The holidays are a time for family, food, and fun but they can also lead to extra waste. From gift wrap to packaging, it all adds up fast. The good news: reducing holiday waste is easier than you think and Halton offers plenty of ways to keep garbage out of the landfill.
This is your official holiday waste survival guide with all the info you need for the break including collection changes, tree pickup, extra garbage options, and more. We’ve also included some bonus tips to help cut down on waste!
Key holiday waste collection reminders
Curbside collection days
Collection days may shift over the holidays. If your regular collection day falls on:
- Thursday, December 25 → Collection moves to Friday, December 26
- Friday, December 26 → Collection moves to Saturday, December 27
- Thursday, January 1 → Collection moves to Friday, January 2
- Friday, January 2 → Collection moves to Saturday, January 3
Good news for Monday–Wednesday zones: if your regular collection day is Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, there are no changes this holiday season!
Christmas trees
For those with real Christmas trees in need of disposal, tree collection will happen the weeks of January 5 to 9 and January 12 to 16, after the holidays, on your regular collection day. Please note that trees cannot be wrapped in plastic and all decorations must be removed.
Important: Check your online schedule for exact dates based on your collection area.
Extra bag collection
For your first garbage collection after December 25, you may place up to 3 extra garbage bags at the curb without garbage bag tags.
Halton Waste Management Site
Planning a holiday cleanup? The Halton Waste Management Site will be closed on December 25 and January 1, but open regular hours (Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) on all other days.
Pro waste tip: never miss garbage day again!
Sign up for free weekly waste reminders and program updates by phone or email. You’ll get a heads-up on your next collection day and what goes to the curb before pickup!
Signing up is easy:
- visit the online collection schedule
- enter your address
- choose email or phone reminders and enter your details
Top holiday waste tips
Here are easy ways to reduce waste this season:
- Repurpose gift wrap: Use newspaper, brown packing paper, fabric or cookie tins instead of buying new wrapping paper.
- Reuse what you have: Save gift bags, bows, and tissue paper for next year.
- Recycle and compost properly: Use your Green Cart for organics and Blue Box for recyclables. Not sure where your item goes? Use our Put waste in its Place (Sorting) tool!
- Shop Local: Support local businesses and reduce packaging waste.
- Donate instead of tossing: Bring items in good condition like clothing, toys and books to the Reuse Depot, located at the Halton Waste Management Site, or drop them off at a local charity.
- Give experiences as gifts: Tickets to local galleries, museums, or performances make great gifts without creating waste.
- Choose reusable shopping bags: Bring them along when holiday shopping or getting groceries to cut down on single-use plastics.
Pro waste tip: reduce, reduce, reduce
The best way to lower waste is to avoid creating it in the first place! Every time you skip the extra packaging or reuse what you already have, you’re giving the planet a gift too.
Reminder: recycling changes coming January 1
Starting January 1, 2026, responsibility for residential Blue Box recycling in Halton Region will transition to Circular Materials Ontario (external link).
What is changing
Starting January 1, 2026:
- Circular Materials Ontario will manage the residential Blue Box program for Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville.
- The list of acceptable materials will include more items for recycling, which will be consistent across Ontario. For more information about acceptable items and how to use the program, please visit Circular Materials Ontario (external link).
- Miller Waste, contracted by Circular Materials Ontario, will handle recycling curbside collection. For any customer service inquiries about recycling, including how to replace a Blue Box and report a missed collection, please contact Miller Waste:
What is staying the same
- Curbside collection schedules for recycling, remain unchanged – same days, same Miller Waste trucks.
- Residents can continue using their existing Blue Boxes or clear bags for collection.
- Collection schedules for Green Cart, Garbage, Yard Waste, Bulk and Metal Appliance collections as well as services at the Halton Waste Management Site remain unchanged and continue to be provided by Halton Region.
Keeping informed
To stay informed of the Blue Box transition and get updates on recycling please visit Circular Materials Ontario (external link).
For information on all other waste management programs, you can continue to go to halton.ca/waste or sign up for updates through the online calendar tool. You can also email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311 with specific inquiries.