Garbage, Recycling, Green Bin and Other Collection

Place your blue boxes at the curb every week on your collection day.

Rules

Use two blue boxes to separate:

1. Containers.
2. Paper products.

• Blue boxes must be at the curb before 7 a.m. on your collection day.
• Blue boxes cannot weigh more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
• All recyclables must be loose inside the blue box. Recyclables in plastic bags will not be collected.
• Empty and rinse all containers before putting them in the blue box.
• On windy days, put your recycling out for collection in the morning instead of the night before.
• Don't overfill your blue boxes. Keep material below the rim.
• Bundle cardboard separately. These bundles can act as a "lid" for your blue box.
• In the winter, place blue boxes on cleared parts of your driveway. Do not put them on top of snowbanks or icy patches.
• There is no limit to the number of blue boxes you can set out for collection.

Containers blue box - accepted materials

• Aluminum drink cans
• Aluminum foil and trays
• Empty paint and aerosol cans (lids removed)
• Glass bottles and jars
• Juice boxes (no straws)
• Milk cartons
• Plastic bakery and cookie trays
• Plastic bottles
• Plastic egg cartons.
• Plastic fruit and vegetable containers
• Plastic takeout food containers
• Single-serve yogurt and pudding cups
• Spiral containers
• Steel food and drink cans
• Toiletry bottles

Papers blue box - accepted materials

• Boxboard (fold boxes flat)
• Cardboard (fold boxes flat, tie and bundle the same size as your blue box. Place nextension to or on top of your blue box)
• Catalogues, magazines and phonebooks
• Junk mail and envelopes
• Newspaper
• Office and computer paper
• Shredded paper (place inside a smaller box, such as a cereal box)
• Soft-covered books (such as paperbacks)

Unacceptable materials

• Coffee cups
• Coffee pods
• Food or beverage pouches
• Hangers
• Motor oil containers
• Plastic bags
• Plastic straws or cutlery
• Propane or helium cylinders
• Tupperware-type containers
• Motor oil containers

Where do your blue box items go?

We take all blue box materials to the Durham Region Material Recovery Facility in Whitby. The facility sorts more than 47,000 tonnes of recyclables every year. We sell the sorted material to recycling markets. 

Watch our recycling video to see the process in action.

Place your green bin at the curb every week on your collection day.

Rules

• Your green bin must be at the curb before 7 a.m. on your collection day.
• Green bins cannot weigh more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
• Ensure all green bin organic waste is bagged in 100 per cent compostable bags. Any loose organics will not be collected.
• In the winter, place your green bin on cleared parts of your driveway. Do not put them on top of snowbanks or icy patches.

Accepted materials

Food waste

• Baked goods
• Bread and cereal
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Dairy products
• Eggs and eggshells
• Flour and grains
• Fruits
• Meat, bones, fish and shellfish
• Nuts and shells
• Pasta, couscous, rice and potatoes
• Tea bags
• Vegetables

Paper products

• Paper egg cartons and drink trays
• Paper towels and napkins
• Shredded paper
• Tissue

Other compostable items

• Dryer lint
• Feathers
• Hair
• Houseplants
• Pet fur
• Sawdust and wood shavings

Unacceptable materials

• Aluminum foil
• Baby wipes and diapers
• Coffee cups
• Coffee pods
• Disposable mop sheets
• Feminine hygiene products
• Incontinence products
• Pet waste
• Plastic bags
• Plastic wrap

Green bin liners

You can line your kitchen bin or your curbside bin. Use only certified compostable or paper liners. Not all liners are acceptable for use in our green bin program. We do not accept plastic bags in the green bin.

When buying liners, buy only certified compostable liners. They should have one of these logos on the box:

Acceptable bin liners include:

• AL-PACK Compostable Bags
• BioBag 100% Compostable
• Bio-Life
• BIOSAK Compostable Brown Bags
• Ecosafe
• Glad 100% Compostable
• Great Value Compostable Kitchen Bags
• Greencare Compostable Bags
• Hercules Compostable Kitchen Organic Bags
• Husky EcoGuard Compostable
• Natur Force 100% Compostable Bags
• Natura Compostable Bags
• No Name Compostable Kitchen Bags
• Rona ECO Compostable Bags
• Selection Eco Compostable Bags and Liners
• Tuffguy Compostable Kitchen Organics Bags

Where does your food waste go?

