Collection Schedules

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Putting recycling and green bin to the curb

This page provides ways to find your collection day and set collection reminders, and information on holiday collection schedules (statutory holidays, double garbage days, and Christmas Tree collection).

A copy of the 2020 Waste Collection calendar is available online.

When is my collection day?

Your collection day is determined by where you live in Waterloo Region.

Use our handy Waste Whiz online lookup to check your collection day and services. Go to "My Schedule".
Contact our Call Centre 519-575-4400, available 24 hours a day, every day.

Note: All materials have to be set out by 7 a.m. on your collection day.

Need reminders? Resources are at your fingertips!

Since different types of waste have different collection schedules*, setting up reminders can help keep you on track:

Download the app on your mobile device! Our waste app can provide you with personalized collection information, and the ability to set reminders. (Plus we send out important notifications about our programs through the app on occasion.)
Use the online version of our waste app.

*Note: Normally, blue boxes and green bins are collected weekly. Garbage and bulky items are collected every second week (limits apply). Yard waste is collected seasonally (typically from March to November) on the opposite week of garbage. Natural Christmas trees are collected usually two weeks after the holiday.

Please check our COVID-19 update for the latest changes to our collection programs.

Holiday collection schedule

Looking for ways to reduce your waste during celebrations and holidays? Go to our list of residential waste reduction tips.

Statutory and designated holidays

On statutory and designated holidays,

our offices and drop-off facilities are closed to residents, and
collection continues as usual, except for Christmas Day and New Years Day

Statutory hand designated holidays include,

Family Day, Monday, February 17, 2020
Easter - Good Friday April 10 and Easter Monday April 13, 2020
Victoria Day, Monday, May 18, 2020
Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Civic Holiday, Monday, August 3, 2020
Labour Day, Monday, September 7, 2020
Thanksgiving, Monday, October 12, 2020
Remembrance Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Boxing Day, which will be taken on Monday, December 28, 2020

Collection will be delayed for Christmas Day and New Years Day:

When these holidays fall on weekdays, collection will be delayed one day for that day, and the rest of the week, as necessary. We will advertise changes to the collection schedules on our website, through local media and social media, and on our waste app.

This year with Christmas Day and New Years Day falling on Fridays, collection for Friday will be delayed one day.

If your collection day is Friday, you will receive collection on Saturday, December 26, 2020 and Saturday, January 2, 2021.

Please note: Given the volume of waste (especially recyclables!) set out during the holidays, our collectors may be using different types of trucks and may collect your waste at different times during the day.

Double garbage days

You can set out twice the regular amount of garbage bags/cans at your curb for collection (without the need for garbage tags) on your garbage day following these holidays:

New Year's Day
Good Friday
Thanksgiving
Christmas Day

Next Double Garbage Days:

If you live in the City Kitchener or in the Townships, you may set out double the garbage limit during the week of October 12 to 16 2020.
If you live in the Cities of Cambridge or Waterloo, you may set out double the garbage limit during the week of October 19 to 23, 2020.

Christmas Tree collection: January 4 to 15, 2021

Our special Christmas tree collection has ended for this year. The next opportunity to "tree-cycle" your natural Christmas or holiday tree is from January 4 to 15, 2021.

Set it out by 7 a.m. on your collection day.
Keep it natural! Remove all lights, ornaments, and stands. Do not bag.
Cut trees that are longer than 1.8 meters (6 feet) in half.
Keep it visible and accessible for collection crews. Do not place your tree on or behind a snowbank.

Recycling and disposal options of natural Christmas trees after our special Christmas Tree collection program has ended:

Drop off your natural Christmas tree to our waste management sites. (Fees will apply.) It will be chipped and made into mulch.
Set it to the curb for collection. It will count as a Bulky Item and go to landfill.

Please note:

If you set an artificial tree to the curb for collection, it will be collected as a Bulky Item.