What goes where? An Annapolis Valley waste-sorting A–Z
Search an item, then check its preparation note. This reference uses Nova Scotia recycling programs and Valley Waste’s local garbage/compost instructions. It is not a universal sorting list.
Find an item ↓ · Common sorting questions ↓ · Business waste notes ↓
Updated October 28, 2026. Sources checked October 27–28, 2026. For addresses served by Valley Waste in Annapolis and Kings. Digby/Waste Check customers and readers elsewhere should check their own local guide, especially for compost, garbage and specialty packaging. Packaging can change even when the brand stays the same.
Paper and containers use separate blue bags. Refundable containers can be returned for a refund; “special drop-off” is separate from both blue bags. A Check first label means we have not verified a specific bin for that item.
A
Aluminum foil and traysContainer recycling
Clean; crumple loose foil into a ball.
Ashes — fireplace and wood stoveGarbage
Plain wood ash: keep out of the green cart, even with nothing mixed in. Store outdoors in a covered metal container away from the house and anything combustible. Only when completely cold, with no hot embers, put in a clear garbage bag for Valley Waste collection. Do not use this entry for ash from burned garbage, painted or treated wood; ask Valley Waste.
Valley Waste: green-cart guidance ↗ · Nova Scotia: safe wood-ash storage ↗
B
Batteries — householdSpecial drop-off
Never put in garbage or blue bags. Follow terminal-protection and drop-off instructions.
Batteries — swollen or damaged lithiumSpecial drop-off
Contact the battery program before transport; not a regular collection-box item.
Beverage cansRefundable
Eligible pop, juice and alcohol cans: return for a refund.
Bicycle tires and tubesSpecial drop-off
Use a registered bicycle-tire drop-off. Remove rims and mud; glued-on tubular tires are excluded.
BooksCheck first
Excluded from the packaging/paper list. Try reuse; ask locally about worn-out copies.
Bread bags and stretchable filmContainer recycling
Empty. Use the container stream for accepted stretchable film.
Broken glass and sharp objectsGarbage
Package safely; place beside the clear bag as Valley Waste directs. Not container recycling.
C
Cardboard boxesPaper recycling
Flatten; follow local bundle limits. Keep separate from containers.
Cat litterCompost / green cart
Valley Waste accepts it; follow local bag/liner guidance.
Cereal and tissue boxesPaper recycling
Empty; keep dry.
Chip bags and snack wrappersContainer recycling
Empty. Valley Waste accepts listed flexible packaging curbside; elsewhere check depot instructions.
Clothing, towels and household textilesSpecial drop-off
Repair or donate usable items. Ask the textile collector about worn-out fabric; separate it from rewearable clothing. Wash donations, follow its acceptance rules, and do not leave bags outside a full bin.
Coffee canisters — cardboard sides and metal baseContainer recycling
If it is a spiral-wound paper canister like the construction described for some Maxwell House coffee tubs: empty it, rinse and dry, then use container recycling. Remove the plastic lid and put the clean lid in container recycling separately. Leave the bonded metal base attached; do not cut the can apart. This is not ordinary cardboard recycling.
Coffee cup lids — plasticContainer recycling
Clean plastic lids are shown in Valley Waste’s revised container guide. Separate from paper cups.
Valley Waste: revised illustrated recycling guide (June 2026, PDF) ↗
Coffee cups — coated paperContainer recycling
Empty, rinse, dry; remove lid. Not the green cart.
Coffee filters and groundsCompost / green cart
Remove packaging. Pods are a different item.
Coffee podsGarbage
Valley Waste lists pods as garbage, not compost.
Coffee tins — all-metal bodyContainer recycling
Empty, rinse and dry; use container recycling. A metal can with a paper label is different from a cardboard-bodied spiral can. Check removable lids separately.
Coffee tubs — plastic bodyContainer recycling
Empty; plastic lid on. Use container recycling. The brand alone does not identify whether your tub is plastic, metal or a composite canister.
