Accepted Materials
Flying Pigs Recycling is a local recycling company established in Canmore over 20 years. We offer customized recycling services to businesses throughout the the Bow Valley and we are passionate about providing our clients with solutions for diverting their waste from landfill. We achieve this through a three step approach.
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Batteries
Learn moreBatteries for cars, household appliances, or electronic devices.
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Beverage Containers (Refundable)
Learn moreGlass drink bottles, aluminum drink cans, clear and coloured plastic drink containers, plastic jugs (such as milk containers), tetra brik containers (juices boxes, etc.), gable-top cartons (milk cartons, etc.), bi-metal containers (tomato juice, etc.), drink pouches, and bag-in-a-box bladders (boxed wine pouches, etc.).
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Cardboard
Learn moreCorrugated cardboard and packaging (such as boxes for pizza, appliances, etc.), paperboard, corrugated fiberboard, and boxboard (boxes for cereal, shoes, etc.).
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Electronic waste (E-Waste)
Learn moreTelevisions, computers, monitors, laptops, computer accessories (such as printers, scanners, etc.), stereo equipment, VCRs, DVD players, landline phones, cell phones, kitchen appliances (such as toasters, microwaves, etc.), chargers, cables, adapters, and power bars.
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Fluorescent Lights, Lightbulbs and Ballast
Learn moreStandard light bulbs (incandescent or halogen), all fluorescent tubes (u-shaped, short, long, and compact), LED bulbs, and ballasts.
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Glass
Learn moreClear and coloured glass, including all glass jars, drinking glasses, windowpanes, and broken beverage bottles.
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Ink & Toner Cartridges
Learn moreAll types of ink and toner cartridges.
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Large Item Removal
Learn moreEmptied and cleaned-out appliances, such as fridges and freezers, stoves and dishwashers. We also accept indoor and outdoor furniture, mattresses and box springs, construction materials, wood pallets, toilets, sinks, barbeques, and bicycles.
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Metal & Tin
Learn moreMetal food cans and assorted metals, such as small metal pieces, coat hangers, pie plates, and empty, dry paint cans.
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Organic food waste
Learn morePlate scraps, unfinished meals, fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, shellfish, bones, eggshells, dairy products, sauces, salad dressings, bread, noodles, rice, beans, grains, small amounts of cooking oils and grease, food-soiled paper (such as napkins, etc.), tissues, coffee filters, and tea bags. We also collect Certified Compostable food ware and bags.
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Paint
Learn moreLatex or oil-based paints, varnish, paint-based aerosols, stains, and sealers.
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Wooden Pallets
Learn moreWooden pallets of all sizes, colours, and shapes. We accept unusable and reusable pallets.
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Mixed Paper
Learn moreOffice paper, printer paper, magazines, brochures, phonebooks, photographs, gift wrapping, books, and writing paper.
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Plastics (Hard)
Learn moreAny rigid plastic: plastic jars and containers (such as peanut butter, yogurt, etc.), Tupperware, hygiene products (shampoo, body wash, deodorant tubes, etc.), PVC piping.
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Plastics (Soft)
Learn moreShrink wrap from deliveries, all plastic bags (except biodegradable or compostable bags), plastic wrap from retail products, clear and coloured plastic film used to seal products (like the seal on a yogurt container), bread bags, freezer bags, salad bags, stretchy plastic, and plastic food wrap. Materials must be clean.
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Tires and Rims
Learn moreAutomotive tires, bicycle tires, inner tubes, and metal rims (whether steel, alloy, or chrome).
Batteries
Recycling batteries keeps toxic chemicals and heavy metals out of landfills and out of our soil and water. By following proper disposal methods, you help reduce soil contamination and water pollution; expose corrosive acids; and reduce the amount of raw material going into new products. Help reduce waste by purchasing rechargeable batteries.
Global Diversion
- 30–95%
- of materials are recovered from recycled batteries.
- 1000
- single-use batteries can be replaced by one rechargeable battery.
Accepted materials: Batteries for cars, household appliances, or electronic devices.
Not accepted: Corroded batteries that leak acid. Neither can we accept industrial-facility battery packs.
Beverage Containers (Refundable)
By recycling used beverage containers, you divert waste from your local landfills and help the environment heal. You also reduce the amount of raw materials and energy going into new products.
