If so, you might be breaking the law and setting yourself up to get fined.

Regional politicians passed a bylaw that could allow bylaw enforcement officers to fine people or businesses who thumb their nose at recycling.

In short, the region -- which oversees garbage collection, recycling and the operation of most landfills in Niagara -- says recycling is now mandatory.

It's all part of efforts to divert 65 per cent of waste from landfills within the next few years. At present, only about 40 per cent of waste is diverted, and regional staff say much of what goes into our garbage cans is stuff that can be recycled or composted.

But regional politicians stopped short of approving an absolute ban of any recyclable waste being placed in garbage cans, as regional staff had suggested.

Instead, they maintained a threshold already in place allowing no more than five per cent of curbside garbage to contain recyclables, kitchen scraps and yard waste such as twigs and leaves.

St. Catharines Coun. Bruce Timms suggested an absolute ban on any recyclables being placed in garbage cans is probably unworkable, and said most people probably don't even know about the five per cent limit.

"It's extreme and unreasonable," Timms said of the zero per cent tolerance. "To me it's very draconian."

"I think that's going overboard."

The new bylaw proposes giving enforcement officers the power to fine people $100 who put too much recyclables in their garbage, and there are fines for such things as illegal dumping of garbage, placing recyclable materials in garbage bins at regional landfills, putting out garbage bags on your neighbour's lawn, and scavenging of curbside waste.

The fines must be approved by a judge before they can be imposed. Regional staff are now pursuing that approval.

Regional staff said the new bylaw is meant to reinforce the idea that recycling is now mandatory in Niagara.

"We want to send a very clear message: organics should not be in the (garbage) waste stream," said Ken Brothers, commissioner of public works.

Regional staff said the first priority of enforcement officers will be to educate residents about recycling rules rather than simply laying fines.

Welland Mayor Damian Goulbourne said by allowing up to five per cent of recyclables in garbage, the region is encouraging people to not recycle everything possible.

"If you leave that door open, people are going to abuse it," he said.

At the suggestion of Grimsby Coun. Debbie Zimmerman, regional politicians will re-visit the five per cent limit of recyclables allowed in garbage in one year's time.