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Curbside Collection and Waste Sorting Guide

Curbside Collection and Waste Sorting Guide

Blue box program update – What you need to know

Starting January 1, 2026, Circular Materials Ontario (external link) will take over management of residential recycling services in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. This is part of Ontario’s recycling regulation that shifts the cost and management of recycling from municipalities to the businesses that sell or supply packaging and paper products (external link).

What is changing - Starting January 1, 2026:

Circular Materials Ontario

  • Circular Materials Ontario will manage the residential Blue Box program for Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville.
  • More items will be recycled and will be consistent across Ontario. You will go to Circular Materials Ontario (external link) for information about acceptable recyclable items and how to use the program.

Circular Materials Ontario - Customer service

Miller Waste Systems

Miller Waste Systems (external link), contracted by Circular Materials, will handle curbside collection. You will contact Miller Waste for customer service inquiries, including reporting a missed collection and how to replace a Blue Box.

Miller Waste Systems – Customer service 

What is staying the same – Same day, same way!

Waste Collection Day

Collection schedules for all curbside collection, including recycling, remain unchanged.

Collection Contractor

Miller Waste Systems, contracted by Circular Materials for Blue Box, will continue to be the trucks you see in your neighbourhood on collection day.

Recycling Containers

You can continue using your existing Blue Boxes or clear bags for collection.

Other waste services

Halton Region will continue to provide waste management services in the region, including:

  • Residential curbside garbage collection
    Includes the ongoing rollout of Wheeled Garbage Carts
  • Bulk item and metal/appliance curbside collection
  • Green Cart (organics) collection and distribution of new carts
  • Leaf and yard waste collection in designated urban areas
  • Commercial garbage and recycling services in designated areas
  • Operation of the Halton Waste Management Site

Stay up to date!

Frequently asked questions

Before December 31, 2025

Please call Halton Region at 311.

After January 1, 2026

If your Blue Box wasn’t picked up, please call or email Miller Waste Systems at:

If your Blue Box and Green Cart were both missed for collection, please call Halton Region at 311.

  • Everything stays the same. Use your same Blue Box or clear bags and follow your same collection schedule.
  • You will continue to see the same waste collection trucks in your neighbourhood on collection day and can expect a similar service.
  • Circular Materials Ontario will communicate any changes to service or information.

If you would like to escalate your concern about recycling services, please contact Circular Materials at:

You can request a new, replacement, or additional Blue Boxes through Miller Waste:

Blue Boxes will no longer be available at the Halton Waste Management Site in Milton or the Robert C. Austin Operations Centre in Georgetown.

Halton Region will still distribute Green Carts and Kitchen Carts for organic materials, Wheeled Garbage Carts for residential properties and Wheeled Garbage Carts and Blue Wheeled Carts for designated commercial locations.

The benefit of this Ontario wide recycling program is that acceptable items are consistent across the province.

Accepted materials will vary slightly under the new system. Visit the Circular Materials Ontario website for the most up-to-date list of accepted Blue Box items. 

  • Accepted in Blue Box as of January 1, 2026 (New! Previously Garbage or Green Cart material)
    single use straws | single use plastic cutlery | hot and cold beverage cups | paper egg cartons | single use plates | shredded paper | toothpaste tubes | deodorant tubes | chip bags | cereal liner bags | bubble wrap | foam packaging | empty aerosol containers (e.g. food spray, hair spray, air freshener, shaving cream and deodorant cans) | toilet paper and paper towel rolls | pizza boxes | hand cream tubes | coffee pods | snack wrappers| cookie bags
  • No Longer Accepted in the Blue Box as of January 1, 2026
    Books | Metal pots | Pans | Baking sheets

Get a full list of Acceptable Blue Box items (external link).

  • The new provincial recycling program will use Blue Boxes only. We will be reaching out to households who have a Blue Cart with information on transitioning back to Blue Boxes for curbside collection and when we will pick up and exchange your Cart back to a Box.
  • Halton Region will continue to roll out the Black Carts for garbage collection and Green Cart for organics as planned.
  • Certain commercial locations, like schools, multi-residential buildings, will continue to have the Blue Cart for recycling.
  • For updates on our Wheeled Cart program, please visit halton.ca/wheeledcarts.

Yes, recycling materials will continue to be accepted at the site. Fees apply to commercial customers.

