What to do with extra garbage, recycling and yard waste?

Sometimes your carts may be full but you still have extra materials to get rid of.

Where possible, hold onto extra garbage, recyclables or yard waste until your next collection day, when you can fit them into the appropriate cart. You can also ask your neighbours if they have space in their carts that you could use.

Extra garbage

If your black cart is full and you have extra bags of garbage that will not fit, you will need to buy tags to put on extra garbage bags for pickup.

Buy garbage tags

Store extra bags on your property until pickup day. To avoid pests, keep in a garage/shed or a separate container like a Rubbermaid bin.

Extra garbage bags must weigh less than 20 kg (44 pounds). If you can lift the bag with one hand, it should be okay.

Extra recycling

Take extra recycling to a community recycling depot.

Find locations

Break down boxes to make extra room in the recycling.

Extra recycling bags are not accepted. Recyclables must be loose inside the blue cart or depot.

Extra yard waste

Is there a yard waste bag limit?

There’s no set yard waste bag limit. During busier times, we’ll collect what’s inside the cart but may limit extra bags so everyone gets service.

If some bags aren’t picked up, store them on your property until the next week's collection.

Seasonal yard waste drop-off

The City offers complimentary residential yard waste drop-off at City Eco Centres during specific periods in the spring and fall. Dates are posted on this webpage in April and September.

If your green cart is full, use paper yard waste bags for pickup.

Roll the tops of the bags closed and set extra yard waste bags 0.5 meters (2 feet) away from your cart.

Extra paper yard waste bags must weigh less than 20 kg (44 pounds). If you can lift with one hand, it should be okay.

Carts have a 60 kg weight limit. If you can roll the cart, it should be ok.

Take yard waste to a City Eco Centre - fees apply

Residential households can use this service for excess or oversized yard waste that doesn’t fit in the green cart.

Eco Centre requirements

Bring only leaves, branches, plants (soil removed), and grass clippings. Do not bring sod or food scraps; put these in your green cart.
Yard waste is charged the yard waste rate. If you bring sod, you will be charged the basic sanitary rate.
Secure your load before transporting to the Eco Centre. Visit on a weekday or weekends before 9 a.m. for shorter wait times.

Visit Eco Centre locations and hours

Large items and bigger cleanups

Sometimes you might have items to get rid of that just don’t fit inside the carts at all. These options are helpful for oversized items like furniture or when you have large quantities of household waste.

City Eco Centres

City Eco Centres are a convenient way to recycle, reuse and dispose of your old and unwanted household items. They accept a wide range of items you can't dispose of in your carts at home.