Responsible Waste Disposal
What goes where? Waste that needs special handling.
Appliances, electronics, hazardous household waste, mattresses and box springs, medications, renovation materials, tires, and used oil products. These items need special handling! Find out what goes where below or search Recyclepedia.
- RecyclepediaUse the Recyclepedia to learn where items you want to get rid of should go – your blue cart, a 4R Winnipeg Depot, or a local charity.
Appliances
APPLIANCES are considered large items (bulky waste). The City will pick up to 10 of these up for an additional fee. Examples of large appliances include:
- stoves
- dishwashers
- washing machines
- refrigerators
- freezers
- air conditioners
- Appliance Recycling Program - Efficiency Manitoba
The Appliance Recycling Program offers in-home pick-up of your old working fridge and/or freezer, and we’ll give you a $30 rebate for each one you recycle.
Hazardous Household Waste
HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD WASTE includes any product discarded from a home that contains volatile chemicals. These products:
- can ignite and cause a fire
- are corrosive and can eat away materials and destroy living tissue when contact occurs
- can be explosive and/or reactive and can release poisonous fumes when exposed to air, water or other chemicals
- are toxic or poisonous, either immediately or over a long period of time.
- 4R Winnipeg Depots
4R Winnipeg Depots are places where residents can drop off materials that can be recycled, reused, composted or resold.
Mattresses and Boxsprings
MATTRESSES are considered large items (bulky waste). They can be picked up by the City by calling 311 and requesting a special pick up before putting them in your lane. Items will not be picked up if 311 is not called. There is a fee associated with the pick up of these items. Alternatively, items can be donated to Mother Earth Recycling.
- Mother Earth Recycling - Mattresses and Box Springs
Mother Earth Recycling is Winnipeg's first and only mattress recycling facility. The process for mattress recycling is to separate the fabrics, foam, metal, and wood, to be recycled.
Renovation Materials
Leftover RENOVATION MATERIALS cannot be disposed of in your regular garbage collection. They can be sold or donated or disposed of properly at the Brady 4R Winnipeg Depot for a fee. Please contact 311 for more information.
- Habitat for Humanity Restore
The ReStore accepts home decor and home building products from individuals and local businesses. Habitat for Humanity Manitoba is a registered charity and a tax receipt will be issued for most ReStore donations. - Freecycle Winnipeg
The Freecycle Network is a grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and cities, keeping good stuff out of landfills. Membership is free. Everything posted must be FREE, legal and appropriate for all ages.
Electronics
ELECTRONIC WASTE includes:
- cell phones
- computers and computer accessories
- printers
- audio equipment
- video equipment
- office equipment (scanners, copiers, fax machines)
- phones
- microwaves
- rechargeable batteries
- 4R Winnipeg Depots4R Winnipeg Depots are places where residents can drop off materials that can be recycled, reused, composted or resold.
- CNIB Phone It Forward
Donate a smartphone to Phone it Forward, a CNIB program that gives smartphones to people with sight loss who need them. - Mother Earth Recycling - ElectronicsMother Earth Recycling (MER) recycles all electronic equipment. Some items may have a disposal or collection fee.
- Recycle My Electronics - Manitoba
Recycle My Electronics provides a national electronics end-of-life program for Canada that recognizes the uniqueness of each Provincial Regulation and appropriate stakeholders. - Saving Audio Recycling
Saving Audio Recycling is a Winnipeg-based volunteer organization that provides an alternative for people who want to see their electronic waste put to re-use. Saving Audio Recycling preserves still useable audio electronics. This work is done by life-long stereo electronics enthusiasts and technicians.
Medications
MEDICATIONS put in the garbage or poured down drains can contaminate the water we rely on.
Most pharmacies will collect unused and/or expired prescription drugs and medications including over-the-counter medications, topical antibiotics and antifungal cream. They also accept vitamins and minerals, herbal products, homeopathic medicines, traditional Chinese medicines, and probiotics.
Tires
TIRES are not picked up with regular garbage collection, but they can be taken to a 4R Winnipeg Depot or Eco-Depot (visit the link and click on "Tires" for a map showing drop-off locations) for free recycling.
Alternatively, if you're handy and creative, how about upcycling? Do a search on Google or Pinterest for "tire upcycling" and be surprised by the numerous upcycling projects for used tires.
- 4R Winnipeg Depots4R Winnipeg Depots are places where residents can drop off materials that can be recycled, reused, composted or resold.
Used Oil Products
USED OIL PRODUCTS include:
- Any petroleum or synthetic crankcase oil, engine oil, hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil, or other fluid used for lubricating purposes in machinery or equipment (e.g., vehicles, lawn mowers, snow blowers, farm equipment)
- Oil filters: Any spin-on or element type (e.g., engine oil filters, diesel fuel filters, but not gasoline fuel filters).
- Containers: A container with a capacity of less than 30 litres that is manufactured to hold oil.
- Used Oil Products Disposal
Oil products can be recycled properly through various sites through the free drop-off program.