Different trucks pick up different materials starting at 7 a.m. on each collection day (they work into the evening). The time that your items are collected will vary week to week depending on various factors such as the amount of materials at the curb, routing changes, road construction, and weather and road conditions. Collection crews sticker and leave behind unacceptable items.
Use the Waste Whiz below to find out how to recycle or dispose of an item or click on the other tabs to find your collection schedule, or play a sorting game. Under "Need help?" tab, set or modify your collection reminders, print out your personalized collection calendar, report a concern, or get other assistance.
This site determines waste services for residents living in single and semi-detached homes in Waterloo Region. Apartment buildings, businesses, condominiums and townhouse residents should call the Region's 24 / 7 customer service team at 519-575-4400 for more information.
Collection during snow events: Crews do their best to complete collection each day. However, during snow events, collection may be delayed due to road and weather conditions. If you set out items for collection, please ensure they are set out by 7 a.m. on your collection day and are visible and safe to access (keep at ground level, do not place on snowbanks). If your items are not collected by 6 p.m. on your collection day, please contact our Call Centre at 519-575-4400. We appreciate your patience.
Did your blue boxes blow away? Please look downwind on your street, or ask your neighbours if they've picked up extra blue boxes. (Hopefully, you've put your address on the boxes!). If you can't find your blue boxes, please buy ones with these features:
- Made from rigid plastic that will not bend or give when lifted full.
- A rim around the top so the driver can lift it and hook it on the side of the truck for sorting.
- Correct sizes:
- For Containers Only blue boxes (for cans, cartons, bottles and jars) between 68 to 91 litres (18 to 24 gallons).
- For Paper Products and Plastic Bags blue boxes: between 45 to 60 litres (12 to 16 gallons)
Below is information to help you avoid collection issues, or figure out why your item(s) were not collected.
Top 7 tips to ensure your items are collected |
 Set out your items by 7 a.m. on your collection day. Collection crews start at 7 a.m. and their routes change without notice. - Set out your items as close to the street as possible, in a safe and accessible spot. Items placed behind or on top of snowbanks, or on opposite side of sidewalks cannot be collected.
- Ensure your items are visible. Please do not place items behind parked cars, light posts, or snowbanks.
- Properly sort and prepare your items. Check Waste Whiz (at the top of this page) to find out how to prepare specific items for collection. Use this sorting guide. Do not set out hazardous items.
- Use approved collection containers.
- Stay within the weight limit of 23 kilograms (50 pounds) for each blue box, green bin, garbage bag or can, bundle, and yard waste item.
- Stay within the set out limits for garbage and bulky items. If you have garbage bags/cans over the limit, use garbage tags.
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Troubleshooting guide to "Oops!" stickers and common collection issues
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| When an item has been set out on time and not collected, the collection crew will leave a sticker to indicate why it wasn't collected. Below is a troubleshooting guide that shows each type of sticker, how to deal with items that were not collected, and how to prevent getting a sticker. 
Oops! No allowed: An item may not be allowed due to health and safety issues, by-law requirements, or it may not be something that we collect curbside. Some examples include:
- Bagged recyclable containers (cans, cartons, bottles and jars) in a blue box
- Styrofoam in a blue box
- Regular plastic bags in a green bin
- Electronic waste (not collected at the curb - use local drop-off programs)
- Broken glass, and syringes which are not safe to collect.
Check the Waste Whiz (at the top of this page) for details on how to properly prepare and dispose of your item. 
Oops! Not bundled properly: Items that need to be bundled, such as cardboard, wood or branches, need to be sized and tied correctly for collection crews to pick up safely and to fit into their trucks. Check the Waste Whiz (at the top of this page) for details and properly prepare the bundles for your next collection day. 
Oops! Too heavy: Each blue box, green bin, garbage bag/can, bundle, and yard waste item must be no heavier than 23 kilograms (50 pounds). If your item exceeds the weight limit, split up the material into separate containers/bundles and set out on your next collection day. Some bulky items and appliances have different weight limits. Please check the Waste Whiz (at the top of this page) for details, and prepare the item for set out (or drop off) according to the instructions provided. 
Oops! Too many: There are limits on the number of garbage cans/bags and bulky items/appliances you can set out for collection. Please:
Oops! Contents were frozen: Items could not be collected because they were frozen to the container at the time of collection. This sometimes happens with blue box items and green bin organics. Ways to ensure your items are easy to empty out:
- Bag/bundle paper and boxboard before you put it in your blue box
- Make sure your blue box is clean and dry before you place materials in it
- Drain liquids before placing organics in the green bin
- Use liner bags (and loosen the liner bag when you set the green bin to the curb)
- Layer paper organics with food scraps in your green bin
- Placing a paper egg carton or balled up newsprint on the bottom of your green bin.
Oops! Wrong week: Garbage, bulky items and appliances, and seasonal yard waste are not collected every week. Bring in your item(s) and put them back out on your next scheduled collection day. Please note also that Christmas trees have a specific collection period. Check the Holiday/Christmas trees schedule. |
Winter tips: How to set out items for collection in cold and snowy conditions |
| Collection crews cannot collect items that are not safe to access, are not visible and are frozen inside of containers. Use these tips to help keep pedestrians, vehicles and our collection crews safe, and collection efficient in cold, snowy conditions:  Make sure items are easily accessible.