We compost green bin material at a facility in Pickering. Every spring we host compost giveaways. Residents can come and get up to four blue box-sized containers full of compost and use it on your lawns and gardens. Find out information on our nextension compost giveaway.

You can place up to four garbage bags at the curb every other week.

Rules

• Your garbage must be at the curb before 7 a.m. on your collection day.
• Garbage bags or cans cannot weigh more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
• Ensure all garbage is bagged and securely tied, even if it is in garbage cans. Any loose garbage will not be collected.
• Residents living in Oshawa and Whitby must use garbage bags. Garbage cans are not acceptable in these areas.
• If your garbage bag breaks when we lift it, we will leave it.
• A standard size garbage bag or can counts as one bag.
• Additional bags or cans must have garbage bag tags attached. Tags are $2.50 each.
• We do not collect renovation material such as cabinetry, lumber, drywall, doors, carpet or underlay.
• Wrap broken glass and sharp objects in a sealed cardboard box, clearly labelled as "GLASS" before setting it out beside your garbage for collection.

Garbage bag tags

Purchase Garbage Bag Tags Online 

You can buy garbage bag tags for garbage bags or cans over the four-bag limit. Tags are $2.50 each (sold in sheets of 5 tags for $12.50).

For your convenience the Region is now offering contactless options for purchasing bag tags. Bag tags may be purchase online or by calling the Region at 311 (within Regional limits) or 905-668-7711 (toll-free 1-800-372-1102). 

Requests are processed and mailed within 2 business days. Please plan ahead. The Region is not responsible for any postal delays.

In person purchases of tags can also be made at the following locations.  

Special consideration for garbage bag limits program

We make special considerations for residents with a medical condition or households with three children under the age of three years old. If you have any questions, call us at 311 (within Regional limits) or 905-668-7711 (toll-free 1-800-372-1102).

Application for residents with a medical condition

Application for families with three children under the age of three

Please be advised that the Region of Durham only collects home healthcare waste from properties deemed residential by Durham Region. All products must be rinsed, cleaned and should also be double bagged for curbside collection.

Approved collection containers

Garbage cans:

• Garbage cans must hold less than 125 litres (30 gallons).
• Maximum can size: Height 95 centimetres (38 inches), and width 60 centimetres (24 inches). Cans must have two handles, and any lids must be removable.
• The weight of the garbage can and its contents must not exceed 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
• Residents living in Oshawa and Whitby must use garbage bags. Garbage cans are not acceptable in these areas.

Garbage bags:

• Maximum garbage bag size: 66 centimetres (26 inches) by 90 centimetres (36 inches) when empty.
• The weight of the garbage bag and its contents must not exceed 20 kilograms (44 pounds).

Residents who set out their waste in oversized garbage cans or bags will not have their garbage collected.

Accepted materials

• Coffee cups
• Coffee pods
• Diapers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Filters
• Juice and food pouches
• Pet waste
• Plant trays
• Plastic bags
• Plastic plates, cups and cutlery
• Snack bags and wrappers
• Styrofoam food trays
• Toys
• Wipes
• Wooden fruit boxes

Yard waste is collected from April to early December. Christmas tree collection is in January.

Rules

• Only use paper yard waste bags or clearly labelled, returnable open-top containers. We do not pick up yard waste in cardboard boxes, blue boxes, green bins or plastic bags.
• If you are using a reusable open-top container, you should drill holes in the bottom of the container for drainage.
• Yard waste cannot weigh more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
• Securely tie brush in bundles up to one metre (three feet) long and 76 centimetres (30 inches) wide. No branch should be more than 10 centimetres (4 inches) in diameters.

Accepted materials

• Branches
• Christmas trees
• Decorative corn stalks
• Fallen fruit
• Garden trimmings
• Garden waste
• Gourds
• Pumpkins

Unacceptable materials

• Grass clippings
• Hay bales
• Plastic flower pots
• Sod
• Soil
• Stones

Christmas tree collection

We collect natural Christmas trees in January.

Check your calendar for collection dates.

Rules

• Place your tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
• All tinsel, decorations, wire, lights, and stands must be removed.
• Trees exceeding three metres (10 feet) must be cut in half for collection.
• Ensure Christmas trees do not freeze or get stuck in snow banks. We do not collect trees buried in snow banks.
• Christmas trees set out in plastic bags will not be collected.

Select your area to see what services we offer.

