Business/Commercial Waste

Due to COVID-19 measures, applications for commercial landfill accounts will not be processed until Regional offices re-open.

This page has information for local businesses about our waste drop-off sites and other services.

  • Our drop-off sites, including our landfill, accept waste that has been produced within only Waterloo Region. Waste from areas outside of Waterloo Region is not allowed.
  • When bringing waste to our sites, please plan ahead, check our requirements and fee schedule below. Note that we require 24-hour advance notice of loads of waste from large building demolition projects. 
  • The Region of Waterloo does not offer business waste collection. Local commercial haulers can be contracted to provide garbage, recycling and organics collection. 

Bringing waste to our sites: Plan ahead
  1. Read the by-law and landfill bans to understand rules and requirements. Our sites are permitted to accept waste generated in only Waterloo Region. Violators can be refused entry and in some cases, face surcharges.
  2. Notify us 24 hours in advance for loads of building demolition waste (such as from a large building). This material requires additional staff and equipment. Contact us by email, or fax our Cambridge site at 519-740-0822 or Waterloo site at 519-883-1145.
  3. Determine what gate/site you can access based on your vehicle:
    • Gate 1 at our Waterloo site (925 Erb Street West) can accept vehicles such as pickup trucks with self-tipping trailers, roll-off trucks, dump trucks, and tractor trailers up to 24 metres (80 feet) long and having a total gross weight (combined weight of vehicle and load) up to 80 metric tonnes (176,000 pounds). Safety boots and high-visibility safety vests are required at Gate 1 at our Waterloo site.
    • Gate 2 at our Waterloo site can only accept small vehicles such as cars, vans, and pickup trucks with a maximum length of 10 metres (35 feet) and total gross weight of less than 25 metric tonnes (55,000 pounds).
    • Our Cambridge site (201 Savage Drive), can accept all kinds of vehicles from cars and pickup trucks to tractor trailers up to 24 metres (80 feet) long and having a total gross weight up to 80 metric tonnes (176,000 pounds). 
  4. Sort loads by material type if you want to be charged lower tipping fees. Customers will be required to drop off any garbage first, then weigh each other material (such as recyclables, yard waste, etc.) separately. Loads of mixed materials will be charged at the highest applicable rate. 
  5. Prepare the proper identification and information. Examples include your commercial account number, or a contract for local renovation work. 
  6. Bring helper(s) to unload, if necessary. Regional staff is not permitted to assist you.
  7. Wear safety gear and bring tools, as appropriate. Safety boots and high-visibility safety vests are required at Gate 1 of our Waterloo site.
  8. Secure open loads, such as with tarps or ropes. 

When you are onsite 

  1. Your vehicle will be weighed in and out. Wait for the green light before driving onto the scale. Do not get out of your vehicle while on the scale.
  2. Provide the information required by the scale house operator, such as what material(s) you have for disposal and your account number, if applicable.
  3. Follow instructions provided to you by staff and signage. Obey the posted speed limit.
  4. Drop off the correct material in the correct area. When doing so, turn off your vehicle, unless it is necessary to keep it running (such as operating a walking floor trailer).
  5. Keep pets and non-helpers in the vehicle.
  6. Do not remove, scavenge, or scatter any waste material.
  7. Do not smoke.
  8. Be prepared to pay fees when weighing out. 

How to set up a commercial account

Our Waste Management Offices are currently closed as a COVID-19 measure. Applications for commercial landfill accounts will not be processed until Regional offices re-open.

Businesses hauling large amounts of waste to our sites on a regular basis should consider setting up a commercial account with us.

To set up a commercial landfill account with the Region of Waterloo, please:

  • Call 519-575-4400 Extension 3121 and request an Application for Credit form.
  • Complete and mail the form to the Region of Waterloo Finance Department, 150 Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Kitchener, ON  N2G 4J3, or fax the form to 519-575-4448.

Locations and hours of operation of our waste management sites

The Region of Waterloo operates the following two facilities:

Cambridge Waste Management site: 201 Savage Drive, Cambridge, Ontario N1T 1S6

Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Waterloo Waste Management site: 925 Erb Street West, Gate 1, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 3Z4 (across from Costco). Safety boots and a high-visibility safety vest are required.

Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

Holiday schedule:  Closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. When these days fall on weekends, sites will be closed on alternate days during the week. This page will be updated with details closer to the holiday season. 

Materials accepted, drop-off programs, and fees
  • Our locations accept waste generated within only Waterloo Region. Waste from other jurisdictions is not allowed.
  • Wear appropriate safety gear. Safety boots and high-visibility safety vests are required at Gate 1 at our Waterloo site. Note: Safety vests can be purchased from the main scale at our Waterloo site for $25 each.
  • A minimum $10 fee is charged at our waste drop-off locations. Loads over the $10 minimum fee will be charged at the rates listed below. Note that $10 covers up to 120 kilograms of garbage, or 240 kilograms of recyclables.
  • Please separate your waste. Recyclables are charged at a lower rate and are diverted from landfill. As well, by participating in our drywall and wooden pallet diversion programs, 100 per cent of that material is reused (animal bedding).
  • Loads of mixed materials will be charged at the highest rate. For example, if you have garbage and cardboard, you will be charged at the garbage rate. 
  • Payment options: Debit or credit cards are preferred. Cash is accepted, but due to COVID-19, not a preferred payment option. Garbage tags cannot be used as payment.
  1. General refuse/garbage is charged at $88 per metric tonne.
  2. Garbage requiring special handling, such as stumps greater than 60 centimetres (24 inches) in diameter, brush greater than 2.4 metres (8 feet) in length, wire, and Styrofoam are charged at $176 per metric tonne. Asbestos is charged at $350 per metric tonne. These material types are only accepted at our Waterloo site. 
  3. Recyclables including blue box materials, green bin organics, yard waste (such as brush, leaves) are charged at $44 per metric tonne. 
  4. Inerts, such as clean fill, bricks, concrete rubble, are charged at $44 per metric tonne. Note: A surcharge rate applies if concrete rubble contains rebar, wire mesh, or other embedded materials or is in oversized pieces.
  5. Appliances and scrap metal are charged at $44 per metric tonne. For some appliances, a $10 per unit Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) removal fee also applies.
  6. Garbage tags are sold in sheets. $10 per sheet ($2 per tag, 5 tags per sheet). Available at Cambridge, and Waterloo (Gate 2) scale houses only.
  7. Drywall (gypsum wallboard) is charged at $88 per metric tonne. Painted drywall and wet drywall (from rain or snow) is accepted, as well as metal screws, nails and corner bead. No cement wallboard (often used in bathrooms), wood, plastic, insulation, ceramic tiles and other garbage.
  8. Wooden pallets/skids are charged at $88 per metric tonne. Wooden pallets that are wet (from rain or snow) are accepted. No metal or plastic banding, plastic wrap, and any other garbage. No other wood is accepted.

