• Peel's transition

News Release: March 30, 2020

Waste service changes across the Region during COVID-19 outbreak

BRAMPTON, ON (March 30, 2020) – Residents in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga and the Town of Caledon are advised of waste service changes due to COVID-19. The Region’s priority is to maintain waste collection services for the long term, while taking extra precautions to protect the health of essential workers and the needs of the community.

The following changes reflect the current situation. Waste management will regularly monitor the situation and advise on changes, if necessary.

At curbside:

• Certain non-essential services will be suspended for physical distancing and to avoid manual collection for the safety of collection workers.
• Cart exchange requests will only be accepted up to April 3.
• Spring battery collection will be suspended (originally scheduled to start April 13). Batteries that are set out will be left behind to avoid unnecessary manual collection.
• In-person garbage bag tag sales are suspended at all municipal facilities in Peel. You can still pay for bag tags online.
• Hold on to all oversized items (e.g. furniture, mattresses) and avoid ‘spring cleaning’ during this time. These items will not be picked up to avoid unnecessary manual collection.
• Protect your collector. Only set out what you absolutely need to. Practice physical distancing by not approaching the vehicle or operator. This will help maintain timely and effective service, while keeping our operators safe.
• Take extra precaution when disposing of certain items.
  • If you suspect or confirmed to have COVID-19 or are self-isolating, place used tissues, paper napkins and paper towels in a bag and dispose of them in the garbage.
  • Place face masks, protective gloves and other home healthcare waste in a bag before disposing them in the garbage.
  • Tissues, masks, gloves and other medical waste such as dialysis tubing should never be placed in the blue box.
  • Continue to dispose of food waste in your green bin and recyclables in your blue bin.

These simple but important changes and steps will help protect the health of our staff as well as help slow the spread of COVID-19.

At apartment and condominium buildings:

• Residents must continue to follow the instructions and guidelines provided by their building’s property management.
• Only throw out what you absolutely need to.
• If you suspect or confirmed to have COVID-19 or are self-isolating, place used tissues, paper napkins and paper towels in a bag before disposing of them in the garbage.
• Place face masks, protective gloves and other home healthcare waste in a bag before disposing them in the garbage.
• Hold on to oversized items (e.g. furniture, mattresses). These items will not be picked up to avoid unnecessary manual collection.

At Peel Community Recycling Centres (CRC):

• Until further notice, Peel CRCs are not accepting the following items:
• Electronics
• Tires
• Large appliances (such as stoves, fridges and dishwashers)
• Oversized items (such as furniture, mattresses and other items that cannot fit into your garbage bin at the curb).

Please hold on to these items and avoid unnecessary ‘spring cleaning’ during this time.

• CRCs are not accepting cash payments. You can pay with Debit, Visa or MasterCard.
• Rain barrel and backyard composter sales are suspended until further notice.
• Compost sales are postponed until further notice.
• Kitchen container sales are suspended until further notice.
• Garbage bag tag sales are suspended until further notice. You can still pay for bag tags online.
• The Salvation Army Thrift Store at the Brampton CRC and Evolve Lifestyle at the Bolton CRC are both closed until further notice.
• Donation drop-off areas at all Peel CRCs have been suspended until further notice.

Clothing/Textile Collection:

Collection of dropped-off clothing and other textile donations at community drop-off bins have been temporarily suspended by a number of charitable organizations who run these programs (for example, Diabetes Canada). Please hold on to these items and avoid unnecessary ‘spring cleaning’ during this time.

We urge all residents to do their part, sort their waste properly and help make a difference.

For latest updates on waste service changes and other services and facilities temporarily affected in Peel, please visit peelregion.ca/coronavirus/affected-services.

Media contacts

Sangeeta Sundaresan
Communications Specialist
Region of Peel
Tel: 437-225-4898