- Place the items either at the end of your driveway or shovel a ledge in the snowbank near the end of your driveway. Please make sure the ledge or "shelf" is on the road-side, not the sidewalk-side.
- Do not place items on top of snowbanks.
- Clear any snow and ice that may accumulate.
Ensure containers are visible.
- If you use garbage bags, use black or green garbage bags. Do not set out garbage in white garbage bags.
- Do not set items behind snowbanks, parked cars, shrubs or lamp posts.
- Brush off snow that may accumulate on your items.
Ensure your organics are easy to empty out of your green bin:
- Drain liquids before placing organics in the bin
- Use a liner bag and loosen it from the sides when you set your green bin out for collection
- Layer paper organics with food scraps
- Place a paper egg carton or balled up newsprint on the bottom of your green bin
Place items out the day of collection by 7 a.m., rather than the night before. Consider not setting out your waste during major snow events. Thanks for helping to make collection safe and efficient. TIP! Remove your empty containers promptly so they don't get buried with snow, blow around or get damaged. Make sure your address is written on your containers, too! |
How to set out items in windy or stormy conditions |
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Don't set items to the curb the night before collection if a storm or high winds are expected. Place your items at the curb by 7 a.m. on the day of collection if the weather is better. If it is still windy/stormy, consider waiting and set out your items next week.
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Save lightweight items for your next collection day.
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Prepare your blue box materials so that they do not blow away:
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Crush containers so they fit better in the blue box, and aren't as easily lifted by wind.
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Stuff all plastic bags in one bag and tie the handles of the outer bag.
- Put paper in a plastic grocery bag and tie the handles of the bag.
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Flatten, size, and bundle all boxes, such as corrugated cardboard.
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Stack your blue boxes. Place your Paper Products and Plastic Bags blue box on top of your Containers Only blue box.
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Write your address on your blue boxes, green bin, and garbage can in permanent marker. This makes it easier for them to be returned.
Thanks for preventing litter in our community! |
Top 5 tips to prevent summertime pests |
- Empty and rinse all food and beverage containers before placing them in your blue box.
- Bury food scraps with paper waste (such as shredded paper and facial tissues), and keep the lid closed at all times. (Check out this flyer for more tips for preventing and controlling pests in your green bin.)
- Clean your blue boxes, green bins, and garbage cans often. Freshen them up with natural deodorizers such as baking soda or white vinegar.
- Set all items on the curb for collection by 7 a.m. on your collection day. Do not set them out the night before.
- Replace broken or cracked blue boxes, green bins and garbage cans.
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Tips for moving day |
| Whether you are moving into or out of Waterloo Region, below is information to help prevent collection issues.
Moving in |
| Welcome! We hope that you join our community in recycling all you can, preventing litter, and saving space in our one-and-only landfill. Here are some steps to get you started:
- Find out your collection service by going to our Collection by Building Type page. Or check your eligibility, collection day and schedule by typing in your address in our online mapping tool lookup.
- Get the correct collection containers. If you are in a large apartment building or townhouse complex, contact your site manager for an orientation to the waste management programs and get the correct containers. If you are in a detached single family home, duplex, or small apartment building (having six or fewer units) and receive Regional services, you can pick up a green bin and blue box for no charge at our Waste Management Administration buildings (201 Savage Drive, Cambridge open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 925 Erb Street West, Gate 1, Waterloo open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Create an 'eco depot' in each of the key areas of your home. Have collection containers in your kitchen and bathrooms to help proper sorting and collection of waste.
- Learn about our programs. Check out our web pages for curbside, cart, and drop-off programs, and brochures and other available resources. Remember to set all your items out by 7 a.m. on your collection day, do not go over the weight and garbage bag limits, and set out the correct items on the correct week.
- Put the 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) into practice. Check out our Residential Reduce and Reuse Options page for tips to avoid waste every day, even during holidays, and a directory of local reuse stores and organizations. Recycling is very important to our community since the very first Blue Box program was invented here - so please recycle all you can.
- Flatten and bundle all corrugated cardboard.
- Use our waste app for collection schedule reminders and program updates.
- Sign up for our electronic newsletter to keep up-to-date on our programs and services.
Again, welcome to Waterloo Region. If you have any questions about our programs and services or have a collection concern, we are here to help. Please contact our Call Centre at 519-575-4400 available 24 hours a day, every day. |
Moving out |
| We know it's a busy time for you, but please plan ahead and figure out what you need to dispose of, and how you can dispose of items.
- If you have curbside collection, please remember that the number of Bulky Items is limited every second week, and that items above the limit will not be collected. If you have extra garbage, please use garbage tags.
- Gather up batteries, unused or expired medication, paint, and other Household Hazardous Waste and drop it off at local depots.
- Sort through your clothing and household items, and donate things you no longer want or need.
- Sort through your food. Consider donating food you no longer want to local food banks, as appropriate. For food that has expired, please remove packaging, rinse and recycle packaging accepted in the Blue Box program and Blue and Grey Cart program, and place the food in your green bin (maximum weight is 23 kilograms (50 pounds).
- Clean and leave behind the Region of Waterloo blue boxes and green bins, or the reusable recycling bags (for multi-unit buildings). These containers belong to the address.
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