01 February 2019
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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