ca/waste/landfills/default.aspx). ## **Garbage** Now that most of your items are separated, it’s time to get your garbage ready. Items that can go in the garbage include **greeting cards**; **ceramics**; **candy wrappers**; **juice boxes**; **paper coffee and drink cups**; **coffee pods**; **cigarette ashes and butts**; and **diapers**. ## **Other services** Now you might be thinking – what do I do with my computer, half-used paint and aerosol cans or old fridge? The Niagara Region has [various services](https://www.niagararegion.ca/waste/disposal/default.aspx) in place that will take those hard-to-sort items off your hands. These services include hazardous waste depots, seasonal curbside pickups for batteries, and scheduled pickups of large items or appliances. [Click here](https://www.niagararegion.ca/waste/COVID-changes.aspx) to check for service availability. CAA Members also[save 10% on 1-800-GOT-JUNK](https://portal.caarewards.ca/niagara/offer/1-800-got-junk-305907/) full-service garbage removal, a great solution for major projects and renovations around the house.  As we clean up our homes and neighborhoods this season, it's important that we do so responsibly. Visit the [Niagara Region's website](https://www.niagararegion.ca/waste/collection/items/default.aspx?sublanding=1) for a full list of waste disposal instructions.  Tags: [Community](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/topic/community) [Tweets by CAA Niagara](https://twitter.com/caaniagara) ### Recent Posts - [Contact Us](https://caaniagara.ca/contact-us) - [About CAA Niagara](https://caaniagara.ca/about-caa) - [Annual Report](https://caaniagara.ca/AnnualReport2024) - [Board of Directors](https://caaniagara.ca/theboard) - [News & Media](https://caaniagara.ca/news) - [Careers](https://caaniagara.ca/careers) - [Terms & Conditions](https://caaniagara.ca/terms-and-conditions) - [Privacy Policy](https://caaniagara.ca/privacy-policy) - [Consumer Email Policy](https://caaniagara.ca/consumer-email-policy) - [AODA Customer Service Policy](https://caaniagara.ca/accessibility-standard) ![tico.ca](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hubfs/Caaniagara_September2017/pdf/TICO-Logo.png) Ontario  Registration  #01381980 **Member Service** 1-800-263-7272 **Roadside Assistance** Niagara Region: 1-800-263-3616 Canada & US: 1-800-222-4357 or \*222 CAA Niagara serves Members in the Regional Municipality of Niagara. 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Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. ® CAA, CAA logo and CAA Dollars trademarks owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian Automobile Association. © Copyright 2025 CAA Niagara, Canadian Automobile Association. ® All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Devon Gribble", "url" : "https://blog.caaniagara.ca/author/devon-gribble" }, "dateModified" : "2020-04-27T15:19:52.242Z", "datePublished" : "2020-04-27T15:16:13.000Z", "headline" : "Waste management refresher: what bin does this go in?", "image" : [ "https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hubfs/featured-recycling.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.caaniagara.ca/waste-management-refresher-what-bin-does-this-go-in", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hubfs/CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB-1000x250.png" }, "name" : "CAA Niagara" } } ```