How to Recycle Plastic in Canada
Recycling plastic in Canada depends on where you live and the type of material. This guide explains what is accepted, how to prepare it, and where to drop it off.
Can plastic be recycled?
Yes, plastic is recyclable in most Canadian municipalities through curbside programmes or drop-off depots.
Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, and containers are commonly accepted. Flexible films, styrofoam, and black plastic are accepted in fewer programs.
Preparation tips
Rinse containers, leave caps on if local programme allows, and check resin codes against your municipality's list.
Why recycling plastic matters
Diverting plastic from landfills reduces environmental impact, conserves raw materials, and supports Canada's circular economy. Many provinces have extended producer responsibility programmes that make recycling convenient and often free.
Cities with Plastic drop-off
Below are Canadian cities with locations that accept plastic. Click a city to see addresses, hours and materials accepted.
Abbotsford
BC
Alma
QC
Antigonish
NS
Area B (Bella Bella)
BC
Area C (Cobble Hill)
BC
Area C (Inkaneep/Willowbrook)
BC
Area C (Stuart Lake/Omineca Valley)
BC
Area D (Elaho/Garibaldi)
BC
Area E (Beaverdell/West Boundary)
BC
Area O (Lower North Thompson)
BC
Area P (Rivers and the Peaks)
BC
Atholville
NB
Aylesford
NS
Baddeck
NS
Baie-D'Urfé
QC
Barrie
ON
Bath
NB
Bathurst
NB
Beauharnois
QC
Bedford
NS
Beechville
NS
Belleville
ON
Beloeil
QC
Beresford
NB
Berry Mills
NB
Bertrand
NB
Blainville
QC
Blenheim
ON
Boischatel
QC
Botwood
NL
Bouctouche
NB
Bowen Island Municipality
BC
Brampton
ON
Brantford
ON
Brooklyn
NS
Burnaby
BC
Burnt Islands
NL
Cache Creek
BC
Caledon
ON
Caledonia
NS
Calgary
AB
Candiac
QC
Canning
NS
Cap Pelé
NB
Caraquet
NB
Carman
MB
Centre Wellington
ON
Chambly
QC
Chandler
QC
Chase
BC
Chester Basin
NS
Chilliwack
BC
Châteauguay
QC
City of Langley
BC
City of Moncton
NB
City of Saint John
NB
Clarence East
NS
Clearview
ON
Cocagne
NB
Comox
BC
Conception Bay South
NL
Coquitlam
BC
Courtenay
BC
Cowansville
QC
Cranbrook
BC
Creston
BC
Cumberland
BC
Dalhousie
NB
Darnley
PE
Dartmouth
NS
Dartmouth - Burnside
NS
Dauphin
MB
Dawson Creek
BC
Delta
BC
Derby Junction
NB
Dieppe
NB
District of North Vancouver
BC
Doaktown
NB
Drummondville
QC
Durrell
NL
Dysart et al
ON
East Ferris Township
ON
Eastern Passage
NS
Edmonton
AB
Edmundston
NB
Elkford
BC
Elliot Lake
ON
Elm Creek
MB
Elmsdale
NS
Enderby
BC
Esquimalt
BC
Fair Isle
NB
Fernie
BC
Fogo
NL
Fort Qu'Appelle
SK
Fort St. James
BC
Fort St. John
BC
Frampton
QC
Fraser Lake
BC
Fredericton
NB
French River
ON
Gabriola
BC
Gander
NL
Gatineau
QC
Georgefield
NS
Georgian Bay Township
ON
Gibsons
BC
Glovertown
NL
Golden
BC
Goodwood
NS
Gore
QC
Granby
QC
Grand Sault
NB
Grande-Rivière
QC
Greater Sudbury
ON
Greenwood
BC
Grenville
QC
Guelph
ON
Guysborough
NS
Halifax
NS
Halifax - Spryfield
NS
Hamilton
ON
Hampton
NB
Hanwell
NB
Hanwell Rural Community
NB
Happy Valley Goose Bay
NL
Harrington
QC
Hartfield
NB
Harvey Rural Community
NB
Head, Clara and Maria
ON
Hornby Island
BC
Hudson Bay
SK
Ingramport
NS
Inkerman Ferry
NB
Inverness
NS
Joggins
NS
Juan de Fuca Electoral Area
BC
Kakisa
NT
Kamloops
BC
Kearney
ON
Kelowna
BC
Kensington
PE
Kent Parish
NB
Kingston
ON
L'Ancienne-Lorette
QC
L'Assomption
QC
L'Isle-aux-Coudres
QC
L'Île-Perrot
QC
La Pocatière
QC
La Prairie
QC
La Ronge
SK
LaScie
NL
Lac du Bonnet
MB
Lachute
QC
Lambton Shores
ON
Larry's River
NS
Laval
QC
Lawrencetown
NS
Lequille
NS
Lillydale
NS
London
ON
Longueuil
QC
Louiseville
QC
Lower Brighton
NB
Lower Sackville
NS
Lower South River
NS
Lumby
BC
Lévis
QC
Malartic
QC
Marathon
ON
Marieville
QC
Markham
ON
Mayo
YT
Melfort
SK
Memramcook
NB
Merritt
BC