Computers, printers and televisionsSpecial drop-off
Use an EPRA receiving location; check the exact product and remove personal data.
Condiment bottles — plasticContainer recycling
Empty; caps on. Corrosive or hazardous products need a different route.
Condiment packets and sachetsCheck first
Exact packet not confirmed in the named examples. Ask Valley Waste; do not assume a ketchup packet follows bottle rules.
Cooking fat — householdCompost / green cart
Residential cooking fat is listed locally. Businesses: arrange a suitable grease service.
Cutlery — disposable plasticGarbage
Valley Waste lists plastic utensils as garbage.
D
Detergent and shampoo bottlesContainer recycling
Empty; lids/caps on.
Diapers and personal wipesGarbage
Neither recycling nor compost.
Dog wasteGarbage
Keep out of the green cart.
E
Egg cartons — paperPaper recycling
Clean and dry.
Egg cartons — plasticContainer recycling
Empty; place with accepted plastic containers.
F
Foam packaging / StyrofoamContainer recycling
Valley Waste accepts listed foam packaging in its curbside container stream. Remove food, film and absorbent pads from trays. This does not cover construction insulation. Elsewhere confirm participating-depot rules.
Food cans — steel and tinContainer recycling
Empty, rinse and dry. Recycle with containers; ordinary paper labels can stay on. Handle sharp edges carefully.
Circular Materials: Nova Scotia material list ↗ · Antigonish County: Nova Scotia recycling preparation and labels ↗
Food scrapsCompost / green cart
Unpackage first; keep plastic and foil out.
G
Glass food jarsContainer recycling
Empty; remove lids and caps.
I
Ice cream cartons — coated paperContainer recycling
Empty and remove the lid. Coated paper ice-cream containers belong in container recycling, not ordinary paper recycling. Check a different-material lid separately.
J
Juice boxes and juice bottlesRefundable
Eligible ready-to-drink juice containers can earn a refund; concentrates do not.
L
Leaves and garden plantsCompost / green cart
Valley Waste green cart; larger loads need a local yard-waste route.
Light bulbs — CFL and fluorescentSpecial drop-off
Use the local hazardous-waste route, not a blue bag.
M
MedicationsSpecial drop-off
Household medicines: pharmacy return. Commercial sources need separate arrangements.
Milk and plant-drink cartonsContainer recycling
Rinse, dry; caps on. Milk/soya/rice cartons are not refundable.
Mirrors and large glass panelsCheck first
Not bottle-and-jar recycling. For eligible bulky collection, Valley Waste requires glass and mirrors to be covered and securely taped. Check size, weight and collection limits before setting out; use the facility route if unsuitable.
Motor oil and antifreezeSpecial drop-off
Use a designated used-oil/automotive-fluid collection facility; never drains, soil or a blue bag. Valley Waste accepts automotive fluids in containers up to 20 litres. Keep products separate and confirm handling with the receiving site.
N
Nails, screws and small metal hardwareSpecial drop-off
Keep loose sharp hardware contained so it cannot spill or puncture a bag. Ask Valley Waste or a scrap-metal recycler whether they accept your small hardware and how to package it. Do not put loose nails or screws in blue bags. Hardware still attached to demolition wood needs the appropriate construction-waste route.
Newspapers and flyersPaper recycling
Keep clean and dry.
O
Oil filters and automotive-fluid containersSpecial drop-off
These have a dedicated recovery program. Follow the receiving facility’s instructions; do not treat an oil container as an ordinary food or drink bottle.
P
Paint and aerosol paintSpecial drop-off
Check Product Care acceptance; keep original labelled containers sealed. Do not mix.
Paper napkins, towels and tissues — soiledCompost / green cart
Valley Waste accepts these; no wipes or plastic.
Paper straws and wooden cutleryCheck first
Confirm the material and local acceptance; “paper” or “compostable” alone is not enough.
Pizza boxesPaper recycling
Clean, dry cardboard: paper recycling. Food-soiled pieces: Valley Waste compost.
