What are recycled materials turned into?

More and more of us recycle and recycling has now become an integral part of our day-to-day habits.

But one question keeps coming up again and again: what happens to the things that you put in your blue bin once they are taken to a recycling centre?

 

Here are some examples of finished products based on the material recycled:

Cardboard

• Craft paper
• Cardboard boxes (made from corrugated cardboard)
• Some construction materials, including roofing materials and cellulose insulation

 

Fine paper

• Folding cartons corrugated cardboard
• Domestic and sanitary paper products (Printing paper, bathroom tissue, facial tissues, paper towels, etc.)

 

Newspaper

• Animal litter
• Fruit separators
• Phone books
• Newsprint paper
• Notepad backing
• Stuffing for protective coverings for construction materials such as ceiling panels and wall coverings

 

 

Plastic

• Shopping and garbage bags
• Outdoor furniture
• Toys
• Fences and stair rails
• Drainage and irrigation pipes, etc.
• Skate blade guards
• Clothes hangers
• Car parts (bumpers, batteries)
• Bases for road signs and traffic cones
• Construction materials (planks, beams, insulation boards, etc.)
• Shower curtains
• Animal cages
• Wheeled bins, recycling bins and household composters

 

Glass

• Glass containers
• Ceramic tiles
• Fibreglass insulating materials
• Supplementary cementing material
• Abrasives
• Water filtration
• Ornamental and horticultural mulch
  

Steel

• Cans
• Tools and nails
• Frames
• Steel structures (bridges, buildings, cars)

 

Aluminum

• Cans
• Outdoor furniture
• Construction material
• Some car parts

 

 

Tires

• Speed bumps
• Protective mats and sports and game surfaces
• Wheels for wheeled bins
• Mud guards
• Soles
• Planters
• Blasting mats.

 

Recycling these materials is therefore an excellent way to save the environment and contribute to preserving natural resources. For a full list of finished products, consult this article from Recyc-Québec (available in French only).

If you’re not sure whether something is recyclable or not, you can consult the Recyc-Québec ça va où search tool (available in French only).

For additional information, contact us!

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