Blue Box pick up
Please call 311 before visiting a Blue Box pick-up location to confirm availability.
Sorting Guide
Refer to the list below or use the Put Waste in its Place tool to find out where items should be placed for curbside collection.
Blue Box
Frequency
Weekly, on your collection day.
Size
85 litres or less.
- 40cm length x 51cm width x 54cm height
- 15.5" length x 20" width x 21" height
Accepted Materials
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Plastic bags (clean, dry and empty).aspx)
Plastic overwrap (clean, dry and empty).aspx)
Metal pots, pans and baking sheets
Disposable, rigid plastic containers & packaging
Plastic plates, cups & coffee lids (no cutlery)
Plastic food & beverage containers
Plastic bottles
Plastic plant pots and trays
Boxed beverage containers (Tetra Paks, milk & juice cartons)
Empty metal paint cans (dry & lids removed)
Aluminum foil/trays, metal food and beverage cans
Glass bottles & jars
Cardboard cans
Boxboard – flattened cereal, detergent, & tissue boxes (plastic liners go in garbage)
Newspapers, flyers, paper, magazines, books, envelopes
Corrugated cardboard (tie in bundles no larger than 120 cm x 120 cm x 30 cm (4 ft x 4 ft x 1 ft) and place under or beside blue box)
Unacceptable Materials
- Styrofoam (polystyrene foam)
- Coffee cups
- Paper towels
- Shredded paper
- Coffee Pods
Information
- Put recycling out by 7 a.m. and no earlier than 5 p.m. the evening before your collection day.
- Place recyclables in a Blue Box or clear plastic bag only. Recyclables in cardboard boxes, grocery bins, laundry baskets or garbage cans will not be collected.
- There is no limit to how many Blue Boxes or clear plastic bags of recyclable material that can be placed for collection.
- You can mix all recyclable material into the same Blue Box or clear plastic bag.
- Corrugated cardboard is to be tied in bundles no larger than 4 ft x 4 ft x 1 ft (120cm x 120 cm x 30 cm).
- Bundle all plastic bags and plastic overwrap in one plastic bag and tie shut.
- Plastic, glass and metal materials must be empty, rinsed clean and dry.
- Paper material with food residue should be placed in the Green Cart.
Tips
- Do not overfill your Blue Box.
- Maximize space in your Blue Box by partially squeezing cans, bottles and cartons.
- To minimize litter on windy days, bundle and tie newspaper and place on top of your Blue Box or place material in a clear plastic bag for curbside collection.
Green Cart
Update
All food waste and compostable papers, such as paper towels and facial tissue, must be contained. Please place items in paper or certified compostable bags or completely wrap in newspaper/flyers. Loose items will not be collected.
Frequency
Weekly, on your collection day.
Size
- 40cm length x 46 cm width x 60 cm height (with handle, height is 68cm).
- 15.5" length x 18" width x 24" height (with handle, height is 27cm)
Weight limit of 50 pounds (23 kilograms).
Liners
Do your part to help keep Halton’s compost plastic free. Please use one of the acceptable Green Cart liners listed below:
- Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)-certified bags (see logo on right)
- Paper towels
- Newspaper or flyers
- Cardboard
- Paper bags
Accepted Materials
All food waste
- fruits
- vegetables
- candy
- shells
- meat and bones
- baked goods
- fats
- oils and sauces
Other Items
- feathers
- hair
- houseplants
- wooden popsicle sticks
- wooden chopsticks
- sawdust and wood ashes (in paper bags)
- shredded paper
Paper products
- paper rolls
- paper egg cartons
- paper plates and cups
- paper towels and tissues
- paper bags
- paper frozen dinner trays
- coffee filters
Unacceptable Materials
- Plastic food containers
- Plastic bags
- Glass
- Metal
- Styrofoam
- Gum
- Stickers
- Elastics
- Pet waste
- Diapers
- PLA or BPI certified plastic resin food packaging (Plates, Cups, Cutlery)
- Coffee Pods
Information & Tips
- Put Green Cart out by 7 a.m.
