Collection information
How often is garbage collected?
- Garbage is collected every two weeks.
- Green bins are collected every week.
- Recyclables are picked up on alternating weeks (black bin one week, blue bin the next).
- Blue bins and garbage are picked up the same week.
- Leaf and yard waste is collected with your green bin.
- Check your Collection Calendar to confirm your collection schedule.
- Only non-recyclable items should be placed in the garbage.
- Not sure where an item belongs? Please check the Waste Explorer.
How many bags, items or cans can be put out?
Residents receiving curbside collection can set out up to six items every second week on garbage day.
When and where to put your garbage
- Put garbage at the curb any time after 6:00 p.m. the evening prior to your collection day and no later than 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
- Place bags or cans on the ground as close as possible to the roadway, but not on the sidewalk, roadway or on top of snow banks.
How to package your garbage
- Do not put recyclables, organics or yard waste in plastic bags.
- To avoid collections issues, please do not use shopping bags or small white garbage bags when setting your garbage at the curb.
- Do not use cardboard boxes for garbage. Cardboard boxes are a recyclable item and must be placed in the black bin.
- Make sure material is packaged or contained securely in a plastic garbage bag or garbage can to avoid loose debris.
- All garbage cans, bags or boxes should not weigh more than 15 Kg (33 lb).
- Separate all broken glass from your garbage and place it in a cardboard box clearly labeled 'broken glass'. Doing otherwise can result in serious injuries to collection operators
- Sawdust, ashes and other material of similar nature go in your green bin. NO hot ashes please.
- Add leaf and yard waste to your green bin. Do not mix leaf and yard waste, recyclables and garbage together.
- All carpet should be tied and bundled. Bundles should be less than 1.2 m (4 ft.) in length, less than 60 cm (2 ft.) in diameter and less than 15 kg (33 lb.) in weight.
Acceptable metal or plastic garbage bag/container
- Maximum 125 litre capacity
- Maximum weight capacity, less than 15 kg/33lb when full
- Maximum 90cm/35" tall, 46cm/18" diameter
- Two handles and a water tight lid. Container must not have fixed lids
Do not secure lid to garbage container with bungee cord/rope.
No loose garbage inside container.
Waste collection operators will not reach into garbage cans to retrieve bags as it could cause injury.
Do not place glass or sharp objects loose in plastic bags.
Examples of acceptable containers:
Maximum 125 litre can with wheels and removable lid
Maximum 125 litre can without wheels and removable lid
Unacceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes must not be used as a garbage container. Cardboard boxes should be recycled or used for yard waste only. *Exception* A cardboard box can be used to dispose of broken glass. Place broken glass in a cardboard box. Close/seal/tape the box shut and clearly mark on the outside of the box "broken glass". Set cardboard box at the curb with your regular garbage.
- Oversized and overweight containers (+15kg/33lbs).
- Many wheeled containers are too big and too heavy when full. Containers must be less than 125 litres with no fixed lids.
Examples of unacceptable containers:
220 litre / 50 gallon container
240 - 360 litre / 50 - 80 gallon container
For more details on approved container sizes, visit the City's Solid Waste Management by-law.
For more details on approved container storage outside of garbage day, visit Property Standards by-law, section 12.
Disposing of bulky items
“Bulky items” that can easily be lifted into a collection vehicle such bicycles, floor lamps, mattresses, furniture, sinks, toilet bowls, barrels, pool pumps, pool covers and any other discarded materials, normally accumulated at a residential dwellings can be put out for collection on your garbage day. The total combined number of garbage containers and bulky items must not exceed six items every second week on garbage day.