Global Diversion
- 95%
- less energy cost for aluminum cans made with recycled materials.
- 1,000
- recycled milk jugs can create one new park bench.
- 4h
- of power for a 100-watt light bulb comes from recycling one glass bottle.
- Infinite
- number of aluminum cans: these can be recycled again and again, ad infinitum.
- 370 billion
- drink cans are made each year (75% from aluminum, 25% from tin-plated steel.
Accepted materials: Glass drink bottles, aluminum drink cans, clear and coloured plastic drink containers, plastic jugs (such as milk containers), tetra brik containers (juices boxes, etc.), gable-top cartons (milk cartons, etc.), bi-metal containers (tomato juice, etc.), drink pouches, and bag-in-a-box bladders (boxed wine pouches, etc.).
Not accepted: Concentrate mix containers (soup packages, etc.), which are not “ready to serve” and do not have applicable deposits. Neither can we accept plastic bags, nor containers with food or liquid contamination.
Cardboard
Cardboard is the generic term for heavy, paper-based products. Its construction ranges from thick paper to multi-ply, corrugated fiberboard. Most types of cardboard are recyclable and can produce new industrial or domestic products.
Global Diversion
- 1 ton
- of recycling cardboard equates to saving 390 kilowatt-hours of energy – or 17 trees, 175 liters of oil, and 31,800 liters of water.
- 75%
- energy savings when recycling cardboard, compared to new materials.
- 50% less
- sulfur-dioxide produced during recycling vs. making cardboard from raw materials.
Accepted materials: Corrugated cardboard and packaging (such as boxes for pizza, appliances, etc.), paperboard, corrugated fiberboard, and boxboard (boxes for cereal, shoes, etc.).
Not accepted: Cardboard that has been soiled (with food or oil stains), laminated, wax-coated, or treated for water resistance (frozen food boxes, single-use coffee cups, etc.).
Electronic waste (E-Waste)
Electronic waste, or e-waste, comprises discarded electrical or electronic devices that contain digital components. Used electronics are excellent candidates for refurbishment, reuse, resale, and salvage recycling—also known as material recovery. Recycling is an essential element in e-waste management. When properly carried out, it greatly reduces the leakage of toxic materials into the environment and mitigates the exhaustion of our natural resources. Recycling raw materials (like copper and cobalt) from end-of-life electronics keeps e-waste down.
Global Diversion
- #1
- E-waste is the fastest-growing source of waste globally.
- Up to 80%
- of an end-of-life smart phone can be recycled and reused.
- 3,500
- homes can be powered for one year with energy savings from recycling 1 million laptops.
Accepted materials: Televisions, computers, monitors, laptops, computer accessories (such as printers, scanners, etc.), stereo equipment, VCRs, DVD players, landline phones, cell phones, kitchen appliances (such as toasters, microwaves, etc.), chargers, cables, adapters, and power bars.
Not accepted: Large appliances (fridges, freezers, stoves, dishwashers, etc.).
Fluorescent Lights, Lightbulbs and Ballast
We illuminate our indoor and outdoor spaces with electric lights, lamps, or light bulbs that create artificial lighting. Lamps usually have bases made of ceramic, metal, glass, or plastic, which hold the light fixture securely in place.
Global Diversion
- 99%
- of the mercury in fluorescent tubes can be captured and used to make new tubes, when properly recycled.
Accepted materials: Standard light bulbs (incandescent or halogen), all fluorescent tubes (u-shaped, short, long, and compact), LED bulbs, and ballasts.
Not accepted: Broken lamps, bulbs, or tubes.
Glass
The process of recycling glass starts with sanitization, so that it is contamination-free. Locally, most recycled glass is then crushed and used for sandblasting. Glass can also be crushed or imploded into “cullet”, then remelted.
Global Diversion
- Just 1
- recycled glass jar saves enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.
Accepted materials: Clear and coloured glass, including all glass jars, drinking glasses, windowpanes, and broken beverage bottles.
Not accepted: Ceramic material (such as mugs, plates, toilets, sinks, etc.). Glass must be rinsed clean, free of labels and lids. Plastic and metal lids can be recycled separately.
Ink & Toner Cartridges
Ink and toner cartridge recycling has become easier than ever before. Chemicals within these cartridges take a long time to break down, so you don’t want them to end up in a landfill. Ink cartridges are a key component in inkjet printers. Toner cartridges contain a powdered mixture used for laser printers and photocopiers.
