Wheeled Cart Waste Collection Program
Wheeled Garbage and Organics Carts are coming to your household!
Halton Region is introducing a new efficient and sustainable Wheeled Cart Program for curbside waste collection using automated trucks and standardized wheeled carts. This program will roll out to all households with curbside waste collection in two phases over the next two years.
Find your phase and learn when your household gets Wheeled Carts
Click on your collection area to find out if your household is included in Phase One or Phase Two of the rollout.
Your phase determines:
- when you will receive your new carts
- when your curbside wheeled cart collection will begin
- whether or not you need to take any action this year
Phase One rollout timeline (2026-2027)
Phase Two rollout timeline (2027-2028)
Meet your new wheeled carts
What every household will receive
One (1) 120-litre Wheeled Organics (green) Cart
- Includes a gravity lock to help reduce pests
- Designed for easy movement and automated collection
One (1) 240-litre Wheeled Garbage Cart (standard size)
- 240-litre Wheeled Garbage Cart holds about 3-4 standard garbage bags.
- Phase One households may choose a smaller 120-litre garbage cart during the summer request period (June-August, 2026). Check back here for more details in
The smaller Wheeled Garbage Cart (120-litre) may be a good fit if you set out 1-2 standard garbage bags or less every other week.
Wheeled Cart sizes
120-litre Wheeled Organics Cart
Height: 95.5 cm (37 5/8 in)
Width: 49.5 cm (19.5 in)
Depth: 54.6 cm (21.5 in)
240-litre Wheeled Garbage Cart
Height: 109 cm (43 1/4 in)
Width: 62.2 cm (24 1/2 in)
Depth: 71.1 cm (28 in)
Holds: (3-4 standard garbage bags)
Sign up to receive important updates on the Wheeled Cart Program
We want to help you stay informed and know what to expect as the Wheeled Cart Program rolls out. When you sign up for waste collection reminders, you’ll also receive updates about:
- cart delivery timing
- collection start dates
- important program information
Please check back regularly for the latest updates, including important dates, timelines and key information to help you prepare.
For more information, read the frequently asked questions section.
Why Halton Region is changing to wheeled carts for garbage and organics collection
The program builds on a successful Automated Collection Demonstration Project, where wheeled carts were tested in 8 neighbourhoods throughout Halton in 2023 and the decision to change to automated cart collection was informed by several key factors:
- Service reliability:
Wheeled carts support more consistent and efficient collection operations, which helps maintain service levels as the community grows. It aligns with industry best practices as it is a proven collection method in other municipalities. - Worker safety:
The use of carts reduces the need for manual lifting, contributing to lower physical strain and injury risk for collection staff. - Helps keep the neighbourhood clean:
Wheeled carts contain waste and limit access by pests. - Ease of use for residents:
Wheeled carts are designed to be rolled rather than lifted, making waste set-out and retrieval more manageable for many households.
Existing Wheeled Garbage Cart Program households
Already using a wheeled garbage cart? You’re ahead of the curve!
If your household already uses a wheeled garbage cart, you’re one step ahead. As part of the Region-wide Wheeled Cart Program rollout, a new wheeled organics cart is still required for automated collection.
Between January and March 2027, you will receive one 120-litre wheeled organics cart.
How to use your wheeled garbage cart:
- Place carts the right way
Place the cart at the end of your driveway with the wheels facing your house—keep sidewalks clear. - Leave space for easy pick up
Carts must be 0.5 metres (50 centimetres or 19 inches) away from other objects (including green carts, blue boxes, parked carts, trees, and other items). - Keep space above your carts clear
Carts get lifted straight up to be emptied. Ensure nothing is above them – like basketball nets or tree limbs – that could get in the way. - Avoid overfilling
If your cart is full, you can place extra bagged garbage beside it (up to 3 additional bags), but each extra bag must have a garbage bag tag. - Don't force materials inside
Overstuffing may cause items to get stuck and not empty properly. - Hazardous waste and electronics
These do not belong in your cart. Please take them to the Halton Waste Management Site. - Sort properly
Use the Put Waste In Its Place tool to check what goes in your wheeled cart. - Dealing with extra garbage
You can place extra garbage bags beside your cart on your collection day—as long as each bag has a Halton garbage bag tag attached.- A maximum of three extra bags can be set out per collection.
- Tags cost $2 each and are sold in sheets of 5 for $10.
- You can order garbage bag tags online, call 311 to purchase, or visit select municipal and retail locations.
- Place tagged bags 0.5 meters away from garbage cart for collection.
- Keeping garbage carts on household property
Wheeled garbage carts are assigned to your household address, not to the homeowner or tenant. If you're moving, please leave the cart behind for the next resident. The cart stays with the property and will be used by the new occupants.
Frequently asked questions
Automated collection means:
- residents roll their Wheeled Garbage and Organics Carts to the curb
- a specially designed truck lifts and empties the cart
- no manual lifting of bags or bins by collection crews
This system improves efficiency, consistency, and safety while maintaining the same collection frequency residents are used to.
Halton Region will not be delivering wheeled blue carts to households.
Through Ontario regulations, as of January 1, 2026, Halton Region is no longer responsible for the collection of recyclable materials. Circular Materials Ontario (CMO) is the organization responsible for managing the Blue Box program under a producer responsibility system. CMO has decided to continue with the existing manual blue box recycling collection system (external link) in Halton Region.
There will be no change to the current collection method for Blue Box, Yard Waste, Metal and Bulk Waste.
The development of the phased implementation approach prioritizes maintaining the existing collection schedule for approximately 95 per cent of households. The phased approach is designed to maintain reliable service levels while supporting a smooth transition to the new waste collection contract. Phase One includes the homes that were in the demonstration and expansion areas and are already using wheeled garbage carts.
No. Households cannot opt out. The Region will work with households to identify and address any concerns they may have with the cart service and provide tips and resources to support participation.
Participating households may use the same locations where they currently store their waste material prior to being placed curbside for collection. The wheeled carts should occupy a similar footprint as their current garbage containers and green cart. Households are best able to determine the most appropriate location on their property to store their carts.
The 120-litre Wheeled Garbage Cart is an option for households that typically set out 1-2 standard garbage bags every other week and regularly use their Blue Box and Green Cart. Pre-selection of the smaller, 120-litre Wheeled Garbage Cart will be available this summer.
Height: 95.5 cm (37 5/8 in)
Width: 49.5 cm (19.5 in)
Depth: 54.6 cm (21.5 in)
Holds: (1-2 standard garbage bags)