Waste

Home/.../Waste/Garbage Collection

Garbage, large item and yard waste collection

The Region of Waterloo offers residential curbside collection for green bin organics, blue box recycling, garbage, appliance and bulky items, and seasonal yard waste. Note: Other recycling programs are also available at our facilities.

If you are unsure whether you receive curbside collection or have any questions about our services, please call us: 519-883-5100.

Garbage day information

Trucks begin collecting at 7 a.m. on your scheduled garbage day. Separate trucks pick up different materials at different times so it is important to have all your items to the curb by 7 a.m.

Regular collection runs on all statutory holidays except Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Collection will be delayed one day for the remainder of the week following these two statutory holidays

Residents in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo

Green bin collection weekly
Blue box collection weekly
Garbage collection weekly (Maximum: 10 bag/per property/per week)
Appliance and bulky item collection weekly (Note: No need to call us first)
Yard waste collection bi-weekly from March to November (see yard waste schedule)

Township Residents: North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich

Please refer to the 2013 township calendars for North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich for details. If you need a copy of the calendar, please call 519-883-5100 or e-mail waste@regionofwaterloo.ca.

Generally, Township residents with curbside collection services receive:

Green bin collection weekly in towns and designated areas
Blue box collection weekly in towns and designated areas and bi-weekly collection in rural areas
Garbage collection weekly:
- North Dumfries (Maximum: 6 bag/per property/per week)
- Wellesley (Maximum: 3 bag/per property/per week)
- Wilmot (Maximum: 4 bag/per property/per week)
- Woolwich (Maximum: 3 bag/per property/per week)
Appliance and bulky item collection once per month (see township calendar) - no need to call us first
Yard waste collection bi-weekly in towns and designated areas from March to November (see township calendar

What happens to it? Garbage is taken to the Region's one-and-only landfill located at 925 Erb Street West, Waterloo. Help extend the life of our local landfill by reducing, reusing and recycling!

~ Back to top of page~

How to make sure your garbage gets picked up

Placement times:

Place your items on the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day.

Items can be placed to the curb no earlier than 7 p.m. the day before your collection day.
All containers and any uncollected items must be removed from the curb by 9 a.m. the following morning.

Garbage can, bag size and weight restrictions for both:

Garbage containers must be

no larger than 121 litres (32 gallons)
in good condition with two attached handles
have an unattached water-tight lid
no taller than 84 cm (33") and no wider than 48 cm (19") in diameter

Containers, bags or bundles cannot weigh more than 23 kg (50 lbs.)

Bags must be capable of containing and supporting its contents

Cardboard is banned from landfill and cannot be collected as a waste container. Do not use a cardboard box as a garbage can or recycling box.

MAX 84cm high (33 in.) x 48cm (19 in.) wide and weight of 23kg (50 lbs.) MAX weight 23kg (50 lbs.) Max size 60 cm (24 in.) wide x 40 cm (16 in.) deep Bundled, MAX. 75cm (30 in.) wide x 75cm (30 in.) long x 20cm (8 in.) deep

Placement:

At the end of driveway at curb level without blocking the sidewalk
Easy reach from the street and not blocked by parked cars
Keep items separate for easy identification and collection (green bin, garbage, blue box, yard waste)
Consider sharing a stop with your neighbour
In winter, place all items at street level at the end of your driveway or shovel a flat area close to the curb. Please, do not place on top of a snowbank.

Prohibited items:

any material that may pose a health or safety hazard (ie. sharp objects not prepared in a manner to prevent injury)
biomedical waste*, syringes/medical waste*
car/automotive parts*
cardboard*
concrete, bricks, rocks or patio slabs*, construction, demolition and renovation materials*
dead animals, feces, sewage, manure
electronic waste*, TVs*
flammable/combustable item (ie. compressed gas cylinders, gasoline containers, fire extinguishers, sealed drums)*
glass/mirror/window over 92 cm/3 ft.*
grass
hazardous waste*
hot ashes
liquid waste*
pallets*
railway ties*
tires*

* These items are banned from landfill and cannot be collected. However, most can be recycled in our other diversion programs when dropped off at the Cambridge or Waterloo Waste Management Centres. User fees may apply.

~ Back to top of page~

Large item - appliance and bulky item collection service

Includes: stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, freezers, and other appliances; mattresses, couches, chairs and other large pieces of furniture; and other household items that do not fit into a garbage container.

Residents of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo: Set out at the curb by 7 a.m. on your weekly garbage day. No need to call us first. If you live on a Cambridge laneway, place collectable large items by the public road, not in the laneway.

Residents in North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich: Set out at the curb by 7 a.m. once per month on days scheduled in your calendar. Maximum five items per collection. No need to call us first.

What happens to it? Many large metal items are picked up in a separate truck and recycled as scrap metal. CFCs in appliances are removed before they are recycled. Other items such as couches are taken as garbage and landfilled.

~ Back to top of page~

Unusual and unique items

Not sure what to do with some items? Check out our list on unusual and unique items and how to dispose of them. Search the list by the first initial of each item.

A - E F - P Q - Z

~ Back to top of page~

Yard waste residential collection program

Includes: leaves, plant trimmings, spring yard rakings, grass clippings, weeds, branches, pine cones.

Residents in Cambridge and Waterloo: Receive collection every second week beginning March 25 until November 22 on your regular collection day. Please see schedule below. Live on a Cambridge laneway? Yard waste must be placed beside the public road, not in the laneway, to be collected.

Residents in Kitchener: Receive collection every second week beginning April 1 until November 29 on your regular collection day. Please see schedule below.

Residents in North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich: Areas receiving weekly garbage and recycling collection receive bi-weekly yard waste collection. Please refer to your township calendar. Read our Yard Waste Brochure for more schedule and preparation information.

Click here for a downloadable/printable Yard Waste Brochure/schedule.

What happens to it? Yard waste is composted at the Region's Waste Management Centre located in Cambridge. Composting is the most natural, least expensive way to recycle! The compost is the given back to the community and is available April 1 to first snowfall at the Waterloo and Cambridge landfill.

~ Back to top of page~

Landlord waste information

Landlords or property owners whose rental/condo property receives Region-provided curbside waste collection need to know that collection and disposal of waste within the Regional Municipality of Waterloo is restricted by the conditions cited under the by-laws and bans passed by Regional Council:

By-law 02-011, By-law to Prohibit and Regulate the Collection of Waste
By-law 98-87, By-law to Regulate the Receiving, Dumping and Disposing of Waste

Under By-Laws 02-011 and 98-87, the landlord/property owner is responsible to ensure compliance of the waste by-laws. A conviction under these by-laws will result in set fines of $65 or $130 per offence and/or clean-up costs added to your annual tax bill. In addition, for serious or repeat offences, a summons to attend court may be issued and upon conviction, a fine of up to $5,000 may be levied.

The most common by-law infractions are related to early/late placement and non-removal:

Properly prepared waste and recycling should be placed out to the curb:

Section 6: No more than ten (10) collectable waste containers per property

Section 10: Not before 7 p.m. the night before collection day

Section 10: Be at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day

Section 11: All uncollected waste and containers must be removed by 9 a.m. the day after collection.

At all other times, the curb must be clear of all waste including litter, uncollected material and empty containers

To review the by-laws in detail, please refer to the by-laws and bans section on this website.

To help you educate your tenants and avoid fines, here are some downloadable educational materials for you to use at your properties:

Please call 519-883-5100 if you wish to receive printed copies or informative fridge magnets for placement in your rental properties.

~ Back to top of page~

Contact(s)