Plant pots — plastic nursery packagingContainer recycling
Empty plastic plant pots are on the accepted packaging list. Remove plants and soil. This entry does not cover ceramic pots or every durable garden planter.
Plastic cold-drink and slushy cupsContainer recycling
Empty and clean. Remove straw; plastic straws are garbage.
Valley Waste: revised illustrated recycling guide (June 2026, PDF) ↗
Plastic strawsGarbage
Valley Waste lists plastic straws as garbage.
Plastic tubs and food containersContainer recycling
Empty; lids/caps on.
Pool chemicals and pesticidesSpecial drop-off
Household HHW route; business quantities need an appropriate commercial provider.
Pots, pans and damaged metal cookwareSpecial drop-off
Reuse safe, usable cookware. For worn-out metal cookware, ask Valley Waste or a scrap-metal recycler about acceptance, especially coatings, plastic handles and glass lids. It is not ordinary blue-bag food packaging.
Propane cylinders and camping bottlesSpecial drop-off
Keep out of garbage and blue bags. Valley Waste lists cylinders up to 30 lb for return to its Management Centres or some propane retailers. Call about your cylinder size and condition, including camping bottles. Do not puncture or dismantle.
S
Scrap metal and sheet metalSpecial drop-off
Separate from household blue-bag containers. Valley Waste lists a scrap-metal drop-off stream; ask staff where to unload and check current fees and acceptance before hauling. Metal containing fuel, chemicals, batteries or refrigerants needs separate advice.
Sharps — household needles and lancetsSpecial drop-off
Use a pharmacy-issued Safe Sharps container and return it sealed to a pharmacy as directed. Never loose in garbage or recycling; do not use a drink bottle. Residential program only.
Shredded paperPaper recycling
Place in a tied clear plastic bag as Circular Materials directs; keep it separate from container recycling.
Smoke alarms and detectorsCheck first
Check your model with the manufacturer and Valley Waste before disposal. CNSC permits household ionization alarms in municipal garbage after battery removal, while manufacturer instructions may recommend return instead. Not blue-bag recycling or compost. Follow instructions for removable batteries; do not dismantle the sensing chamber or force open a sealed battery.
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: household smoke-detector disposal ↗ · Kidde Canada: check your alarm type and disposal instructions ↗
Soup cartonsContainer recycling
Rinse, dry; caps on.
Straws labelled compostable / bioplasticCheck first
Check with your collector before using the green cart or recycling.
T
Tea bagsCompost / green cart
Valley Waste lists tea bags with organics; remove outer packaging.
Tires — car, truck, motorcycle and trailerSpecial drop-off
Return up to four eligible used tires at a time to a Nova Scotia tire retailer, free. Tires must be whole, off-rim and free of mud/debris. Check the program’s size rules; ATV and farm/heavy-equipment tires are excluded.
Toothpaste and hand-cream tubesContainer recycling
Empty; caps on.
W
Water bottlesRefundable
Eligible ready-to-drink water containers: return to an Enviro-Depot.
Wine and spirits bottlesRefundable
Eligible containers: use the return program, not a refund assumption for every glass jar.
Wrapping paper — foil and ribbonGarbage
Valley Waste lists foil gift wrap and ribbon as garbage.
Wrapping paper — ordinary paperPaper recycling
Keep clean and dry; exclude foil wrap and ribbon.
Y
Yogurt tubsContainer recycling
Empty; lids on.
No matching item yet. Try a shorter name, choose “All streams”, or use Valley Waste’s official item lookup. An unlisted item is not automatically garbage.
Three packaging details that matter
- Cup versus lid versus straw: check each component. A recyclable cup does not make its straw recyclable.
- Foam and flexible wrappers: the provincial list includes participating-depot routes; Valley Waste also permits the listed materials curbside. Readers elsewhere must confirm the collection route.
- A brand is a search aid, not a material: use the entry only when your package matches. Ketchup bottles and single-serve packets are separate items.
