The ‘Getting Rid of’ Guide: An Eco-Friendly Version

Recycling, thankfully, isn’t a new phenomenon, but sometimes we don’t know where to recycle items that aren’t accepted in our city blue bin. Both the Province of Manitoba’s Waste Wise site, and the City of Winnipeg’s Water and Waste ‘What Goes Where?’ page provide a lot of help in answering these questions. Winnipeg’s 4R depots accept a wide range of materials. But what about those odd and unique items that aren’t on the list? Green Action Centre has tried to take the guesswork out of how to get rid of your other unwanted items in the most responsible way, highlighting businesses that can help you manage your waste sustainably in Winnipeg.

Please note that this a working list, and we may not have all the items you have questions about, but please let us know if you have more to add, or if you have helpful information to share please email compost@greenactioncentre.ca

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Audio and Stereo Equipment

Recycle your old stereos and audio equipment at Saving Audio Recycling!

Saving Audio Recycling is a Winnipeg-based, entirely volunteer environmental grassroots organization which is committed to limiting the amount of un-wanted stereo & audio related equipment ending up in our landfills. It provides an alternative for individuals who prefer that their stereo items be re-used in whole or in part rather than being destroyed at local electronics recycling depots.

Saving Audio Recycling is maintained by retired and semi-retired electronics technicians who possess the experience, expertise and specialized equipment necessary to repair & restore audio electronics.

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How it works

Items received are assessed for usability or repair then equitably distributed to locally created and operated Winnipeg Not For Profit organizations who use the proceeds to help them maintain their Community function. Saving Audio Recycling performs this function for free as a Community service.

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Accepted Items 

The following items, but not limited to these, are accepted for processing:

Amplifiers, loudspeakers, turntables (record players), AM/FM/SW receivers, tuners, reel-to-reel tape decks, mixers, processors, test equipment, musical instrument amplifiers, audio component parts and even home made audio projects.

Pick-up and drop-offs are free of charge and arrangements can be made by contacting Saving Audio Recycling through their website, www.savingaudiorecycling.ca

If you are uncertain about your item(s), please make contact and a volunteer will be glad to assist you.

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Bicycles

Some good things about bicycles is that they can be repaired, sourced for parts and eventually recycled to make other products. You may think your bicycle is old and beyond repair but in most cases simple DIY steps will get your bike working again like it should. 

• In the situation where you may want to donate a bike or parts, a great place that accepts these is THE WRENCH. Please read through their website extensively for detailed information as there are specific rules and guidelines regarding dropoff and donations at  the facility.
• Orioles Bike Cage puts the tools and skills in your hands by showing you how to repair your bike when you bring it in for a repair. The business is operated by volunteers who are dedicated to helping you fix your broken bike. They also host the annual Bike Bazaar where young kids can bring in old bikes that they have outgrown and trade them for bigger bikes.

Note that because these are small scale local businesses set out to help you care for your bikes and the environment, they have limited space for inventory. 

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Mail Packaging Materials: Bubble Wrap

Even though they’re fun to pop, they can be given a new life for another package to be mailed. Many local UPS stores accept clean unpopped bubble wrap. Another option is to drop it off at your local grocery store that has a plastic bag recycling bin near their front entrance. Many grocery stores have collection bins specifically for plastic film and bags. Check with your local grocery store beforehand, as some stores no longer accept plastic bags since the Single-use Plastic Prohibition Law. 

Excess cardboard and mailers can be dropped off at community depot drop-off centers. The following locations are accessible 24/7 unstaffed drop-off sites:

• Pan Am Depot: Taylor Avenue and Poseidon Bay. 1284 Taylor Ave.
• Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre: 430 Langside Street
• St James Civic Centre: 2055 Ness Avenue (Currently closed for construction. Reopens Fall 2026)

Note that these centers accept similar recyclables that go in your curbside blue-bin, so remember to remove non-recyclable post stamps and not to include bubble wrap in there. If you have a heavy amount to recycle, consult one of Winnipeg’s 4R Depots.

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Cleaning Appliances and Small Engine Power Tools 

Working or not, Mother Earth Recycling accepts a wide range of electronics to be fixed and resold at their store (including carpet cleaners and weed whackers!), or disposed of responsibly. Mother Earth Recycling is a local Indigenous Social Enterprise that aims to promote environmentally sustainable initiatives in Winnipeg. 

If you have large items and are unsure of how and where to transport them, Mr. Garbage can help ensure your items are correctly transported and processed. 

