Waterloo Region tweaking waste collection schedule

Pictured is the region’s new waste collection truck which utilizes mechanical arms. The bins must be two feet apart with the arrows on the top facing the road. Photo courtesy of Region of Waterloo

By Lee Griffi

The Region of Waterloo’s new waste-collection system hasn’t started, but some schedule changes have been announced.

Waterloo Region is rolling out its new waste cart collection system on March 3.

Garbage and organic waste will be picked up by trucks with mechanical arms that will lift the carts and dump their contents into the vehicle. The operator typically remains inside the truck, operating the arms with a joystick.

When putting out garbage, residents should place the carts about two feet, or approximately an arm’s length of space, between them.

The arrow on the lid should point to the street, the handle should point toward the home and the lid should be closed. The lid on the green organics carts can also remain locked, as it will open during the tipping process.

Bags can be used inside the carts (compostable bags or paper liners in the case of the green organics bin), or loose items can be placed directly inside.

The truck’s mechanical arm dumps the carts into an area that has two different sections – one for organic materials and the other for waste.

The trucks also have cameras so the operator can ensure nothing hazardous is being mixed in with the garbage.

“If there’s anything like a propane tank or something dangerous, the operator would be able to retrieve it,” said Olivia Kwok, the region’s director of waste management.

Under the new system, waste will be picked up four days a week instead of five, with residents urged to double-check their collection day as it may have changed. That information can be found on the map on the region’s website at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/carts, through the Waste Whiz app, or in an information booklet that has been mailed to residents.

“We have a look-up tool on our website where residents can look up their address, and it will confirm their collection day and zone,” said Kwok, adding Wilmot Township falls into two different zones.

The changes will impact about 170,000 households in Waterloo Region.

As people get used to the new process, there will be a team out in parts of the region going ahead of the trucks to make sure the carts are positioned properly.

“They will adjust as needed and also give tips and suggestions for a successful collection in the future,” Kwok said.

Those who may have difficulty maneuvering the new carts can apply for support programs the region offers, such as assisted waste collection. Details on how to apply can be found at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/living-here/medical-waste-disposal.aspx.

For the first week, households will receive both garbage and organics collection. After that, the schedule will be garbage collection (black carts) every other week, organics (green carts) weekly, bulky item collection will move to once a month and yard waste collection will remain every other week, from spring to fall.

Kwok said the changes come as a result of moving to a four-day schedule.

“That is part of the new program, and by eliminating Monday, we had to rejig the whole system and redo all the routing. We did that to incorporate efficiencies in scheduling. It also reduces the collections we had on holiday Mondays. It also helps with staff retention.”

Recycling (blue box) is now managed separately by Circular Materials. Pickup will now occur every other week, on the opposite week from regular garbage collection.

Circular Materials is the non-profit organization now leading recycling in the province. Its director of community and media relations told the Gazette recycling collection changes are aligned with other waste management changes happening in the region, particularly changes to the garbage and organics collection schedule managed by the region.

“Circular Materials collaborated with regional staff to align with the new schedule and support a smooth transition for residents in March 2026,” said Jennifer Kerr.

She added the way in which recycling services are delivered in a community is determined by the company’s local collection contractor, based on the contract awarded during the procurement process.

“Several assessment factors are considered during the procurement process to ensure service delivery meets the needs of residents, the community and regulatory requirements. As the administrator of Ontario’s common collection system, Circular Materials follows a procurement process that ensures the effective and efficient provision of services to meet the obligations of Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation,” Kerr said.

She added regardless of collection method, residents can be assured their efforts to recycle matter and all types of collection methods are designed to meet regulatory performance requirements and result in positive environmental outcomes. 

Ontario’s new blue box recycling program is 100 per-cent funded by producers, the companies that supply packaging and paper products to consumers in Ontario, including the familiar brands and retailers Ontarians interact with every day.

“This means municipalities and taxpayers will no longer pay for recycling services as this cost will now be paid by producers,” Kerr said. “By shifting financial responsibility to producers, (extended producer responsibility) enables municipalities to redirect their budgets to other local initiatives. Under this new system, Ontario municipalities are collectively saving over $200 million in costs.”