- Line your cart with acceptable Green Cart liners such as paper bags, or compostable bags with BPI logo. Do not use plastic shopping bags to line your kitchen catcher or green cart.
- Please bag and tie all organic material, such as used tissues. Loose items will not be collected.
- Remove additional locking mechanisms before collection
- Do not put Kitchen Catchers at the curb, only your Green Cart
- Take food out of plastic packaging before putting in the Green Cart
- Remove stickers and elastic bands from fruits and vegetables
- Rinse your cart regularly with hot water and soap
Garbage
Update
Please bag and tie all garbage material, including masks, disposable gloves and personal hygiene products. Loose items will not be collected.
Frequency
Once every other week. Garbage and bulk waste collection takes place in urban and rural areas excluding Halton Hills collection areas C and D (3 garbage bag/cans).
Size
Use bins designed to be easily collected by crews. Please ensure containers or bins weigh no more than 23 kg (50 lbs). Bins cannot be larger than 125 L (27 gallons) or 50 cm wide x 100 cm high.
Accepted Materials
Plastic cutlery, straws, bottle caps
Snack bags, wrappers and cookie bags
Diapers
Gift wrap, ribbons and bows![]()
Household items such as garden hose, furnace filters
Broken ceramics (plates, cups, mugs)
Clothes hangers
Bubble wrap and sandwich bags
Plastic liner bags eg. Cereal bags
Pet waste and cat litter
Plastic wrap and film
Styrofoam (polystyrene foam)
Kids toys
Unacceptable Materials
Information & Tips
- Place items at curb by 7 a.m. and no earlier than 5 p.m.
- You may place up to 3 garbage bags or cans at the curb every other week on your collection day. Please bag and tie all garbage material. Loose items will not be collected.
- For more than 3 bags, buy garbage tags
- A maximum of 6 bags or cans can be placed out for collection (3 untagged, 3 tagged)
- Overweight bags/cans will not be collected
Bulk Waste
Update
Please wrap all mattresses and box springs in plastic (no tarps) before placing at the curb for bulk waste collection.
Frequency
Once every other week with your garbage (up to 3 items).
Size
Over 50 lbs
- Does not fit into a closed garbage bag or container
Accepted Materials
- Furniture
- couches
- chairs
- tables
- mattresses and box springs – must be wrapped in plastic
- Flooring
- carpets
- under padding
- linoleum, bundled & tied 1.7m x 1m (5ft x 3ft)
- Toilets (remove top from base)
- Wood (dismantled, bundled & tied no larger than 1.7m x 1m or 5ft x 3ft)
- fencing
- picnic tables
- shelving
- skids
- doors
- Windows and mirrors no larger than 1.7m x 1m (5 ft x 3 ft) - tape an X pattern across glass to prevent shattering
Unacceptable Materials
- Hazardous waste
- Metal & appliances
- Recyclable material
- Electronics
- Tires
- Automobile parts
- Building & demolition debris
- Mixed waste piles
- Tree branches or stumps
- Water coolers with refrigeration
- Propane Tanks
- Soil and rocks
Information & Tips
- Place items at curb by 7 a.m.
- 3 item limit (additional items will not be collected)
- Do not pile items
- Remove nails & staples
- Items collected go to landfill. Please consider donating to Reuse Depot instead
- Ensure only items you want collected are at the curb. Items may be mistakenly picked up by the collection truck.