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Clothing and Textile 

If your closet is bursting at its seams (pun intended) or you have badly stained, ripped, or really outdated clothing, there are several options to dispose of these without dumping them in the trash (just don’t). Diabetes Canada has ‘Used Clothing Donation’ bins out in the community where you can drop them off and they will recycle and reuse items responsibly. You can locate your local drop box here. Don’t want to go anywhere to drop it off? Diabetes Canada also offers household pickups regularly for homeowners. Email or call them here to book a pickup.  

H&M stores in Winnipeg will accept your used clothing, no matter the condition, with in-store drop off available. Both Winnipeg locations at CF Polo Park and Kildonan Place accept used clothing regardless of the brand and condition.

Visit our blog post “How Fast Fashion Adds to the World’s Clothing Waste Problem” to learn more about the textile industry and how much waste is created. This resource also provides a few tips on how to reduce your impact.

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Corks

Are you a wine lover, and find yourself with a lot of leftover corks lying around?

Manitoba Liquor Marts and various restaurants are now accepting corks back through the ReCork program. ReCork is a natural wine cork recycling program across North America. Simply drop them off in your local liquor store bin, or at participating restaurants, and they will grind them up and repurpose them. Synthetic corks are not accepted in these bins.

Check out the drop-off location map here. Before dropping off your donation contact your local Liquor Mart to confirm their participation.

For more information on getting involved, please visit their website.

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Eyeglasses

If your prescription has changed and you no longer need your old pair, don’t trash them – they can be useful for someone else!

Canadian Lions Eyeglass Recycling has partnered with local optical retailers to provide dropoffs at a location that is close to you. Canadian Lions Eyeglass Recycling has collection sites around the city to provide used eyeglasses for children and adults in developing countries. To find a collection site near you, check out their list here (search Winnipeg in their ‘collection locations’ form).

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Furniture

Older or damaged furniture doesn’t have to end up in a landfill. If it is still in good condition, but you have no use for it anymore, there are many thrift stores that will accept this. If you want to feel like you made a difference in your community, there are several organizations you can donate to. Oyate Tipi Cumini Yape is a local non-profit organization in Winnipeg which accepts donations of gently used household goods and furniture. These items are then distributed to women and children who are trying to better themselves by escaping poverty and/or abusive situations. Free furniture pick-up is also available through them if you are not able to deliver it yourself.  

Here are a few local options for furniture repair and refurbishment: 

• Promax Wood Restoration & Renovation: Restores damaged woodwork on furniture, cabinets or floors.
• Mike Furniture Restoration: A wide range of services including antique furniture repair, soft furniture upholstery repairs and commercial furniture repairs.
• FibreNew: Specializes in repair, restoration and renewal of leather, plastics, upholstery, vinyl and fabrics.

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Ink Cartridges

You can refill and reuse your ink cartridges instead of throwing them out. You can purchase a kit from Printer Refillers and refill it yourself. Another option is to take it to an authorized refiller such as London Drugs, Staples, Canadian Cartridge Services Inc. 

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Lawnmowers

Lawnmowers are hard working machines, and often get beat up pretty bad by landscaping in our backyards. If your machine is at the end of its life, or you’ve switched to a newer model and don’t know what to do with the old one, the machine can be recycled for scrap metals. Rakowski Cartage & Wrecking, Orloff Scrap Metals, Urbanmine. These are a few scrap metal locations in the city and you can also get paid when you drop off these items. Before you drop off lawnmowers remember to drain all oils and liquids from the machine. Scrap metal facilities will also accept other kinds of metals to be recycled. Follow the links above to see more about how these businesses can help you recycle your beat-up lawnmowers and other metals.  

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Lego and Duplo

Donate your undamaged Lego and Duplo blocks/bricks to LEGO’S Replay Program, where it will be redistributed to multiple donation partners for children to play and create with! 

All you have to do is disassemble your lego and box it up, print a shipping label from Lego’s website, and bring the box with the shipping label attached to your nearest FedEx shipping location.

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Makeup and Body Care Product Containers

Wondering what to do with your old makeup, used shampoo bottles, hand cream lotion container, and finished deodorant sticks. There are now retail outlets that will accept and recycle these old containers. Major beauty retailers have partnered with Pact Collective to help end beauty packaging waste getting sent to the landfill. 

• Sephora: Through the Beauty (Re)Purposed Program, Sephora is helping you take the next steps to giving your empty beauty products a second life. Just bring your clean and empty packaging to a Sephora store and drop it off in a collection bin. For more information, visit Beauty (Re)Purposed Program.
• Shoppers Drug Mart: The Terracycle program allows you to give your Quo Beauty products a new life. You can collect your empty packaging in a box and when this box fills up you can print out a free mailing label and send your empties off to Terracycle to be repurposed. Find steps to create a free Terracycle account and obtain a shipping label here.
• Winners and Marshalls: Stores all around Canada offer free in-store beauty recycling. Just locate the designated pact collection bins near the beauty section and drop off your clean and empty containers, including black plastics. 
• L’occitane: The in-store collection program, in partnership with Pact Collective allows you to drop off your empties at CF Polo Park mall store. 

