Garbage and Recycling

• View the 2026 Garbage and Organics Collection Calendar. Paper copies are available at the Township Office, 35663 Fingal Line, Fingal. Please view the Holiday Collection Changes below for any changes due to holidays.
• View the Route Map.

2026

• Garbage and organics collection for Thursday, December 24th, 2026 will be normal schedule.
• Garbage collection for Friday, December 25th, 2026 will be pushed to Saturday, December 26th, 2026.

• Urban areas of Ferndale, Lynhurst and Talbotville are collected weekly with a 3 bag/week limit.
• Rural areas are collected bi-weekly with a 6 bag/bi-weekly limit.

*Bag tags may be purchased for additional waste. See the Bag Tag drop down below for more information.

The Township recognizes there are times of the year, like spring cleaning or summer garage clean-out, when you may need to throw away a few extra bags of garbage. The bag tag program provides residents with an affordable option to dispose of extra waste. Bag tags are a cost of $2.50 each and are available for purchase at the Township office or the participating vendors listed below. We would like to emphasize that these tags are for extra bags, and residents are still permitted to dispose of 3 bags weekly in urban areas, and 6 bags bi-weekly in rural areas.

Bag tags are to be affixed to the side of each excess bag, placed so they can be easily seen by collectors.

The weight limit of 44 lbs and a maximum size of 125 litres or 28 gallons is applicable to any excess garbage.

Vendors:

Township of Southwold - 35663 Fingal Line, Fingal


Country Grocery - 35847 Talbot Line, Shedden

• Have collection curbside by 7:00 am
• Maximum weight per bag is 44 lbs
• Maximum bag size is 28 gallons (125 litres)

*If waste is placed in containers, all waste must be fully within the container and not overhang any edges.

• Yard Waste
• Scrap metal (i.e. propane tanks, barbecues, bike frames)
• Construction Materials (i.e. drywall, wood, flooring, carpeting, insulation)
• Appliances (i.e. fridge, stove, microwave, freezer)
• Electronics (i.e. television, monitor, computer, radio)
• Loose Garbage (i.e. tires, CFL Light bulbs and tubes)
• Furniture (i.e. chair, couch, side table, mattress)
• Bio-medical waste
• Crates/pallets
• Sharps (i.e. syringes, lancets)
• Automobile/vehicle parts
• Hazardous Waste

*Do not put broken glass and sharp metal objects in regular garbage - place in a sealed and clearly labelled cardboard box for garbage collectors. This will contain the glass if it breaks at collection

For missed garbage pick-ups or other garbage concerns, please submit a service request.

Hazardous Materials must be disposed of at an approved facility and will not be collected curbside. The Township of Southwold partners with the St. Thomas Community Recycling Centre. Residents of the Township are able to take waste materials to this facility that are not permitted to be put out for curbside collection. For location, hours of operation and accepted materials, please visit St. Thomas Community Recycling Centre. 

We do not provide large item collection through the municipal curbside collection. The Township of Southwold partners with the St. Thomas Community Recycling Centre. Residents of the Township are able to take large items to this facility that are not permitted to be put out for curbside collection. For location, hours of operation and associated fees, please visit St. Thomas Community Recycling Centre. 

Residents in the organics program boundaries are able to place yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings in the green bins.

Residents are able to bring 5 bags/visit free to the St. Thomas Community Recycling Centre.

• View the 2026 Recycling Collection Calendar. Paper copies are available at the Township Office, 35663 Fingal Line, Fingal. Please view the Holiday Collection Changes below for any changes due to holidays.
• View the Route Map.

2026

• For recycling changes contact Miller Waste at 1-888-852-2376 or area24@millerwaste.ca

Recycling makes a difference guide for blue box separation – it is better for the environment, it leaves space in landfills, it saves money, and it creates jobs.

Below are a few tips to keep in mind when recycling:

• Sorting Recyclables: when recycling isn't sorted correctly, it costs taxpayers extra
• Use two blue boxes: separate paper products from containers
• Even more can be recycled: know the accepted recyclable materials
• What doesn't belong: know common recycling errors

Check out Circular Materials Guide for the complete list of accepted materials.

Questions or concerns about damaged or replacement recycling bins? Contact Miller Waste 1-888-852-2376. The Township is not responsible for lost or damaged bins.

Please direct any recycling collection issues to Miller Waste:

• Email: area24@millerwaste.ca
• Phone number: 1-888-852-2376

There’s a new app for recycling! Learn what materials go in your recycling bin, find your recycling schedule, receive service alerts and more. Download here: www.circularmaterials.ca/app.

Residents in the urban areas of Ferndale, Lynhurst, and Talbotville currently receiving weekly garbage collection are eligible for the Organics Program. Each residence will receive one green bin. The green bin is like a recycling bin, but for the food and organic waste. Bins are collected curbside. Materials in the green bin are brought to a facility where they are transformed into nutrient rich compost used in gardens and farms.

The organics program is a user fee system. User fees describe the cost necessary to gain access to a product, service, or facility.  Whether a resident chooses not to use that service does not exempt them from the user fee, since their access has not been restricted. The costs for the program will be included on the final property tax bill each year. This cost is estimated at $95 per year. 

For residents outside of the organics program boundaries, one digester or one composter per property is available at no cost. Contact the Township office at 519-769-2010 for information.

Composters and digesters are also available for purchase at the Township office. Cost per composter is $25.00 (HST included) and cost per digester is $20.00 (HST included).

• Collection will occur bi-weekly on Wednesdays alternate of the recycling bin collection weeks for urbanized areas of Ferndale, Lynhurst and Talbotville currently receiving weekly garbage collection.
• View the 2026 Garbage and Organics Collection Calendar. Paper copies are available at the Township Office, 35663 Fingal Line, Fingal. Please view the Holiday Collection Changes below for any changes due to holidays.
• View the Route Map.

• Meat & Poultry
• Dairy Products
• Vegetables & Fruit Peelings
• Oils, Grease, Fats
• Baked Goods, Pasta, Bread
• Dry Baking Ingredients, Herbs & Spices
• Wooden Stir Sticks, Skewers & Chopsticks
• Household Plants
• Soiled Paper Towels, Napkins & Tissues
• Pet Waste/Litter
• Leaves & Grass Clippings

2026

• Garbage and organics collection for Thursday, December 24th, 2026 will be normal schedule.
• Garbage collection for Friday, December 25th, 2026 will be pushed to Saturday, December 26th, 2026. 

Use the green bin to dispose of food waste and table scraps. Residents may use certified compostable bags, or place items directly in your bin. The Township recommends using paper to line the bin to prevent materials from sticking to the bottom. Do not compress items into the bin as it may prevent the contents of the bin from fully emptying when collected by the trucks.

Green bins should be placed curbside on collection days by 7:00 am. They should be placed on level ground, with space around it to allow the truck arm to wrap around the bin. Maximum permitted weight of the green bin is 44lbs (20 kg).

For missed organics pick-ups or other organics concerns, please submit a service request.