Waste Sorting Tools

Waste Sorting Tools

You have a responsibility to sort your waste before disposal. The City requires collection of organics, and encourages all businesses in Whitehorse to separate a variety of materials for recycling, composting, and special handling. Businesses will pay higher fees for unsorted waste. The following tools help take the guesswork out of sorting your business waste -- and help you save money, too.

Waste Sorting Guide

To download a printable Waste Sorting Guide click here.

For FRENCH language version, click here.

For TAGALOG language version, click here. 

Organics Sorting Guide

To download a printable Organics Sorting Guide click here.

For FRENCH language version, click here.

For TAGALOG language version, click here.

Classroom Education Resources

• Classroom Waste Education Package – Guide 
• Waste Diversion Word Search
• Waste Diversion Word Search Answer Key
• Recollect Sorting Game Lesson Plan
• Recollect Reducing Landfill Emissions Lesson Plan
• Blue Tarp Waste Audit
• Don't Sink Your Grease poster
• Waste Sorting Guide – also available in French, and Tagalog (see above)
• Organics Sorting Guide –  also available in French, and Tagalog (see above)

Bin Stickers

Bin stickers are available for you to print and place on your bins (dumpsters). A sticker can help people identify what waste material goes in what bin. You can pick up your stickers at Arctic Star or Willow Printers to print on demand.

Why sort waste?  

Waste is created when materials are mixed together. When materials are separated we create opportunities for reuse, composting, and recycling.

Some waste requires special handling for safe and effective burial in the landfill. This applies to materials such as asbestos, mattresses, and construction waste. 

The benefits to you include significant savings in tipping fees. Loads with over 10% contamination will trigger additional fees ($300.00/tonne and $50 per banned item found). A Compliance Officer now inspects loads coming into the Landfill.

it saves to sort!

To avoid higher fees, separate the following from regular waste:

• Cardboard

• Organics (food waste including food scraps, meat, bones, dairy, yard waste, and food soiled paper such as napkins & paper towels)
• Metals
• Electrical and Electronic Waste 
• Hazardous Waste
• Construction & Demolition (C&D)
• Clean wood and brushing 
• Tires (remove rims first)
• Bulky items (furniture, desks, chairs, etc)
• Appliances

Sorting STEPS

1. What is in your waste?

Take a look in your waste bin - what materials do you see? Make a list of the materials, compare to the list above, and estimate the volumes you produce each week. 

TIP -  Use our  waste sorting guide and our organics sorting guide.

2. Reduce and reuse

Look for opportunities to reduce and prevent waste from being created.

Can the item be reused? Bring it to Raven Recycling, or local pawn shops. Check out the monthly Repair Café at Yukonstruct or try social media buy and sell pages, Whitehorse classifieds, or leave it out for a Tag n Take event.

3. Create Space to Collect

Provide separate bins for materials to make sorting easy. The location and size collection bins depend on your activities. Create a central waste station for offices and special events, organize larger bins for construction and demolition.

TIP - Use the What Goes Where App to look up disposal options for any item. 

4. Sign up for Collection or Self-Haul to Waste Management Facility 

Contact a local waste hauler for collection - a list of local haulers for various materials is available here.

TIP - Commercial Organics Collection is now available to all businesses, organizations, condos, and apartments. Sign up today! Contact organics@whitehorse.ca

5. COmmunicate with Staff, Tenants, and Participants

Incorporate waste training as part of orientation, post signs on bins, and ensure responsibilities for managing waste are understood. 

TIP - Download sorting signs under Tips & Tools.

Waste Sorting App

Sorting your waste is easy with our What Goes Where app. Type the name of an item into the search bar and we will give you recycling, composting, or disposal options.

Follow these easy instructions to download the app to your phone or mobile device.