Good practice is to recycle whatever you can in your blue bins at home. If you are unsure of what can be recycled, you can bring items items like glass and black plastics to instore recycling drop-offs that accept them. 

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Mattresses

In Winnipeg you can recycle your old mattresses or box spring at Mother Earth Recycling. They know that all mattresses discolor and get dirty over time, so don’t get discouraged. There is an $18 fee per mattress. You can drop off your mattress at their drop off center at 771 Main Street. If you are not able to, you can schedule a pickup for a fee. Book a pickup or dropoff here.

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Oil/Grease

Car Oil and Grease

• MAARC (Manitoba Association for Resource Recovery Corp.) has several depots in Manitoba to drop off used automotive oil, oil filters and oil containers. Find a depot here. Be sure not to mix your motor oil with gasoline, antifreeze or water, as contaminated oil cannot be recycled. You can also ask your car dealer or automotive shop before you go for an oil change, on how they plan to recycle the oil after. Get informed and feel empowered. 
• Recycle West offers used oil collection and recycling services. They provide waste management services to a wide range of businesses and industries including mining, manufacturing and agriculture. They have a 24 hour dispatch line and are available to swiftly respond to your used oil and hazardous waste concerns. 

Food Oil and Grease 

• Roslin Enterprises assists restaurants and Industrial Food Producers safely dispose of all kinds of fats and oils. Pick up service is available and commercial outlets are offered incentives such as rebate programs for giving their used oil to Roslin. Learn more about their services here.

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Photo frames

There are so many great ways to upcycle your old picture frames and give them a new purpose. Pinterest has a lot of great ideas for you to choose from. ArtsJunktion will also accept your old picture frames, repurpose and redistribute them. Follow instruction on their website from the previous link before dropping off donations. You can also go thrift shopping in their store, with great finds at great prices. They are a non-profit with great prices and great finds. 

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Pianos

These beautiful instruments shouldn’t end up in a landfill, so please don’t make that an option. If your piano is badly in need of repair or a tuning, hire a local piano tuner and technician to get the job done.Joe Cote Piano Tuning & Repairs is a great place to get your piano repaired. They understand how to best get your piano back working and sounding great.

If it is really beyond repair, try re-purposing it as a unique furniture piece. The cast iron frame can be removed (but it’s very heavy, be careful!) and sold at a scrap metal depot. If you want unique re purposing ideas, try browsing through Pinterest, and you may find an old piano can be made into a neat desk, a cool bar, or even a hall table!

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Plastics

There is so much dependence on plastic in our daily lives that we don’t know what to do with it after it is used. Our first step should be to try to make choices to avoid plastic packaging wherever possible. Choose vegetables that aren’t wrapped or bagged, or buy in bulk. 

However, sometimes it is unavoidable, and until we reduce plastic drastically,  you can recycle certain plastic materials through your municipal recycling program. Other plastics can be dropped off at a 4R depot, check for your items on their website to see if it is accepted. 

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Water Bottles and Other Hard Plastics

Your single use plastic bottle can go in your blue bin and if you are outside they can go in the “Recycle Everywhere” bins located around the city. If you are in the commercial, industrial, graphics, or municipal sector, Cascades Recovery Inc. will accept your bulk hard plastics, and other materials to help reduce your impact on the planet, and reduce your overall waste. Contact them or learn more here. Click here to locate your local drop off. 

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Window Coverings: Blinds and Drapes

Are you thinking of getting new window coverings, but don’t know what to do with the old ones? Donate them to Centre Flavie Laurent, whose mission is to help the city’s less fortunate by providing them with furniture, clothing and household items at no cost. They also accept a wide range of home furniture, textile and appliances. Pickup can be made available on items that are too large for you to transport to their facility. There is a charge of $40 to pick up items that are both larger and taller than 47”.

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Additional Resource: Repair Cafe

Before you think of recycling any old electronic because it does not work, it is best to consider getting it fixed, and what better way to fix things than being hands-on-with it. A repair Cafe is a free meeting place where people come together from all around the city to fix their household items with the help of expert volunteers. Expert help is rendered on a range of materials like clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, appliances, crockery, toys and so much more. Click here to learn more about Repair Cafes all around the world. You can also follow them on Instagram to find a location and get more information on pop-up community events.

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