ON

Essex

Learn more about your recycling program.

Recycling resources

Learn more about recycling collection in Essex.

Recycling guide and calendar

VIEW

Get in touch

As of August 28, 2024, please contact GFL for any recycling collection inquiries. They can be contacted for:

  • Replacement recycling carts.
  • Missed collections.
  • Other recycling questions.

GFL

Be recycle ready

  • The recycling program in Essex-Windsor is a two-stream recycling program and uses two boxes – a Blue Box and a Red Box. The different colours are to separate materials for collection. 
  • Sort your recyclables before placing them in your recycling boxes. The Blue Box is for container materials and the Red Box is for paper materials. If you mix containers and paper in the same recycle box – your recycling will not get collected.
  • Flatten and break down cardboard boxes to save space on recycling and ensure your recycling gets collected.
  • Give containers a quick rinse before recycling. Make sure containers are free of food, liquid, and residue before recycling.
  • Place your recycling out by 6 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Collection time is not scheduled, so if you don’t want to miss the truck, make sure your recycling is out by 6:00 a.m. of your scheduled collection day.
  • Recycling carts must have the North America lifting mechanism to be collected. If the cart does not have the lifting mechanism it will not be picked up. This allows the cart to be lifted mechanically. Recycling carts must have:
    • One material type:  Recycle carts can only contain one type of material. Either paper or containers.
    • Proper labels: Carts have to have a label – “containers” or “paper”. Labels allow the driver to dump the contents in the correct compartment on the truck.
  • Recycle boxes have a weight limit: per Blue/Red Box: 20 kg /45 lb
  • Keep recyclables loose. Remember to not place your recycling in plastic bags. Plastic bags are not accepted in the program, and if you include plastic bags in your recycling, it will not be collected.
  • Windy days: Stack your Blue Box on top of your Red Box. This will help secure the paper products so they don’t blow out of the box.
  • Snowy Days: Please find a clear, flat spot to place your recycle boxes. Do not place them on top of or behind a snow bank.
  • Please place the following containers in your Blue Box for recycling. All containers just be empty, rinsed, and loos in the Blue Box/Cart. 
    • Aerosol Cans: hair sprays, shaving creams, oven cleaners, cleaners, deodorizers, whipped toppings, spray cheese, etc.
    • Aluminium Foil & Aluminium Trays: aluminum foil (loose sheets), aluminium trays, aluminium pie plates, and aluminium pans.
    • Beverage Cartons & Tetra Paks: milk cartons, juice cartons, creamer cartons, juice boxes, broth cartons, soup cartons, etc.
    • Food & Beverage Cans: pop and juice cans, vegetable cans, fruit cans, soup cans, etc. All food and beverage, aluminium and steel cans are accepted.
    • Glass Bottles & Jars: glass bottles and jars – all colours (condiment bottles and jars, dressings, sauces, etc.)
    • Plastic Bottles & Jugs: pop, water, sport drink bottles, lotion, shampoo, fabric softener, and condiment bottles, etc.
    • Spiral Wound Containers: frozen juice cans, frozen dough containers (e.g. Pillsbury crescent rolls), powdered drink containers, chip containers (e.g. Pringle), powdered creamer containers, etc.
    • Trays, Clamshells, & Cups: plastic food trays (frozen food trays/single serving), clamshell containers (muffins, cookies, nuts, candies), plastic baskets for fruit/vegetables, and plastic cups, etc.
    • Tubs & Lids: margarine tubs, sour cream tubes, yogurt, ice cream, spread and dip tubs with their lids, etc.
  • Please place the following paper products in your Red Box for recycling. All paper products must be empty (no lids, no food, no liquids).
    • Cardboard: cardboard boxes, shipping / moving boxes, clean pizza boxes, etc.
    • Preparation: stack smaller boxes inside larger boxes. Large appliance boxes need to be broken down into bundles (no larger than the size of a red box) 30″ X 30″.
    • Catalogues / Magazines: catalogues, magazines, telephone books, etc.
      • Preparation: Place materials loose in the Red Box.
    • Mixed Paper: Includes cereal, pasta, cookie, laundry, detergent, tissue and shoe boxes. Pet food bags, flour, sugar and potato bags. Kraft and brown paper bags. Paper tubes (toilet paper, paper towel, wrapping paper tubes). Office paper, envelopes, fibre egg trays, gift cards, gift wrap, etc.
      • Preparation: Flatten boxes and place in a boxboard box, and place in Red Box. Remove any plastic inserts/wrap and throw in the garbage.
    • Newspaper: Newspapers, junkmail, inserts, flyers, etc.
      • Preparation: Remove any plastic inserts/wrap and throw in the garbage. Place paper loose in the Red Box.
    • Medical waste
    • Motor oil or pesticide containers
    • Batteries and propane tanks
    • Ceramics, textiles
    • Plastic wrap or plastic toys
    • Broken glass
    • Dishes
    • Light bulbs
    • Window panes, mirrors, etc.
    • Cat litter or pet waste
    • Appliances

    Public Drop Off Depot (Windsor)

    2024 Summer Hours / Mon., Apr. 1, 2024 – Sat., Nov. 30, 2024
    Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    *Winter hours restart on December 2, 2024.

    2024 Holiday Schedule
    New Year’s Day (Jan. 1st, 2024) – closed.
    Family Day (Feb. 19th) – closed.
    Good Friday (Mar. 29th) – closed.
    Easter Monday (Apr. 1st) – closed.
    Victoria Day (May 20th) – closed.
    Canada Day (July 1st) – closed.
    Civic Holiday (Aug. 5th) – closed.
    Labour Day (Sept. 2nd) – closed.
    National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Sept. 30th) / OPEN.
    Thanksgiving Day (Oct. 14th) – closed.
    Remembrance Day (Nov. 11th) – OPEN.
    Christmas Eve (Dec. 24th) – closed.
    Christmas Day (Dec. 25th) – closed.
    Boxing Day (Dec. 26th) – closed.
    New Years’ Eve (Dec. 31st) – OPEN
    New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2025) – closed.

    Contact Details

    • 3560 North Service Rd. East
      Windsor, ON N9A 6J3