  • Everything else is the same. You will continue to receive regular garbage, green cart, yard waste and bulk curbside collection from Halton Region.
  • Information about Halton Region waste collection services is available on halton.ca/waste or you can contact us by calling 311 or emailing accesshalton@halton.ca.

Curbside collection services

Halton Region provides residents with a variety of curbside collection services. These services include Blue Box, Green Cart, Garbage, Bulk Waste, and Yard Waste. Please bag and tie all garbage and organic material. Loose items will not be collected.

Get your 2025 Waste Calendar online!

Never miss a collection day and stay up-to-date on what is collected each week! Check our online calendar to:

  • view your personalized collection schedule
  • sign up for email or phone reminders
  • sync your schedule to your personal calendar
  • download and print a copy of your schedule (please note that mail delivery of one-pager calendars is not available at this time)

View your schedule and sign up for reminders

Planning for 2026?

There are no changes to curbside collection schedules/pick-up days for 2026.

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.

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

  • Plastic bags (clean, dry and empty)
  • Plastic overwrap (clean, dry and empty)
  • 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.

Public space recycling bins

  • Halton Region has public space recycling bins in the community to help you reduce your waste.
  • Look for the public space recycling bins to properly dispose of bottles, cans, and other recyclables.
  • Together, we can keep our public spaces clean and support a more sustainable Halton!

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
BPI logo

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 a Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified bag (PDF file). 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

Frequency

Once every other week. Garbage and bulk waste collection takes place in urban and rural areas (3 garbage bag/cans).

Size

Please ensure that garbage bins/cans:

  • Are designed to be manually collected by crews
  • Weigh no more than 23 kg (50 lbs)
  • Are not larger than 125 L (27 gallons) or 50 cm wide x 100 cm high
  • Do not have large wheels or a permanently attached hinged lid

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

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/tank 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. 
  • Please check the online put waste in its place sorting tool for additional accepted materials and special set out instrctions.

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

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
  • By appointment only
  • Schedule collection before placing material out for pick-up
  • Collection may take 2-3 weeks from date of request
  • Give a description of the item to be collected
  • Remove appliance doors
  • Place tall appliances flat on the ground
  • Please check the Put Waste in its Place sorting tool to check for special set-out instructions.
  • Request a pick up online or call 311

Important information and tips

  • Place waste at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day and no sooner than 5 p.m. the evening before.
  • Garbage is collected once every other week. Please bag and tie all garbage material, including masks, disposable gloves and personal hygiene products. Loose items will not be collected. 
  • Blue Boxes are collected every week. All recyclable plastic must be rinsed, clean and dry. Bundle all plastic bags and overwrap in one plastic bag and tie shut.
  • Green Carts are collected every week. Any paper or cardboard waste with food residue must go in the Green Cart. Please bag and tie all organic material, such as used tissues, in compostable bags. Loose items will not be collected.
  • Household hazardous waste must be dropped off to the Household Hazardous Waste Depot, located at the Halton Waste Management Site, or brought to a Special Waste drop-off day. 
    Learn more about Waste Management Site hours and location and Waste Management Site fees.
  • Containers and bags should weigh no more than 23 kg (50 lbs).
  • Do not put needles, syringes or lancets in your Garbage, Blue Box or Green Cart. Contact your pharmacy or doctor's office for proper disposal advice.
  • During winter, ensure material is free of snow and ice and is visible to the collection crew. Do not place material on top of snow banks.
  • Wrap broken glass and sharp objects before putting them in the garbage.
  • Please wrap all mattresses and box springs in plastic (no tarps) before placing at the curb for bulk waste collection.
  • Rinse blue boxes and green carts regularly to avoid build-up of bacteria and odours.
  • Only put waste to be collected at or near the curb. Items may be mistakenly collected by the collection truck. Halton Region and its collection contractors are not responsible for items mistakenly collected or scavenged.

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

Backyard composters can be purchased at the Halton Waste Management Site for $25 each. Limit 2 per household. Please call 311 before visiting to confirm availability.

Garbage, diaper, and healthcare bag tags

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.

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

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

Find pickup locations

Drop off

Residents can drop off clear diaper bags with bag tags attached and black healthcare bags with bag tags attached at the following locations:

Please inform staff that you are participating in the diaper or healthcare bag tag program upon arrival.

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