Meteghan Centre
NS
Milton
ON
Mirabel
QC
Miramichi
NB
Mission
BC
Mississauaga
ON
Mississauga
ON
Mississippi Mills
ON
Moncton
NS
Mont-Joli
QC
Mont-Tremblant
QC
Montcerf-Lytton
QC
Montmagny
QC
Montréal
QC
Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula
ON
Nanaimo
BC
Neils Harbour
NS
Neuville
QC
New Glasgow
NS
New Minas
NS
New Waterford
NS
New Westminster
BC
Niagara Falls
ON
Nicolet
QC
Nipissing Township
ON
North Cowichan
BC
North Rustico
PE
North Vancouver
BC
Odanak
QC
Oromocto
NB
Ottawa
ON
Parksville
BC
Paroisse d'Addington
NB
Pemberton
BC
Penticton
BC
Perth Andover
NB
Peterborough
ON
Petit Rocher
NB
Pincourt
QC
Pointe-des-Cascades
QC
Port Alberni
BC
Port Elgin
NB
Portage la Prairie
MB
Porters Lake
NS
Potton
QC
Powell River
BC
Prince George
BC
Prince Rupert
BC
Prévost
QC
Pugwash
NS
Quebec
QC
Quesnel
BC
Québec
QC
Regina
SK
Richmond
BC
Richmond Hill
ON
Rideau Lakes
ON
Rigaud
QC
Rimouski
QC
Riverhead
NL
Rivière-Verte
NB
Rouyn-Noranda
QC
Saanich
BC
Sackville
NB
Saint John
NS
Saint-Alban
QC
Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska
QC
Saint-Charles-Borromée
QC
Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges
QC
Saint-Francois de Madawaska
NB
Saint-Georges
QC
Saint-Honoré
QC
Saint-Hyacinthe
QC
Saint-Isidore
QC
Saint-Jean-Baptiste
QC
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
QC
Saint-Joseph-du-Lac
QC
Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon
QC
Saint-Louis-de-Kent
NB
Saint-Magloire
QC
Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil
QC
Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis
QC
Saint-Quentin
NB
Saint-Rémi
QC
Saint-Siméon
QC
Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval
QC
Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
QC
Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
QC
Sainte-Catherine
QC
Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier
QC
Sainte-Julie
QC
Sainte-Marie
QC
Sainte-Thècle
QC
Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
QC
Salisbury
NB
Salmon Arm
BC
Salt Spring Island Electoral Area
BC
Saskatoon
SK
Savoie Landing
NB
Scotch Creek
BC
Scotland
ON
Seabrook
NS
Sechelt
BC
Sept-Îles
QC
Shawinigan
QC
Sheet Harbour
NS
Sherbrooke
NS
Shubenacadie East
NS
South Stormont
ON
Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area
BC
St George
NB
St Stephen
NB
St-Eustache
QC
St. Alban's
NL
St. John's
NL
Summerford
NL
Summerside
PE
Surrey
BC
Sussex
NB
Swift Current
SK
Sydney River
NS
Tatamagouche
NS
Terrace
BC
Thompson
MB
Thunder Bay
ON
Timberlea
NS
Timmins
ON
Toronto
ON
Town of Grand Bay-Westfield
NB
Trent Hills
ON
Trois-Rivières
QC
Truro
NS
Unorganized South Nipissing
ON
Vancouver
BC
Vanderhoof
BC
Varennes
QC
Vaudreuil-Dorion
QC
Vaughan
ON
Vernon
BC
Victoria
BC
Wallaceburg
ON
Waltham
QC
Wasaga Beach
ON
Wasagaming
MB
Waskesiu Lake
SK
Waterloo
QC
Watson Lake
YT
Weaver
NB
West Arichat
NS
West Kelowna
BC
West Lincoln Township
ON
West Perth
ON
Whistler Resort Municipality
BC
Whitehorse
YT
Windsor
NS
Windsor Junction
NS
Winnipeg
MB
Woodstock
NS
Yarmouth
NS
Yellowknife
NT
Frequently asked questions
Can I put plastic in my curbside recycling bin?
It depends on your municipality and the type of plastic. Use our city and material pages to find accepted curbside items and nearby drop-off locations.
Do I need to pay to recycle plastic?
Many recycling programmes in Canada accept plastic for free, especially when covered by extended producer responsibility programmes. Some landfills or private facilities may charge for certain items.
How do I prepare plastic for recycling?
Common preparation steps include rinsing, flattening, removing food residue, and separating different material types. Check the preparation tips above for specific guidance.