Other recycling programs

We offer so many more recycling programs for our residents at our waste management sites:

Drop off to be recycled:

• Bicycle reuse program
• Building materials diversion program (Habitat for Humanity)
• Cooking oil recycling
• Electronic waste recycling (fees apply)
• Drywall recycling
• Pallets and lumber
• Motor oil and oil filter recycling
• Household hazardous waste/paint recycling
• Textile and housewares reuse (Goodwill)
• Other free recycling programs

Pick up recycled items for free:

• Compost 

• Paint Reuse Program

• Wood chips/mulch

Blended bicycle reuse program

Take your old, unwanted bicycle to the free drop-off area at the Waterloo landfill site. Please, no wheelchairs, exercise bikes or tricycles.

Volunteers work with youth to teach bike repair skills. Using your old bikes, they rebuild new ones. The refurbished bikes are then given back into the community.

Seasonal program:

April to October; Mon - Sat, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.,
Waterloo landfill site, 925 Erb St. W., Gate 2

Last year, this program diverted over nine metric tonnes of bikes into reuse and away from landfill.

A special thanks to all our partners and sponsors for making this program a success:

• Recycle Cycles
• Goodwill Industries
• Morell Kelly Law firm and the Lidz on Kidz program
• Alan Homes
• Heaven's Bicycle Shop
• Waterloo Catholic District School Board

Refurbished bikes are also available (for a minimal cost) from:

• Heaven's Bicycle Shop, 725 King St. N. Waterloo, 519-807-7002
• Recycle Cycle, 37 Market Lane, Kitchener,  519-804-2466 Waterloo
• Catholic District School Board, Bicycle Hotline: 519-578-3660, ext. 2205

Restoring bicycles for our community!

~ Back to top of page~

Building material reuse program - Habitat for Humanity

New and reusable home building materials and working appliances are collected at the Habitat for Humanity depot at the Waterloo landfill (Gate 2). Items are then sold at the Habitat ReStore.

Not only does this allow reuse of materials, it saves valuable landfill space. Please consider reuse when removing items such as doors, cabinets or windows.

Please drop off acceptable materials at:

Habitat ReStore - Waterloo
120 Northfield Dr. E. Waterloo. Tel: 519-747-0664
Hrs: Mon., Thurs., Fri. and Sat., 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Habitat ReStore - Cambridge
150 Holiday Inn Dr., Cambridge. Tel: 519-220-0004
Hrs: Tues. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Waterloo landfill
925 Erb. St. W. Gate 2., Waterloo. Tel:519-883-4015
Open April - Nov.
Hrs: Mon., Thur., Fri., Sat., 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Acceptable items:

Appliances - must be less than ten years old and in 100 per cent working order
Cabinetry - complete sets, whole pieces, counter tops, bookshelves, wall units
Doors - interior and exterior, with or without frame
Electrical - fixtures, switches, receptacles, breaker panels, lamps, tools
Flooring - minimum 4.6 sq.metres (50 sq. ft.) quantities of hardwood, laminate or ceramic
Hardware - all types used in construction or renovation
Insulation - fiberglass in bags or rigid (no small pieces)
Lumber and trim - minimum 1.8 metres (6 ft.) length, no nails
Plumbing - tubs, sinks (white or bone, no cracks/chips), shower stalls, taps
Windows - complete, thermopane only
Wood Furniture - no upholstery

All items must be in good and useable condition.

A message from Habitat: The Habitat for Humanity ReStore can come out and take a look at your cabinets and if they meet our standards, we will remove and salvage them for you! There is no cost to the homeowner for this service and you may even qualify for a tax receipt from your cabinet donation! Save yourself...or your contractor some work and help out the ReStore at the same time. Call today for more information: 519-747-0664.

For more information, contact Habitat for Humanity at:
Waterloo: 519-747-0664
Cambridge: 519-220-0004 or visit

~ Back to top of page~

Cooking oil recycling

Used household cooking oil can be recycled if dropped off at the Waterloo or Cambridge waste sites.  Maximum 25 L. 

In Waterloo, please empty your container into the signed,bulk cooking oil tank near the HHW depot, Gate 2.  Empty plastic containers can be left in the cart next to the tank for recycling.    In Cambridge, please leave your tightly-sealed, full container at the paint trailer.

~ Back to top of page~

Residential electronic waste recycling

Electronic waste was banned from the Waterloo landfill and curbside collection, effective June 6, 2005. Why? Electronic waste can be recycled. Electronic equipment can and should be recycled using the drop-off programs listed below. Please do not put electronic waste out for residential curbside collection, it will not be collected.

Where to take electronic waste for recycling:

Choose one of these programs to recycle your e-waste (residential e-waste only, no business e-waste):

• Take your e-waste to a free, designated drop off location. Check the Recycle Your Electronics website for locations. Just put in your postal code or item type and find approved drop off locations near your home. This program is offered by Ontario Electronic Stewardship, and funded by the fees paid by consumers when buying electronics. Check out the electronic recycling video for more information.
• Drop off your e-waste for recycling at either the Region's Waterloo landfill site (Gate 2) or the Region's Cambridge waste management site. Region tipping fees apply.