How to dispose of commercial hazardous waste

The Region of Waterloo's waste management sites are not licensed to receive hazardous waste from industrial or commercial sources. Disposal of hazardous waste in our local landfill is a serious offence under Provincial legislation.

Disposal procedures for commercial hazardous waste can be obtained from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Asbestos: pre-approval and other requirements

Asbestos is not accepted in our curbside collection programs.

Restrictions:

  • Only asbestos waste generated within Waterloo Region is accepted for disposal.
  • Asbestos loads are only disposed of at the Waterloo Waste Management Facility at 925 Erb Street, West in Waterloo, Gate 1.
  • Asbestos sources are subject to inspection by a Waste Management Operations Supervisor, at their sole discretion, prior to approval and delivery to the Waterloo Waste Management Facility.

Fee: Asbestos is a surcharged material type and fees are charged accordingly.

Approval for disposal:

  • Approval of asbestos waste disposal is required prior to delivery onsite. 
  • If asbestos is generated from multiple locations, a complete list of all source addresses is required.
  • Completed forms must be received by 12 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the designated Wednesday receiving day.
  • Submit a Request for Asbestos Disposal form via email or fax (519-883-1145).

Preparation:

  • Asbestos waste must be:
    • sealed and labelled in two 3-mil polyethylene bags or one 6-mil polyethylene bag or in an enclosed lined bin and
    • meet all regulations and guidelines established by other agencies for the transportation and disposal of this type of material.
  • The Region of Waterloo is under no obligation to accept material that does not comply with regulatory criteria.
  • Asbestos waste must not be mixed or transported with other waste material.
  • The transporter must wear a safety vest and safety boots, and is responsible for unloading in the specific location identified by Waste Management staff. 
  • Failure to comply with Waste Management staff direction may result in suspension or denial of future requests for the disposal of asbestos.

Note: Vermiculite is, by default, considered to contain asbestos. Therefore, it is handled like asbestos material.  The vermiculite waste generator may however, submit proof that the material is asbestos free. Following review and approval by a Senior Environmental Engineer or Waste Management Operations Supervisor, the material could then be handled as regular industrial waste.

Disposal days and hours:

  • Asbestos waste is accepted once a week on Wednesdays between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
  • There are a limited number of loads accepted each week, with requests reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Receipt of asbestos after 3 p.m. on Wednesday or on an alternate day, is subject to review and approval by a Waste Management Operations Supervisor.
  • It is the responsibility of the customer to notify Waste Management via email or fax (noted above) prior to 3 p.m. on the approved disposal day if asbestos loads will be late or cancelled. 
  • Failure to notify Waste Management of late or cancelled loads may result in suspension or denial of future requests for the disposal of asbestos.

Other waste requiring disposal approval

Waste materials that require approval for disposal are typically soil type materials which may or may not be contaminated, wastes that are by-products of manufacturing, and certain construction and demolition wastes.

Materials may be accepted if the material meets certain regulatory standards, and there is a need as determined by Regional Waste Management Operations staff. 

For more information, including the form and procedure, please refer to the Waste Disposal Request Intake form. Please note:  This procedure does not apply to disposal of asbestos waste. Refer to the Region's Asbestos Disposal procedure above.

Ways to reduce business waste

Businesses looking for ways to reduce their waste are encouraged to:

  1. Complete a waste audit. Assess the types and amounts of waste created through all aspects of your business. Find information online about how to conduct a waste audit, or hire a consultant/waste expert, and talk with your waste hauler.
  2. Set goals to continuously improve waste reduction and diversion. Involve, train and update staff. Monitor and continually improve your progress. Goals could include ways to prevent, reduce, reuse and recycle wastes in your plant/office, through your suppliers and for your customers. 
  3. Ensure compliance with applicable legislation. For example, Ontario regulation 103/94 requires source separation programs for certain businesses. Go to the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks website for additional information and resources.
  4. Review your current waste collection contracts and contact your current and other waste haulers to investigate diversion options. 
  5. Consider "greening" your policies, procedures and projects. For example, look for opportunities in purchasing decisions to reduce/reuse/recycle packaging, buy locally-produced goods and services, and select items with recycled content. Consider having an environmental management system that provides your business with a continuous improvement loop of planning, implementing, monitoring and reviewing your operation to minimize environmental impacts. If you are renovating, consider salvage operations, and "green" standards such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

To get you started, below are some contacts and information to address frequently-asked questions. Please note that we are providing this list for information only. We do not recommend, endorse, or guarantee the service of the the businesses and organizations external to the Region of Waterloo. Due to COVID-19, please contact the business ahead of time to check if they are open and any changes to their terms of service.

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