The Region offers recycling programs using large carts for schools and eligible multi-unit properties, such as large apartment buildings.
See details below or contact our Call Centre at 519-575-4400 available 24 hours a day, every day, for information.
COVID-19 update: To help protect collection crews, please:
- Put used tissues and paper napkins in the garbage, rather than the green cart.
- If you are sick, please place any item that has come into contact with your face into the garbage. This includes items that you would normally put in the blue recycling cart, such as water bottles, pop cans, milk/juice cartons, etc.
For additional information about changes to our waste programs and services during the pandemic, go to our Collection Issues page.
Blue and Grey Cart Recycling program
Who is eligible? |
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What goes in? |
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This program recycles the same items as our curbside Blue Box program, just sorted into multiple carts instead of boxes. Blue "Containers" cart accepts the following types of packaging that contained a food, beverage, cleaning, personal or pet care product at the point of purchase:
How to prepare: Empty. Rinse. Do not bag - put in loose. Learn how to deal with lids and labels. No broken glass, dishware, light bulbs, containers with food, appliances and electronic waste, car parts, candy wrappers, chip bags, cardboard cans, coffee pods, clothes baskets and hangers, straws, Styrofoam, toys, wooden orange crates. COVID-19 update: If you are sick, please place any item that has come into contact with your face into the garbage. Grey "Paper products and plastic bags" cart:
NO gloves, masks, sanitizing wipes, stand-up pouches, liner bags from cereal/cracker boxes and other bags that make a "crinkle" sound, bags that contained meat or cheese, mesh bags, bubble wrap, diapers, foil or plastic wrapping paper, bows, ribbons. No furnace filters. No diapers. Grey "Corrugated Cardboard" cart: Flatten and size corrugated cardboard to fit into the cart. NO plastic bags, Styrofoam, metal/glass/plastic containers. |
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Collection schedule and rules |
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Please sort and prepare recyclables correctly. Carts containing unacceptable materials will not be collected.
Collection:
Do you have a collection concern? Contact our Call Centre at 519-575-4400, available 24 hours a day, every day. |
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Tips and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) |
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Prevent litter and maximize recycling:
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Need more information? |
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Where does it go? |
Recycling trucks drop off recyclables at our Nyle Ludolph Materials Recycling Centre (NLMRC), located at 925 Erb Street West (Gate 1), Waterloo. The NLMRC has two sections, one to receive receive Paper Products and Plastic Bags (including corrugated cardboard), and the other to receive all Containers. Paper products and plastic bags are dropped off in the east side of the facility, and are loaded into large tractor trailers; we do not sort paper, and plastic bags. This material is shipped to Niagara Recycling, where it is further sorted and then sold to market. The Containers are dropped off in the west side of the NLMRC, separated by material type, and shipped to different markets in southwestern Ontario, and northern and east south-central regions of the United States. Ensuring recyclables are sorted properly is key to selling them to market. Early in 2018, China stopped receiving shipments of mixed recyclables. As a result, North American markets have been flooded with recyclables, tightening their requirements, and lowering their tolerance for contamination (unacceptable material). The good news is that your your help in separating the right recyclables into the correct cart (Paper Products and Plastic Bags, Containers, and Corrugated Cardboard), we can produce marketable recyclables. For our materials to meet the demanding requirements and maximize revenues (to help offset program costs), everyone is responsible to do their part in sorting recyclables! |
Green Cart Organics program
Who is eligible? |
COVID-19 update: If you are participating in this program, please place used tissues and paper napkins in the garbage, rather than the green cart. Thanks for helping to protect workers. The Region's Organics Green Cart program is available to all public and private schools that receive our Blue and Grey Cart Recycling program. Schools interested in participating are to contact their School Board. Upon approval by the School Board, the Region can provide a limited number of large green carts (with liners) that must be rolled out to the curb, initial one-time supply of residential-sized green bins (no liners) for internal collection, and collection service, at no charge. Carts are required to be set on the street curb by 7 a.m. on your designated collection day. When emptied, carts will be re-lined by the waste collection crew with a certified compostable bag. How to get on the program:
Note: The Region is running a Green Cart Organics pilot program for a few apartment buildings and townhouse complexes. The information below is applicable to those participating in the pilot. If you want more information about this pilot, please email us. |
What goes in? |
This program accepts the same materials as our Green Bin program. COVID-19 update: To help protect collection crews, please place used tissues and paper napkins in the garbage, rather than the green cart. Thanks for helping.
NO packaging, glass, metal, plastic. No beverage cups, including coffee cups. No chewing gum, cigarette butts, cleaning wipes, coffee pods, corks, condiment packets, cutlery, diapers, dirt/vacuum sweepings, water softener salt, wax, yard waste. |
Collection schedule and rules |
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Need more information? |
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Contact Us