2026 Curbside Collection Changes

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A graphic showing the new black and green waste carts for the Region of Waterloo.

Updates

Cart delivery underway

Delivery of black garbage and green organics carts is rolling out across Waterloo Region.

If your household is in a delivery zone marked "Complete" on the map below, and did not receive a cart set, or if there are items missing from your cart set, please fill out an inquiry form or call the Service First Contact Centre at 519-575-4400.

Please note: Residents are asked to use the black cart they receive for about six months. If, after that time, you want to size up or down, you can request a one-time exchange, at no cost, starting in fall 2026.

Carts will come with a cart information kit with program details.

Households in the areas marked in green for delivery on the map below are expected to receive their carts in the coming weeks.

Map of Delivery Zones

The delivery date of carts will vary across the community. They will continue across the region until all carts are in place for the start of cart-based collection in March 2026.

Residents can download the Region's free Waste Whiz App to receive service alerts on when their carts are being delivered, or by signing up for reminders by selecting 'Calendar', entering your address in the Waste Whiz, selecting the 'Get a reminder!' button and choosing your reminder method.

Information will also be shared on this website – regionofwaterloo.ca/carts - and the Region’s social channels at Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Do not use the carts until March 2026 or exchange carts with others. Carts will have to be stored until the start of cart-based collection in March.

Overview

In March 2026, the Region of Waterloo will be changing to cart-based collection for garbage and organics.

The Region provides curbside collection service to approximately 161,000 single-family homes, duplexes, and 3-to-6-unit buildings, as well as 8,500 multi-family units and townhouse complexes that meet truck-access criteria.

Currently, most of the collection is done manually, by lifting waste materials and placing them into the collection trucks. By switching to cart-based collection, the Region will improve worker safety, operational efficiency, and cut down on waste collection day litter.

Stay informed

Click on the +Follow button on the EngageWR page to receive EngageWR email updates.
Download the Region's free Waste Whiz App to receive reminders. Sign up for reminders by selecting 'Calendar', entering your address in the Waste Whiz, selecting the 'Get a reminder!' button and choosing your reminder method.
Follow us on social media at Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Meet our team and see the carts!

Our Waste Management team will be out in the community at various events throughout the year, showing the new carts to residents and sharing information about cart-based collection.

Visit EngageWR for opportunities to meet the team!

EngageWR - Get involved

If you can't make it out to an outreach event, cart displays can be found at the following locations:

Cambridge - Cambridge Public Library, Preston (435 King St.E., Cambridge)

Kitchener - Kitchener City Hall (200 King St. W., Kitchener)

Waterloo - RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex (2001 University Ave. E., Waterloo)

Waterloo - Waterloo Public Library, Main Branch (35 Albert St., Waterloo)

Woolwich - Woolwich Memorial Centre (24 Snyder Ave. S., Elmira)

Wellesley - Wellesley Township Recreational Complex (1401 Queens Bush Rd., Wellesley)

Wilmot - Wilmot Recreational Complex (1291 Nafziger Rd. Unit #1, Baden)

North Dumfries - North Dumfries Community Complex (2958 Greenfield Rd., Ayr)

Region of Waterloo Headquarters - 150 Frederick St., Kitchener

* Locations may change *

All about carts

Residents will receive one black cart, one green cart and one food scrap container before March 2026. These carts are free. Information kits will be provided with the carts and include instructions and tips on cart usage.

Carts and food scrap containers will be delivered free of charge to residential properties before March of 2026.

Cart sizes

The large black cart fits the equivalent of three full bags of garbage, and the small cart fits the equivalent of one full bag of garbage.

If they don't choose a smaller cart, they will receive a large cart. There is only one size for the green cart and food scraps container.

A measurement graphic showing the different sizes of carts

Measurements:

Large black cart:

69 cm (D) x 68 cm (W) x 111 cm (H)

Volume: 240 litres

Weight limit: 200 pounds, or 90.7 kilograms

Small black cart:

62 cm (D) x 48 cm (W) x 96 cm (H)

Volume: 120 litres

Weight limit: 100 pounds, or 45.4 kilograms

Green cart:

62 cm (D) x 48 cm (W) x 98 cm (H)

Volume: 100 litres

Weight limit: 85 pounds, or 38.6 kilograms.

Food scraps container

The food scraps container comes in one size.

Measurements: 30 cm (D) x 22 cm (W) x 24 cm (H)

A supplied image of the food scraps container

Frequently asked questions

We know you have questions about the rollout for cart-based collection. Click the frequently asked questions link below to find answers on our EngageWR page.

Background information

Challenges with manual waste collection

There are ongoing and evolving changes to the waste industry with major challenges around staff recruitment and retention for manual waste collection. Specifically, challenges exist due to:

a limited labour pool as the work requires extensive physical labour;
working in adverse conditions due to nuisances, weather, type of work, and negative perceptions; and
health and safety risks with on-going lifting of heavy waste materials, and slips, trips and falls from exiting and entering a truck.

Based on industry research, it would be and was difficult to receive competitive bids from service providers to continue to provide manual waste collection for garbage and organics.

Benefits of converting to cart-based collection for garbage and organics

Health and safety to reduce injuries for workers
Efficiencies for stop times curbside which introduces opportunities for efficiencies in route logistics
Mitigating safety risks by having the driver inside the vehicle, using 360-degree cameras to view the area outside of the truck
Reduce litter from windy days, and pests
Staff recruitment for contractors, while diversifying the workforce

Municipalities using cart-based collection

Multiple municipalities across Ontario and Canada collect their waste with carts.

Some nearby examples are: