Consequences of cancelling City solid waste collection at your residential building(s)
Some owners have inquired about the rules that would apply and the changes they could expect if they choose private waste collection instead of City waste collection. The City of Toronto wants to ensure you have the relevant facts to help you make an informed decision.
City waste collection is an all-or-nothing service. If your building opts out of City waste collection, it will not be eligible for City collection of any materials including recyclables, green bin material, white goods/appliances, household hazardous materials and bulky furniture items, all of which are, or will be, collected for free from buildings receiving City collection. Owners considering private collection should carefully estimate the cost of managing these other streams when evaluating a private sector quotation. For some buildings, the volume of these streams, and their resulting cost with private collection could be significant.
Individual residents would still be allowed to drop off their waste, including their individual household hazardous waste, at any City of Toronto Drop-off Depot subject to the rules and fees in place at the depot.
Buildings receiving City waste collection services are charged the appropriate Solid Waste Management fee based on the volume of garbage set out by the building(s) and receive a tax rebate of $157 per unit per year. Buildings that do not receive City collection will not receive the rebate. If a building opts out after July 1, 2008, the annual rebate for that building will be prorated from July 1, 2008 to the effective date of discontinuation of City waste collection services.
Finally, owners considering private collection should be aware they must continue to provide recycling programs at their buildings in accordance with Ontario Regulation 103/94 passed under the Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.19, which the Ministry of the Environment is actively enforcing. For more information about the provincial requirements for recycling at multi-unit residential buildings, please visit the Ministry's website at www.ene.gov.on.ca/publications/2478e01.pdf or call Robert Ward, Supervisor, Sector Compliance Branch at 416-314-0783.
It is our hope you will continue to choose the City of Toronto for your waste collection services. If you have any questions about the new Solid Waste Management fees or upcoming program enhancements, please visit www.toronto.ca/garbage/multi. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions and Answers section that you may find helpful.
If you would like to cancel City waste collection services, your request must be in writing and include the building's municipal address and the date you want City waste collection services to stop. Please make sure your request is submitted at least two weeks before the requested cancellation date. The effective cancellation date will be confirmed through correspondence to the buildings contact provided.
Submit request to:
Catharine Daniels
Acting Director, New Infrastructure Development & Contracted Services
Solid Waste Management Services
Scarborough Civic Centre
150 Borough Drive, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON M1P 4N7
Fax: (416) 396-4156