Contact 311 to submit a service request if you wish to report waste set out incorrectly at the curb.
The owner or occupant who is in charge of a commercial property is responsible for ensuring that waste & recycling materials are stored and placed out in accordance with City of Toronto regulations set by the Municipal Code, Chapter 841, Waste Collection, Commercial Properties
The owner or occupant who is in charge of a residential or multi-residential property is to comply with City of Toronto regulations set by the Municipal Code, Chapter 844, Waste Collection, Residential Properties.
A complete list of bylaws can be found on the City website
Examples of bylaw infractions:
Incorrect location/time/day:
- Waste materials / recycling placed out for collection at the wrong day, or set out too early on the correct day.
- Failure to remove containers / waste from City property.
Waste set out times:
- For day time collection, waste must be set out no later than 7 a.m. on scheduled collection day and no earlier than 8 p.m. the night before. Empty regulation containers and uncollected garbage, recyclable materials, organic materials and yard waste are to be removed from the collection point no later than 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
- For night time collection, waste should be placed out no earlier than 6 p.m., and no later than 9:00 p.m. on the first day of the night-time collection period. Empty regulation containers and uncollected garbage, recyclable materials, organic materials and yard waste are to be removed from the collection point no later than 7:00 a.m. on the following day.
Collection containers:
Garbage containers:
- City issued regulation garbage containers must be used
- Tags must be attached to plastic bags (66x90cm) if there is no container provided, or there is excess
- Containers provided by the City such as multi-residential front end loaders.
Recycling containers:
- City issued regulation recycling containers must be used
- Translucent plastic bags (66x90cm) for excess recycling.
Yard waste containers:
- Rigid open containers in good working order, the size should not be more than 20 litre capacity and less than 125 litre capacity
- Kraft paper bags are acceptable
- Plastic bags cannot be used.
Organic Containers:
- City issued regulation organic containers must be used
General requirements:
- Containers must be clean, well maintained, in good working order not noxious, offensive or a danger to the public
- Bins/containers must be at the proper collection point associated with the appropriate municipal address when put out for collection
- Bags cannot weigh more than 20kg when filled
- Small containers cannot weigh more than 30 kg when filled with garbage/recycling and green bins not more than 30 kg
- Medium containers cannot weigh more than 50 kg when filled
- Large containers cannot weigh more than 100 kg when filled
- Extra large containers cannot weigh more than 150 kg when filled
- Owner of the property shall provide for the use by occupants sufficient separate regulation garbage, organic and recycling containers.
Container requirements:
Commercial properties:
- City issued regulation garbage, recycling and organic containers must be used
- Tags must be attached to plastic bags (66x90cm) if there is no container provided, or there is excess
- Containers provided by the City such as multi-residential front end loader
- Commercial properties are not entitled to bulk collection such as furniture or appliances
- Cardboard must be broken down and bundled and weigh no more than 20 kg
Leaving garbage on a City street is a bylaw infraction. Municipal Licensing & Standards, Municipal Standards Officers will take appropriate enforcement action, which could include:
- A Notice of Violation outlining the infraction
- A ticket (e.g. Certificate of Offence, Part I) can be issued by the by-law officer which includes setting a fine for the infraction
- A summons (e.g. Part III) can be issued including a court date and the offender will have to appear in court
- The City may terminate the collection services (garbage pick-up).
Submitting a complaint
The complainant's name and phone number are required, location where the garbage can be found and the type of complaint, e.g., waste put out on the wrong day, dumping, etc.
The officer may contact the complainant if additional information is needed. The officer investigates the complaint, and if a bylaw infraction has occurred, will take appropriate enforcement action.