~ Back to top of page~

Pallet and lumber recycling

Motor oil and oil filter recycle program

Used automobile oil and oil filters can be recycled if dropped off at bulk tanks available at the Waterloo landfill (Gate 2 - Household Hazardous Waste Depot), the Cambridge waste managment site and at all of the rural transfer stations.

Motor oil:

A maximum of 25 litres of used motor oil per household per month is accepted. Bulk tanks are available for residents to empty their oil into. Please, no five gallon pails. Not accepted in the tanks: anti-freeze, transmission fluid or brake fluid. These items should be dropped off at the household hazardous waste depot.

Oil Filters: a maximum of five used oil filters per household per month can be accepted.

This is a residential program only. Businesses are NOT permitted to use this program.

~ Back to top of page~

Household hazardous waste (HHW)

Please separate household hazardous waste (HHW) from your regular garbage. If not disposed of properly, these dangerous chemicals can be harmful to human health and the environment.

When brought to a HHW drop-off location, specially trained staff sort the chemicals for safe disposal. Once sorted, most of these products can be recycled. Check out our downloadable postcard for more information.

2013 program change: As a result of the Region's budget decisions, there will be no HHW Event Days. Event Days were advertised in the township collection calendars and the tri-city guide before the budget was final; these will not be held.

How to prepare HHW for drop-off:

• Set up a spot to collect/store HHW in your home in a dry location away from sources of heat/light and out of the reach of children.
• Keep hazardous waste in the original container so that the chemical can be identified safely. If not in the original container, please label for content.
• All containers must be properly sealed.

Remember! Do not place HHW in your curbside garbage and recycling containers.

Note: The following information relates to hazardous waste in the home only. Businesses can refer to the Ministry of the Environment for information on proper disposal procedures and guidelines, look in the telephone book for a list of licensed haulers capable of handling industrial and commercial hazardous wastes, and check out our workplace directory for assistance.

Where can I take HHW?

1. Return to local stores:

Make the drop! Thanks to a provincial program called Orange Drop, many local stores accept certain types of HHW. This Orange Drop program accepts paint, automotive chemicals such as antifreeze and oil, and single use cell dry batteries. Check the Orange Drop Program website makethedrop.ca to find a location near your home.

Take back programs at pharmacies: Return unused and expired medicines and "sharps" to your pharmacy.  Sharps such as syringes, need to be placed in approved syringe disposal containers (available from your pharmacy).

Take back programs for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs): These curly, energy-efficient bulbs contain mercury. Many retailers that sell CFLs, such as Canadian Tire and RONA, take them back for recycling.

2.  Regional HHW depots:

• Waterloo landfill site accepts a wide range of household hazardous waste, (see list below) and is located at 925 Erb St. W., Waterloo (Gate 2), Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on statutory holidays.

• Cambridge landfill site accepts only paint and motor oil, located at 201 Savage Dr., Cambridge, Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on statutory holidays.
• A maximum of 25 litres can be dropped off at one time.

 What is Household hazardous waste?

Acids and alkaline
Car anti-freeze / motor oil / batteries
Fluorescent lamps and energy efficient light bulbs (CFLs)
Fuel (non-transferable)
Household chemicals (cleaners)
Lawn and garden chemicals
Medicines
Old mercury thermostats
Paints and solvents
Propane tanks
Waxes and polishes

Plus syringes (sealed in puncture proof containers only) If dropping off at the Region's Waterloo HHW depot, please place syringes in a puncture-proof container with a screw-top lid (such as an empty bleach or fabric softener bottle) or an approved syringe disposal container (available at pharmacies). Be careful! Some plastic bottles, such as pop/water bottles, are too thin and needles can puncture through the container. Do not dispose of syringes in your curbside garbage or recycling box containers.

~ Back to top of page~

Textile reuse program - Goodwill Industries

The Region of Waterloo has partnered with Goodwill Industries for reuse and recycling of textiles (clothing) and household items. Your donations are sold at Goodwill stores and 100 per cent of the proceeds are used to support the community.

Acceptable items:

Clothing, outerwear, footwear - gently used for children, men and women
Accessories - belts, purses, jewellery, scarves, gloves, hats
Recreational - toys, games, sports equipment, books, audio, video, musical instruments
Household - kitchen items, home decor, tools, linens, textiles
Antiques, collectibles, giftware
For a complete list of acceptable donations, visit Goodwill Industries.

Goodwill retail store and donation centres:

• Goodwill Cambridge, 52 Main St., Tel: 519-620-9719
• Goodwill Kitchener, 1348 Weber St., East, Tel: 519-894-0628

~ Back to top of page~