Common sorting questions
What about a coffee can with a metal bottom, cardboard sides and a plastic lid?
If the body is a spiral-wound paper canister, use the container recycling bag. Empty, rinse and dry it; remove the plastic lid and recycle that clean lid separately with containers. The bonded metal base can stay attached. Do not cut it apart or put the body in the ordinary paper bag. A loose paper label on an all-metal can is a different construction; that metal can also goes with containers.
Packaging varies within brands. Search “Maxwell House” above for the composite entry, but match the construction you have. See Circular Materials’ Nova Scotia spiral-can and lid instructions.
Should I separate every mixed-material package?
Separate pieces that come off normally, then follow the instructions for each part. Accepted composite packaging such as spiral cans and drink cartons has its own category; bonded layers do not automatically make an item garbage. Avoid cutting or tearing packages apart to guess at the sorting. If its construction does not match a listed item, check the official lookup.
How clean should containers be, and do labels come off?
Empty out food and liquid, then rinse and dry containers where directed. Keep food out of the bag. Ordinary container labels do not need peeling off; a removable outer carton or a separate lid still needs its own sorting check. Hazardous-product containers need different handling—do not rinse chemicals down the drain.
Nova Scotia preparation guidance and label instructions · Hazardous-container guidance.
Do lids and caps stay on?
It depends on the package: plastic bottles/tubs and cartons generally keep lids on; glass containers have lids off; coated paper cups and spiral cans have lids off. Use the item entry rather than one rule for every container.
What if it has a recycling symbol, or I am still unsure?
A symbol alone does not tell you the local collection route. Match the actual item to the accepted list, check any preparation notes, and confirm with Valley Waste if needed. Keep an uncertain item separate while checking instead of adding it to a blue bag and hoping.
Using this at a business
Use the item guide to help label staff sorting stations, then confirm collection with your municipality or private hauler. Household program eligibility is not a promise of free commercial service.
For businesses receiving Valley Waste curbside collection, the published guide limits the combined garbage/recycling total to eight bags, with no more than four garbage bags or six recycling bags, including bundled cardboard. Confirm current eligibility and limits with Valley Waste. Residential unlimited-recycling allowances do not apply to businesses.
Commercial hazardous and medical waste need their own arrangements. Household HHW, medication and Safe Sharps routes exclude commercial/institutional sources. Waste Check offers business sorting education and waste audits in its service area.
Need more detail or a larger clearout?
For the everyday routine, read our household sorting guide, blue-bag guide or green-cart guide. For batteries, electronics and chemicals, use the special-item guide.
For a larger property clearout around Annapolis Royal, see our junk removal and hauling service. Tell us about special materials before requesting work; our ordinary service does not include hazardous or contaminated waste.
Sources and guidance (20)
- Divert NS: passenger and bicycle tire programs
- Divert NS: clothing and textile reuse
- Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: household smoke-detector disposal
- Kidde Canada: check your alarm type and disposal instructions
- Antigonish County: Nova Scotia recycling preparation and labels
- Valley Waste: bulky waste and mirrors
- Nova Scotia: safe wood-ash storage
- Valley Waste: scrap-metal drop-off and facilities
- Circular Materials: Nova Scotia material list
- Valley Waste: revised illustrated recycling guide (June 2026, PDF)
- Valley Waste: sorting guide and address-based lookup
- Valley Waste: 2026 sorting guide
- Valley Waste: green-cart guidance
- Divert NS: eligible beverage containers
- Recycle Your Batteries, Canada!: safety and drop-off
- EPRA Nova Scotia: accepted electronics
- Product Care: Nova Scotia paint program
- Valley Waste: hazardous and medical waste
- Waste Check: business waste education
- Divert NS: find your own local sorting guide
What would help you next?
What goes in Nova Scotia’s blue recycling bags?
Separate paper from containers and check the details that make a package ready for recycling.
Read the guideWhat goes in the green cart? An Annapolis Valley guide
A practical kitchen routine, approved liners and the local compost rules to check before collection.
Read the guide