Recycling Information

Per City Code 8.12.020 - Recyclables must be placed in the City of Canandaigua's approved recycling container (96 or 64 gallon container). Many questions regarding recycling and special recycling events can be answered by visiting the County website.

1. Acceptable Recyclable Materials

• Plastics Number 1 to 7: All plastic bottles, jars and jugs. Plastic buckets, tubs, toys, food packaging
• Metal: Metal and bi-metal cans, empty aerosol cans, aluminum beverage cans, aluminum foil and foil trays
• Glass: Clear and colored glass
• Paper Products:
  • Office paper
  • Paperback and telephone books
  • Junk mail, catalogs
  • Magazines
  • Brown paper bags
  • Envelopes
  • File folders
  • Construction and notebook paper
  • Post it notes
  • Non-metallic gift wrap
  • White and colored paper bags
• Paperboard: All boxes that are not corrugated such as cereal, gift boxes, cake mixes, crackers, frozen food boxes. No wax coated or food stained boxes
• Corrugated Cardboard: Remove staples, flatten and place in recycle toter, unless too large place next to toter.. No food or oil stained cardboard
• Newspapers: Clean newspapers only

2. What Cannot Be Recycled?

• Plastic bags or wrapping (some grocery stores accept plastic bags for recycling)
• Window glass, mirrors, light bulbs, dishes, Pyrex, ceramics including flower pots
• Paper towels, facial tissues, hard-cover books, 3-ring/spiral notebooks, pizza-box bottoms
• Scrap metal, pots, pans
• Clothing/textiles
• Styrofoam (including egg cartons)
• Electronics, batteries, VCR tapes, CD/DVDs

3. What to do when I move?

• The recycling toter (and garbage toter) are to remain at the location where it was delivered.  Each toter is inscribed with a City of Canandaigua logo and a serial number that matches to the address.

4. What if my toter is damaged?

• Any damaged toter (recycling or garbage) should be reported to the Department of Public Works for either replacement or repair.

5. What about Electronics Recycling and Bulk Refuse?

• These items are not collected from the curb, but can be recycled/disposed of at the Town of Canandaigua Transfer Facility. City Residents can recycle electronics at no charge.  Bulk items are charged a nominal fee. 
• Transfer Facility Payment cards can be purchased at City Hall, 2 N. Main St. or at the DPW, 205 Saltonstall St.
• The Town's Transfer Facility is located at 5440 Rts. 5&20 West and open to City residents on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month from 1-4pm.

6. What about Household Hazardous Waste Recycling?

• Ontario County offers free special collection events to all Ontario County residents throughout the year
• For more information, check out Ontariocountyrecycles.org. 

7. When is my recycling collected?

• City residents have their recycling picked up every other week. 
• Additional recycling toters are available at no charge, contact the DPW to order.
• Recycling must be placed in your City recycling toter only.  Other than cardboard, we will not pick up anything outside of the toter.
• The schedule is listed on our Solid Waste Collection schedule, posted to this website.