Rules

• Your furniture or large items must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on your pickup day.
• We will take up to two items per collection.
• We do not pick up unacceptable items. We will tag them with an explanatory notice.
• Remove unacceptable items from the curb.
• You do not need bag tags for furniture and large items.

Accepted bulky materials

• Artificial Christmas trees
• Beanbag chairs
• Chairs and recliners
• Coffee tables
• Couches, loveseats and sectional sofas
• Cribs
• Desks
• Dressers
• End tables
• Entertainment units
• Garden hoses
• Headboards
• Luggage
• Mattress and box springs
• Ottomans
• Patio umbrellas
• Sports equipment
• Vacuums
• Wooden chests

Metal goods

Select your area to see what services we offer.

Rules

• Your metal goods must be at the curb before 7 a.m. on your pickup day.
• There is no item limit for metal goods.
• We pick up metals for recycling with a separate truck. We do not pick up metals with the regular garbage truck.
• We do not pick up unacceptable items. We will tag them with an explanatory notice and leave them behind.
• You must get rid of unacceptable items from the curb.
• You do not need bag tags for metal goods.

Accepted metal goods materials

• Air conditioners
• Barbeques (charcoal and propane tanks removed)
• Bicycles (tires removed)
• Dehumidifiers (drained)
• Dishwashers (drained with door removed)
• Dryers (door removed)
• Freezers (door removed)
• Furnaces
• Heat pumps
• Hot water tanks (drained)
• Metal bathtubs
• Metal bed frames and rails
• Metal fences (dismantle and bundle with four feet lengths, maximum)
• Metal furniture
• Metal ladders
• Metal range hoods
• Metal shelves
• Metal shower enclosures
• Metal sinks
• Metal water softeners (no water or salt)
• Metal wheelbarrows
• Microwaves
• Refrigerators (empty with doors removed)
• Stoves
• Swing sets (dismantled and bundled with four feet lengths, maximum)
• Washers (drained)

Select your area to see what services we offer.

Rules

• Your porcelain items must be at the curb before 7 a.m. on your pickup day.
• There is no item limit for porcelain items.
• For two-piece toilets, separate the tank from the bowl.
• Do not put whole porcelain items in a cardboard box. Use a cardboard box only for items that are broken into smaller pieces.
• We pick up porcelain for recycling with a separate truck. We do not pick up porcelain with the regular garbage truck.
• You do not need bag tags for porcelain.

Accepted porcelain materials

• Bathtubs
• Bidets
• Sinks
• Toilets (separated if it is a two-piece toilet)

It is your responsibility to remove all personal data from your electronics.

Select your area to see what services we offer.

Rules

• Your electronics must be at the curb before 7 a.m. on your pickup day.
• There is no item limit for electronics.
• We pick up electronics for recycling with a separate truck. We do not pick up electronics with the regular garbage truck.
• You do not need bag tags for electronics.

Accepted electronics

• Display devices (televisions and monitors)
• Drones
• Home audio/video systems
• Desktop computers
• Home theatre in-a-box systems
• Cameras and security cameras
• Vehicle audio/video systems (aftermarket)
• Portable Computers
• Personal/portable audio/video systems
• Musical instruments and recording equipment
• Video gaming systems and peripherals
• Computer peripherals (routers, cables, chargers, USB)
• Desktop printing/multi-function devices, 3D printers and printer cartridges
• Phones (telephones, cellular & smart phone devices, pagers)

We pick up batteries at the curb twice a year in the spring and fall.

Battery collection dates

Collection April 17 to 21, 2023

Collection November 6 to 10, 2023

Rules

• Put masking tape over both ends of lithium, button cell, and 9-volt batteries. This is for safety reasons.
• Place used or unwanted batteries in a clear zipper style bag.
• Seal the labelled battery bag. Put it on top of papers blue box on your battery recycling day.

Print a battery label

Accepted materials

• Standard A, AA, AAA, C, D (standard or heavy duty) batteries
• 6-volt batteries
• 9-volt batteries
• Button cell batteries
• Rechargeable battery packs (NiCad, NiMH, or lithium ion)

Unaccepted materials

• Automotive batteries
• Damaged, leaking or wet cell batteries
• Industrial batteries

Drop off unacceptable batteries at a waste management facility.

Safe battery storage

Store batteries in a cool, dry place. Store them away from any flammable materials. In storage, battery terminals should not touch conductive materials. Cover the terminals on 9-volt batteries before storing them. To learn more about preparing batteries for recycling, visit Raw Materials Company Inc.