- Do not place bulk items in cardboard boxes
Yard Waste
Frequency
First week of April to the second week of December
Size
Up to 125L (weighs no more than 50lbs)
- Brush must be tied in bundles no larger than 2m x 1m (6ft x 3ft) wide, with branches a maximum of 7.5 cm (3 inches) in diameter
Accepted Materials
- Leaves
- Sticks & twigs
- Tree trimmings (no larger than 6ft x 3ft wide)
- Decorative cornstalks
- Fallen fruit from trees
- Yard & garden trimmings
- Pumpkins
Unacceptable Materials
- Tree stumps
- Sod
- Soil
- Rocks
- Clay
- Plastic bags
- Plastic flower pots & tags
- Giant hogweed
- Grass clippings
Information & Tips
- For urban areas only
- Use only paper yard waste bags or open, labelled, reusable, rigid containers (no lid)
- Yard waste labels must be placed on your reusable container to receive collection
- Unacceptable containers such as a Blue Box, Green Cart, laundry basket, plastic or non-paper compostable bags will not be collected
- Do not put yard waste at the curb more than one day prior to collection
- Leave grass clippings on your lawn to provide up to 25% of the lawn's annual fertilizer needs
- Grass clippings are accepted in yard waste from October to May in Burlington only
Garbage, diaper, and healthcare bag tags
To support the containment of COVID-19, many Halton Region buildings are closed to the public until further notice.
Garbage Tags
- Use: For disposal of additional garbage. Tag up to 3 bags to allow a total of 6 bags maximum per collection
- Cost: 5 for $10
- Collection: Every other week
- Expiration: No expiry
- Order garbage bag tags online or call 311
- Pick up tags at select retail locations and municipal buildings.
Find pickup locations
Diaper Tags
- Use: For disposal of diapers in households with young children
- Cost: Free - up to 40 tags per year
- Collection: Every other week, with garbage. Diapers must be placed in clear garbage bags with the diaper bag tag clearly visible. Solid-coloured bags (even with a diaper bag tag) will not be collected.
- Expiration: No expiry
- Order diaper bag tags online or call 311
Residents can drop off clear diaper bags with bag tags attached at the following locations (see map below for directions):
- Halton Waste Management Site
- Leferink Transfer Station
- Norjohn Transfer Station
Please inform staff that you are participating in the diaper or healthcare bag tag program upon arrival.
Drop off locations
Healthcare Tags
- Use: For disposal of diapers and other medical waste in households with a person experiencing a medical condition
- Cost: Free - up to 40 tags per year
- Collection: Every other week, with garbage. Items (e.g., diapers) can be placed in black garbage bags with the healthcare bag tag clearly visible.
- Expiration: No expiry
- Order healthcare bag tags online or call 311
Residents can drop off black healthcare bags, with bag tags attached to the following locations:
- Halton Waste Management Site
- Leferink Transfer Station
- Norjohn Transfer Station
Please inform staff that you are participating in the diaper or healthcare bag tag program upon arrival.
Drop off locations
Yard Waste Collection
Starting the first week of April, yard waste is collected in urban areas every other week on the same day as garbage. To order yellow yard waste labels, use our online form.
Preparing your yard for winter? Find helpful Yard Waste collection tips from Halton Region’s recent interview with YourTV Halton, including acceptable items, correct containers and where to put your items for collection: Halton Yard Waste Best Practices(video)
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Information & Tips
- Place items at curb by 7 a.m. and no earlier than 5 p.m.
- You may place 3 garbage bags/cans or fewer at the curb every other week on your collection day.
- Please bag and tie all garbage and organic material. Loose items will not be collected.
- A total of 6 bags/can maximum can be placed out for collection (3 untagged, 3 tagged)
- There is no limit to how many Blue Boxes you place out for collection
- Don't overfill your Blue Box
- Rinse and dry. Blue box materials must be empty, clean and dry.
Pick up or exchange a Blue Box or Green Cart
Halton residents may pick up one free Blue Box each year from any of the locations listed below. Broken Blue Boxes and broken Green Carts are recycled into new containers and may be returned and exchanged for free.
Please call 311 to confirm availability before visiting to pick up or exchange a Blue Box. Green Carts can be picked up at the Halton Waste Management Site.
Backyard composters may be picked up at the Halton Waste Management Site. Call 311 or check online availability before visiting.