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Business Improvement Areas (BIA) and
Commercial Waste Collection

Breadcrumbs
 

Learn about BIA and commercial waste collection requirements in Halton region.


About Business Improvement Areas (BIA) and Commercial Waste Collections

In 2016, Halton Region introduced the Wheeled Cart Collection program for garbage and recycling for BIAs and select Commercial Units. This program was designed to minimize litter and improve collection efficiency.


Business improvement area waste collection

  • Tuesday and Friday collection (twice per week)
  • Each location should have 360 litre, 240 litre, or two 120 litre Wheeled Carts
  • Black Carts for garbage
  • Blue Carts for recyclable material

Information & Tips

For business and commercial waste collection only:

  • Place your waste at the curb by 7 a.m. (9 a.m. Mondays) the morning of your collection day or no earlier than 5 p.m. the evening before.
  • Don’t overfill your cart and keep the lid closed. Ensure all items are securely inside cart.
  • During the winter, ensure materials are free of snow and ice, and are visible to the collection crew. Do not place materials on top of snow banks.
  • Wrap broken glass and sharp objects in puncture-resistant packaging before putting them in your garbage (e.g., a small, sealed plastic container).
  • Do not put needles, syringes or lancets in the Black Cart or Blue Cart.
  • Do not put hazardous waste such as batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, paint, chlorine, propane and compressed gas tanks, pesticides or motor oil in your Black Cart or Blue Cart.


Business improvement area waste collection schedule

Tuesday collection: Holiday schedule changes

Your waste will be collected one day later, on Wednesday, after the following holidays. (Friday collection is not affected):

Holiday 2024 2025 2026
New Year's January 1 no change no change
Family Day February 19 February 17 February 20
Good Friday      
Victoria Day May 20 May 19 May 18
Canada Day July 1 no change no change
Civic August 5 August 4 August 3
Labour Day September 2 September 1 September 7
Thanksgiving October 14 October 13 October 12
Christmas no change no change no change

Friday collection: Holiday schedule changes

Your waste will be collected one day later, on Saturday, after the following holidays (Tuesday collection is not affected):

Holiday 2024 2025 2026
New Year's no change no change no change
Good Friday March 29 April 18 April 3
Canada Day no change no change no change
Christmas no change no change December 25

Commercial waste collection

  • Both garbage and recycling are collected once per week on your collection day
  • For commercial waste locations with Monday collection, please place waste at the curb by 9 a.m.
  • Each location should have two 360 litre Black Wheeled Carts for garbage and one 360 litre Blue Wheeled Cart for recyclables
  • Remove empty carts from the curbside as soon as possible following collection.

Commercial waste collection schedule

Monday collection

Monday collection: Holiday schedule changes
Due to the following holidays, your waste collection will take place on Tuesday, one day later than your usual collection day:

Holiday 2024 2025 2026
New Year's January 1 no change no change
Family Day February 19 February 17 February 20
Victoria Day May 20 May 19 May 18
Canada Day July 1 no change no change
Civic Holiday August 5 August 4 August 3
Labour Day September 2 September 1 September 7
Thanksgiving October 14 October 13 October 12
Christmas no change no change no change

Tuesday collection

Tuesday collection: Holiday schedule changes
Due to the following holidays, your waste collection will take place on Wednesday, one day later than your usual collection day:
 
Holiday 2024 2025 2026
New Year's January 1 no change no change
Family Day February 19 February 17 February 20
Victoria Day May 20 May 19 May 18
Canada Day July 1 July 1 no change
Civic Holiday August 5 August 4 August 3
Labour Day September 2 September 1 September 7
Thanksgiving October 14 October 13 October 12
Christmas no change no change no change

Wednesday collection

Wednesday collection: Holiday schedule changes
Due to the following holidays, your waste collection will take place on Thursday, one day later than your usual collection day:
 