Global Diversion
- 42-million liters
- Annual ink and toner cartridge recycling saves an equivalent of all the oil spilled into our oceans in the notorious Exon Valdez incident (1989).
Accepted materials: All types of ink and toner cartridges.
Not accepted: Broken or leaking cartridges.
Large Item Removal
Old appliances and furniture are highly recyclable, so they should not end up in our landfills. Appliance recycling starts with dismantling unwanted items, then assessing their parts for reuse. Furniture recycling involves reconditioning items or converting materials into new objects through “upcycling,” one form of creative reuse.
Global Diversion
- 19,000
- anadian homes get powered for a year thanks to the energy saved by recycling large appliances.
Accepted materials: Emptied and cleaned-out appliances, such as fridges and freezers, stoves and dishwashers. We also accept indoor and outdoor furniture, mattresses and box springs, construction materials, wood pallets, toilets, sinks, barbeques, and bicycles.
Not accepted: Hazardous waste, chemicals, or combustibles (such as propane tanks, gas canisters, etc.).
Metal & Tin
Many types of food containers are produced from a thin sheet of metal, normally steel or tin. But steel cans are often made from tin-coated steel, and what we call “tin cans” are frequently aluminum products. Recycling metal food cans is highly efficient. They can undergo the process infinitely.
Global Diversion
- 300–500 million
- tons of greenhouse gas emissions are prevented annually, thanks to metal recycling.
- 45%
- of the world's steel production comes from recycled metal.
Accepted materials: Metal food cans and assorted metals, such as small metal pieces, coat hangers, pie plates, and empty, dry paint cans.
Not accepted: Metal pieces heavier then 1 kg. Please contact our team @ 403-609-0997 to schedule a Large Item Pickup for heavier items.
Organic food waste
Composting is crucial because food scraps, together with other compostable materials, make up about 20% of all waste in landfills. Organic materials take a long time to biodegrade in landfills. And food that rots in a dump produces large amounts of methane – a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting, by contrast, automatically creates nutrient-rich soil without harmful by-products.
Global Diversion
- 50%
- eduction in greenhouse-gas emissions comes from composting organic food waste.
- 6-8%
- of all greenhouse-gas emissions we generate could be eliminated if we stop wasting food.
Accepted materials: Plate scraps, unfinished meals, fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, shellfish, bones, eggshells, dairy products, sauces, salad dressings, bread, noodles, rice, beans, grains, small amounts of cooking oils and grease, food-soiled paper (such as napkins, etc.), tissues, coffee filters, and tea bags. We also collect Certified Compostable food ware and bags.
Not accepted: Plastic bags, including oxy-biodegradable and biodegradable bags. (BPI Certified Compostable bags are accepted). We cannot accept waxed paper cups or plates, butcher paper (although parchment paper is accepted), vegetable and fruit stickers, twist ties, elastic bands, plastic cutlery, pet waste, or soiled diapers. Yard and garden waste must be diverted separately.
Paint
Purchasing recycled paint is environmentally preferable to buying new paint, and the quality for each product is comparable. In many cases, reusable paints of the same colour are pumped into a tank, where the material is mixed and tested. The paint is adjusted with additives and colourants to create a final product.
Global Diversion
- 50kg
- of greenhouse-gas emissions are prevented by recycling just four liters of paint, which also saves enough energy to power the average home for 3 hours.
- 4 Liters
- of recycled paint saves 50 liters of water, one liter of oil, and 950,000 liters of water pollution.
Accepted materials: Latex or oil-based paints, varnish, paint-based aerosols, stains, and sealers.
Not accepted: Bulging or leaking paint cans, automotive paint, acid-based stains, rubber or tar-based coatings, colourants, industrial coatings, and unidentifiable paint or containers.
Wooden Pallets
A wooden pallet (or “skid”) is a flat transport structure for goods of all kinds. While most pallets are wooden, they can also be made of plastic, metal, paper, and a range of recycled materials.
Global Diversion
- 1 tree
- saved for every 9 pallets recycled.
- 9×
- A typical wooden pallet is reusable up to nine times, with proper maintenance.
Accepted materials: Wooden pallets of all sizes, colours, and shapes. We accept unusable and reusable pallets.
Not accepted: Plastic or mixed material pallets.
