Business/Commercial Waste

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 and tandem axle 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 our Waterloo Gate #1 site.
   • Gate 2 at our Waterloo site can only accept small vehicles such as cars, vans, single axle trailers and pickup trucks with a maximum length of 10 metres (35 feet) and total gross weight (combined weight of vehicle and load) 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). Safety boots and high-visibility safety vests are required at the Cambridge site. 
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 are not permitted to assist you.
7. Wear appropriate safety gear and bring tools, if needed. Safety boots and high-visibility safety vests are required at Waterloo Gate #1 and Cambridge sites. Safety vests can be purchased from the main scale at our Waterloo Gate #1 and Cambridge sites for $25 each.
8. Secure open loads with for example tarps or ropes. 

When you are on site 

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 where the material is coming from.
3. Follow instructions provided to you by staff and signage.
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

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

Businesses interested in setting up an landfill credit account must have one (1) year of verifiable use at the Region’s Waste Management Facilities and a minimum of $5,000 per year in tipping fees.

Businesses are welcome to request an Application for Credit form by emailing us. Businesses will be requested to provide a list of vehicle license plates in order to verify one (1) year of facility use and $5,000 per year.

Materials accepted, drop-off programs, and fees

The fee increases reflected below come into effect as of Saturday, April 1, 2023.

• Our locations only accept waste generated within Waterloo Region. Waste from other municipalities is not allowed.
• A minimum $12 fee is charged at our waste drop-off locations. Loads over the $12 minimum fee will be charged at the rates listed below. The $12 fee covers up to 120 kilograms of garbage, or 240 kilograms of recyclables.
• 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, credit (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) or cash. Garbage tags cannot be used as payment.

1. General refuse/garbage is charged at $98 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 $196 per metric tonne. These material types are only accepted at our Waterloo site.
3. Asbestos also requires special handling and is charged at $350 per metric tonne. This material type is only accepted at our Waterloo site. 
4. Recyclables including blue box materials, green bin organics, yard waste (such as brush, leaves) are charged at $94 per metric tonne. 
5. Inerts, such as clean fill, bricks, soil and concrete rubble, are charged at $98 per metric tonne. Note: A surcharge rate of $196 per metric tonne applies if concrete rubble contains rebar, wire mesh, or other embedded materials or is in oversized pieces (larger than 3 ft x 3 ft). Oversized inerts are only accepted at the Waterloo (Gate #1) location.
6. Appliances and scrap metal are charged at $49 per metric tonne. For some appliances, a $10 per unit Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) removal fee also applies.
7. Drywall (gypsum wallboard) is charged at $98 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 $98 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.

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

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.

• Agricultural plastics and other waste
  • Clean Farms, www.cleanfarms.ca. Materials accepted:  Bags and large tote bags, containers up to 23 litres, pesticides, and livestock medications. 
  • Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
    
  • Switch Energy Corp, www.switchenergycorp.com. Contact:  Don Nott, 519-524-0193. Address: 80171 Kinburn Line, Clinton, Ontario, N0M 1L0. Materials handled:  Bale wrap, silage bags, greenhouse wrap, pallet stretch wrap, boat wrap. 
• Batteries: Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority
• Computers and other electronic waste: Electronic Products Recycling Association
• Drywall: See our "Materials accepted" section above.
• Fluorescent lights: Circular Innovation Council (formerly the Recycling Council of Ontario) Take Back the Light program 
• Wooden pallets: See our "Materials accepted" section above.
• Tires: Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority