Using your carts
Peel Region follows a bi-weekly alternating schedule for garbage and recycling collection.
Most Peel neighbourhoods use carts to dispose of household waste.
Cart collection overview
- Organics are collected every week. Garbage and recycling are collected on different weeks.
- Garbage, recycling and organics are collected by automated collection trucks in most areas of Peel.
- Unlimited amounts of recycling and organics are accepted at the curb.
- Excess garbage must be tagged except during exemption periods.
- Yard waste is collected seasonally.
- Recyclables must be in a cart or in clear or blue transparent recycling bags. Recyclables placed at the curb in blue or grey boxes will not be collected.
- You can use your old blue or grey box for yard waste. Yard waste will be collected if it is placed at the curb in a clearly labelled blue or grey box or other acceptable container.
Check your collection calendar for your collection day and schedule.
How to use your carts
This video shows which types of waste goes into the different carts:
You can keep your carts in good working order by:
- Storing them indoors or in a garage or shed.
- Keeping them sheltered from the elements.
Don't know if an item goes in your garbage, recycling or organics cart? Check How to Sort Your Waste.
Placing your carts at the curb
This video shows how to place your carts at the curb:
Placing your carts:
- Put your carts on the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day.
- Face the front of the carts toward the street and the handles towards your house.
- Make sure your carts are an arm's length apart from one another.
- Make sure the lids on your garbage and recycling carts are closed.
- Place your carts as close to the road as possible without blocking the road or sidewalk.
- Place the carts away from trees or other overhead obstructions.
- Make sure the collection truck can reach your cart.
- Don't put your carts too close to parked vehicles.
- Make sure the organics (green) cart lid is locked. The lock must be in the vertical position to ensure collection.
- Make sure material isn't jammed into your carts or overflowing.
- Don't use bungee cords or other items to keep the cart lid closed.
Removing your carts
Remove your carts from the curb by 8 p.m. on your collection day. If your carts aren't collected by 8 p.m., report a missed collection.
Special instructions for winter
- When shovelling, clear a flat spot at the end of your driveway or at the curb. Place your carts in this spot.
- Ensure that you set your carts 1 m (3 ft.) from the road or curb to allow room for snow clearing equipment to pass
- Place any excess, bagged waste on the ground, approximately three feet away from a cart.
- Don't place carts behind or on top of snowbanks.
- If a snow plow partially buries your cart, it should still be collected.
- Report any damage caused by snow plows. Damaged carts will be fixed or replaced for free.
Other information
Watch a comparison of the different-sized carts and see how much garbage and recyclables each contains.
Homes in cart-based collection areas have:
- 1 organics cart,
- 1 recycling cart,
- 1 garbage cart, and
- 1 kitchen container.
Organics cart and kitchen container
All residents use a 100 L organics cart. It is only available in one size.
Garbage cart
Garbage carts are available in 3 sizes: small, medium, and large.
- A small cart (120 L, 32 gal) will hold 1–2 bags of garbage.
- A medium cart (240 L, 64 gal) will hold 3–4 bags of garbage.
- A large cart (360 L, 95 gal) will hold 4–5 bags of garbage.
Recycling cart
Recycling carts are also available in 3 sizes: small, medium, and large.
- A small cart (120 L, 32 gal) will hold approximately 2 blue boxes.
- A medium cart (240 L, 64 gal) will hold approximately 4 blue boxes.
- A large cart (360 L, 95 gal) will hold approximately 6 blue boxes.
Serial numbers
On the side of each cart is a serial number that you can record for future reference in case a cart goes missing or is damaged.
The first character indicates the size of the cart: "S" for Small; "M" for Medium; and "L" for Large.
Each cart also has a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.
RFID tags help us keep track of carts in case they are lost, stolen, or broken.
RFID technology isn't new: for years it's been used at libraries to keep track of borrowed and returned books and for timing marathons and races.
You can change your garbage or recycling cart for a smaller or larger-sized cart.
The fee for changing the size of your cart is $25 per cart. This fee covers the cost of delivery, cleaning and repair.
There is only one size organics cart. It cannot be changed for a different size.
This video gives an overview of how to change your cart size and what happens after you've requested a change.
Follow these important instructions while waiting for your new cart to arrive:
- Keep using the cart you have until it is exchanged.
- Your cart will be exchanged on the day after your regular collection day. Garbage carts will be delivered the day after your garbage day, and recycling carts will be delivered the day after your recycling day.
- Leave your empty cart at the curb, or in a location that is visible and accessible from the road.
- If your cart is not exchanged by 8:00 p.m. the day after your collection day, use it normally for two more weeks.
- On your next collection day, put your cart out for collection again. Repeat this until your cart is exchanged.
Garbage and recycling carts will be exchanged separately, in different weeks.
You will receive a cart that has been gently used and cleaned.
Excess recycling
There is no limit to the number of clear or blue recycling bags that can be placed at the curb.
Excess bags of recyclables or organics do not need to be tagged.
If you have excess recycling that won't fit in your recycling cart, put it in a clear or blue transparent recycling bag. Place the bag outside of your recycling cart on your collection day.
New development
If you are moving/have moved into a new development, please call 905-791-7800 or email wasteinquiry@peelregion.ca once you have moved in to set up your waste collection service. In your email be sure to include your name and new address.
Resale home
If you are moving/have moved into a resale home, please use the carts that are already at your new home. If there are no carts at your new home when you move in, please report the cart problem.
If the carts aren't suitable for your household you can change them for smaller or larger-sized carts. An exchange fee of $25 will apply. Get more details about changing a cart size.
Rented property
If you are a tenant moving into a rented property, please use the carts that are already at your new home. If the carts aren't suitable for you, please speak to your property owner/landlord. Only property owners/landlords can request a cart exchange.
Peel Region does not collect old, obsolete green bins, blue boxes, grey boxes or plastic resin containers at the curb.
Choose from these options to dispose of your old bins and containers:
1. Drop them off for free at a Peel Community Recycling Centre (CRC).
At the CRC, be sure to dispose of your old bins or boxes in the designated section, not in the garbage receptacle. Green bins currently used in the waste collection program will not be accepted.
2. Keep and re-use them.
- Use your old green bin to store pet food, bird seed, barbeque charcoal, sand or sidewalk salt.
- Use your old blue box or grey box to:
- Hold recyclables before putting them in your recycling cart.
- Hold yard waste for setting on the curb. A blue/grey box must be clearly labelled with a yard waste sticker or "Yard Waste" clearly written in paint or permanent marker.
- Store items around your home or in your shed or garage.