Mixed Paper
By weight, paper products account for about half of the materials collected for recycling worldwide. So, cutting down on paper use is an easy way to lower your carbon footprint. In today’s electronic world, we can often forego using up reams and reams of physical pages, not to mention all the printer cartridges and ink that go with them.
Global Diversion
- 1 ton
- of recycled paper saves 4,100 Kwh of energy, prevents 30 kilograms of air pollutants, and saves 26,000 liters of water.
- 68%
- of paper is recovered each year. More than 50-million tons!
- Half
- of all paper recycled is used to make cardboard boxes.
Accepted materials: Office paper, printer paper, magazines, brochures, phonebooks, photographs, gift wrapping, books, and writing paper.
Not accepted: Paper that is laminated, soiled (with food or oil stains), or treated with wax. Neither can we accept single-use coffee cups.
Plastics (Hard)
Humanity has struggled to reduce the amount of packaging we use, so recycling plastic goes a long way toward reducing the amount of solid materials that go to waste. Hard plastics are usually recycled mechanically. They are sorted, cleaned, shredded, melted down, and remolded.
Global Diversion
- 1 ton
- of recycled plastic saves 16.3 barrels of oil and 23 cubic meters of landfill space.
- 7 months
- of power for a family home (~7,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity) can come from each ton of recycled plastic.
Accepted materials: Any rigid plastic: plastic jars and containers (such as peanut butter, yogurt, etc.), Tupperware, hygiene products (shampoo, body wash, deodorant tubes, etc.), PVC piping.
Not accepted: Styrofoam (such as meat trays, disposable cups, etc.), mixed material (such as plastic products with metal components), or any material contaminated with food, liquids, or chemicals. Soft plastic (like plastic bags) must be separated from hard plastics, and it cannot be placed in your hard-plastic bins.
Plastics (Soft)
Soft plastics can be easily scrunched or crumpled. They include grocery bags, shrink wrap, and dry-cleaning bags. Frequently, these lightweight, thin plastics cannot go into the recycling bins you have at home. Our team does collect soft plastics: part of our mission to reduce the volume of materials going into our landfills.
Global Diversion
- 1 ton
- of recycled soft plastic can save 16.3 barrels of oil and over 5,500 kilowatt-hours of energy.
- 6%
- of the total global packaging waste, by weight, is soft plastics.
Accepted materials: Shrink wrap from deliveries, all plastic bags (except biodegradable or compostable bags), plastic wrap from retail products, clear and coloured plastic film used to seal products (like the seal on a yogurt container), bread bags, freezer bags, salad bags, stretchy plastic, and plastic food wrap. Materials must be clean.
Not accepted: Styrofoam (such as meat trays, disposable cups, packaging, etc.). Soft plastics must be separated from mixed materials (hard-plastic or metal components). We cannot accept materials contaminated by food or liquid.
Tires and Rims
Tire recycling repurposes the rubber from tires that are no longer suitable for motor vehicles or bicycles, due to wear or irreparable damage. Old tires are typically ground into granules of “crumb rubber,” before being turned into other products: including rubberized asphalt paving, remolded tires, fuel, coloured mulch, playground flooring, welcome mats, and mud guards. Metal wheel rims can be recycled into the same high-quality material again and again, without end. Steel rims are the go-to option for many people, due to their low cost and high durability. Alloy and chrome rims are also highly recyclable.
Global Diversion
- 4 tires
- recycled reduces CO2 emissions by 150 kilograms, which is equivalent to saving 68 liters of gasoline.
- 20×
- smaller carbon footprint when using recycled rubber for molded products, compared to using virgin plastic resins.
- Millions
- of scrap tires can be diverted from landfills every year. Recycling keeps them from being illegally dumped along roadsides or in lakes, abandoned lots, and sensitive habitats.
- 97%
- of steel (including tire rims) is recycled and re-used
Accepted materials: Automotive tires, bicycle tires, inner tubes, and metal rims (whether steel, alloy, or chrome).
Not accepted: Foam filled tires or plastic (bag) tire covers.
Creating a culture of environmental sustainability and ambassadorship within a group of restaurants has been made so much easier with the focus and assistance from Flying Pigs who provides this service so professionally.
Kathleen Tuff Chief of Operations & Development
Contact us for a free quote
or call (403) 609-0997
