If you live in a single-family home with daytime curbside collection, your waste is collected on a specific day of the week depending on where you live in the City.

Set Out Instructions

  • Place bins/items at curbside before 7 a.m. the day of collection and no earlier than 8 p.m. the night before.
  • Ensure bins are as close to the street as possible, clearly visible and accessible.
  • Ensure 0.5 metres between bins.
  • Never place items or bins behind or on snow banks.
  • Ensure bin lids are properly closed to prevent litter from blowing.
  • Leave space around all bins and items so the trucks’ automated arms can grab and lift bins.

You can opt out of waste collection services temporarily while renovating, demolishing a house or travelling (6 months or more). During your absence the City will remove your bins. Once you are ready to resume service, you will need to opt back in.

Snow storms or heavy snow may delay collection. If waste bins are not set out correctly, it can make it difficult for crews to collect them.

  • Ensure items are set out before 7 a.m. on collection day or before 9 p.m. if you are scheduled for night time collection.
  • Keep bins 0.5 metres (2 feet) apart to make enough room for automated collection.
  • Waste materials must be accessible during the winter months. Place bins in a visible area and clear snow from around them.
  • Do not place bins behind or on snow banks.
  • If there is a snow storm, hold on to electronic waste or oversized items until the next collection date.
  • If collection is missed, submit a service request or call 311 to report it.

Green Bin in proper position with arrows on lid squarely facing the street and the handle in the locked position

 

The way you set your Green Bin out for collection is very important:

  • Our collection operation can only work when the bin is properly set out.
  • With the dial/latch in the locked position, set the bin out for collection with the arrows on top facing the street.
  • The bin must be set out squarely facing the street so that the truck’s automated collection arms can grip the bin to lift, tilt and empty.
  • Do not put yard waste in the Green Bin. Yard waste is collected and processed separately.
  • Wash bins regularly with dish soap and water.

Leave space around all bins and items set out for collection so that the truck’s automated arms can grab and lift bins: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to use the new latch:

  • Turn the dial either right or left to the unlock position to open the bin.
  • If the dial that locks/unlocks the bin is stiff at first, it will loosen up with use.
  • For quicker results, rotate the dial back and forth several times.
  • Place the bin at curbside in the locked position.
  • The gravity lock will automatically release when the bin is collected and tilted over the truck.

The new Green Bins have a gravity lock and have been designed to be:

  • animal resistant
  • easy to use
  • larger
  • suitable for automated collection

Find out what to do with excess organics.

  • Leave 0.5 metres of space around and 3 metres above all bins and items set out for collection so that the truck’s automated arms can grab and lift bins.
  • Put items in the bin loosely.
  • If you have excess recycling, put it in a clear bag and place it beside your bin.
  • If you regularly have excess recycling, you need to upsize your bin by submitting a service request or calling 311.
  • Excess cardboard should be flattened and bundled to a size that would fit in an empty Blue Bin and placed beside the bin.
  • Wash bins regularly with dish soap and water.

Find out what to do with excess recycling.

Leave space around all bins and items set out for collection so that the truck’s automated arms can grab and lift bins:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • If you have garbage beyond what fits in your bin with the lid closed, it must be bagged, tagged and set out beside your Garbage Bin for collection.  Bags cannot weigh more than 20 kg (44 lbs).
  • Garbage Tags are available for purchase online and at Toronto Shoppers Drug Mart and Canadian Tire locations.
  • Remove any ties or bungee cords before collection.
  • The City will pick up oversized items (appliances, furniture, carpets, etc.) on your garbage collection day for a fee. Oversized items should be placed 0.5 metres (2 feet) from your bins.
  • Place any electronic items (e.g. computer monitors, televisions) on the ground and any small electronics (e.g. phones) in a clear plastic bag or in an open cardboard box 0.5 metres (2 feet) away from your bins.
  • Wash bins regularly with dish soap and water.

Find out what to do with excess garbage.