Holiday 2024 2025 2026
New Year's January 1 no change no change
Family Day February 19 February 17 February 20
Victoria Day May 20 May 19 May 18
Canada Day July 1 July 1 July 1
Civic Holiday August 5 August 4 August 3
Labour Day September 2 September 1 September 7
Thanksgiving October 14 October 13 October 12
Christmas December 25 no change December 25

Thursday collection

Thursday collection: Holiday schedule changes
Due to the following holidays, your waste collection will take place on Friday, one day later than your usual collection day:
 
Holiday 2024 2025 2026
New Year's January 1 no change no change
Family Day February 19 February 17 February 20
Victoria Day May 20 May 19 May 18
Canada Day July 1 July 1 July 1
Civic Holiday August 5 August 4 August 3
Labour Day September 2 September 1 September 7
Thanksgiving October 14 October 13 October 12
Christmas December 25 December 25 no change

Blue and Black Cart acceptable items

Refer to the list below to find out where items should be placed for collection.

Blue Cart

  •  
  • plastic overwrap
    Plastic bags and plastic overwrap (clean, dry and empty)
  •  
  • plastic containers and packaging
    Plastic dinnerware, food containers, and disposable containers (no cutlery)
  • plastic food and beverage containers
    Plastic food & beverage containers (no film, foil or caps)
  • plastic bottles
    Plastic bottles (no caps)
  • plastic plant pots and trays
    Plastic plant pots and trays (free of dirt)
  • boxed beverage containers
    Boxed beverage containers (Tetra Paks ®, milk & juice cartons)
  • aluminum foil/trays, metal food and beverage cans
    Aluminum foil, trays, metal food and beverage cans
  • glass bottle jars
    Glass bottles & jars
  • cardboard cans
    Cardboard cans
  • boxboard and tissue boxes
    Boxboard (flattened cereal, tissue boxes, etc.) – no liners
  • newspaper, flyers, paper, magazines, books, envelopes
    Newspapers, flyers, paper, magazines, books and envelopes (including plastic windows)
  • corrugated cardboard
    Corrugated cardboard (tie flattened cardboard in bundles no larger than 120 cm x 120 cm x 90 cm (4 ft x 4 ft x 3 ft)

Unacceptable Materials

  • Styrofoam

Black Cart (garbage)

  •  
  • plastic cutlery and straws
  • Plastic cutlery, stir sticks, straws and bottle caps
  • snack bags, wrappers and cookie bags
    Snack bags, wrappers and cookie bags
  • gift wrap, ribbons and bows
    Gift wrap, ribbons and bows
  • blister packs
    Blister packs
  • a sandwich with a bite taken out of it
    Food waste *
  • a paper coffee cup
    Paper cups *
  • bubble wrap and sandwich bags
  • Plastic baggies, food wrap and bubble wrap
  • a lightbulb and a ceramic mug
    Ceramics and light bulbs (not CFLs)
  • a box of cat litter
    Pet waste 
  • styrofoam box
    Styrofoam
  • pens and markers
    Pens, pencils and markers
  • shredded paper
    Shredded paper *

* Note: Residents in single-family households and multi-residence units can place these items in the Green Cart. At business and commercial locations, these items should be placed in the Black Cart.

 Unacceptable Materials

  • Manufacturing waste


Wheeled Cart program information

If you wish to order a Wheeled Cart or need a replacement, please contact Halton Region by emailing accesshalton@halton.ca or calling 311.

  • Carts must be placed at the curb for collection.
  • Garbage must be placed in bags inside the cart.
  • Recyclables can be mixed and placed in the same Blue Cart.
  • Keep carts clean or contact Halton Region for information on cart cleaning services.
  • Carts may be shared with adjoining units.
  •  Rinse all containers and plastic bags. Ensure they are clean, dry and empty.
  •  Papers can be bundled and tied, or placed loose in the Blue Cart, but not in plastic bags.
  •  Only regular household and office-related garbage will be collected. No manufacturing waste.
  •  Bulk items (i.e., more than 23 kg and/or will not fit into a closed Black Cart) will not be collected.

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