The James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) runs a once-a-month recycling depot. It’s a handy way to recycle items that you can’t recycle through your home collection service.
When? The third Saturday of every month from 10:00 am – 12:00pm.
Where? Corner of Simcoe and Oswego, on the James Bay School grounds.
Cost? By donation (cash or e-transfer). All donations go towards covering the costs of running the recycling depot. The e-transfer link for donations is: recycle@jbna.org
Before you come:
- Review the recycling guidelines below and sort your materials by type.
- Ensure items are clean as heavily contaminated items can’t be recycled.
- To help us stay organized, please drop off your items only between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
What can you recycle?
Newest Addition!
We are now accepting used eyeglasses and readers! The eyeglasses we accept will be sent to an official Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centre (LERC), where they are sorted, processed, and distributed to optical missions around the world. Unusable glasses will be recycled for precious metal reclamation and scrap processing, reducing landfill waste. Please note: we do not accept eyeglass cases.
Batteries
Yes – All normal household batteries up to 5 kg
No – Car, boat, or e-transport batteries
Light bulbs
Yes – All normal household light bulbs, including fluorescents, LEDs
No – Bulbs still attached to lamps or fixtures
Soft plastic
Yes
- Soft plastic food packaging lined with foil, including coffee bags, tea bag wrappers, and chip bags
- Plastic bags, such as fruit, vegetable, and bread bags
- Plastic wrap and shrink wrap
- Soft plastic food wrappers, such as candy bar wrappers (soft and crinkly can be mixed)
- Plastic mesh bags (for example, onion bags) and woven plastic bags (such as large rice bags)
- Bubble pack, including bubble-pack padded mailing envelopes with soft plastic exteriors
No
- Plastic strapping
- Soft plastic six-pack beverage carriers
- Bags made from paper and soft plastic bonded together (such as Que Pasa chip bags or bubble-lined paper shipping envelopes)
- Soft plastics labelled ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’
- Green, black, or orange garbage bags
Mixed containers
Yes
- Rigid plastic containers, including clamshells, bottles, and jars
- Tetra-paks and cartons
- Take-out cups and lids
- Cans
No – Glass containers
Foam
Yes
- Most Styrofoam, including food trays, take-out containers, and packaging. Please sort into two groups: white and all other colours.
- Polyethylene or “PE” foam (looks like Styrofoam but is soft and doesn’t snap; used for packaging)
No
- Foam “peanuts” or other small loose foam packing materials
- Foam cushions, pillows, mattress toppers
Electronic Waste / Small Appliances
If your electronics or appliances are in good working order, please pass them on to someone else. We suggest using the Buy Nothing James Bay Facebook Group or donating to a local thrift shop. Otherwise . . .
Yes
- Electronic devices that one person can lift easily, along with cables, remote controls, mice, and other electronic accessories
- Small plug-in electrical appliances such as toasters, countertop microwaves, vacuum cleaners, fans, etc.
- Plug-in hand tools such as electric drills and sanders
- Smoke detectors
No – Large appliances such as washers, stoves
There is always more to come!
The program is evolving, and we regularly expand the list of what we can recycle. Please check back regularly to see our new additions.
We also hold occasional one-time ‘special collections’ of items.
Special Collection Days for 2025:
- December Recycle Saturday (December 20th): Strings of holiday lights.
For more information, please check out our Recycle Depot Google Drive. You’ll find a variety
of resources, including our monthly recycling tips featured in the James Bay Beacon.
