How do I use my garbage cart?
- Place your garbage cart out by 7 a.m. on your collection day
- Garbage carts are collected bi-weekly, (organics is collected weekly)
- Garbage may be loose or bagged
Click here to check your collection day and view your customized collection schedule.
Click here to learn what happens to your garbage after it’s collected.
What goes in my garbage Cart?
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Dryer sheets
- Meat absorbent pad
- Toothbrushes
- Dental floss
- Plastic hangers
- Old worn out shoes (not fit for reuse)
- Cotton swabs
- Feminine hygiene products
- Toys
- Vacuum bags
- Window glass (boxed & sealed)
- Hazardous waste (medication, batteries, paint, etc.)
- Recyclable and organic materials
- Yard waste
With only County landfills estimated to reach capacity by 2027, and only 10 years of capacity province-wide, the time to participate in waste diversion and reduction is now. Please DO NOT put recycling, organics or other divertible material in your garbage cart.
Curbside audits indicate only 24.2% of what is in the garbage is actually garbage! Almost half could have been diverted from landfill by placing in the green cart. Click here to learn more about how to do your part and use your green cart.
Still don’t know where things go?
Cart set out instructions
Proper set out is important to ensure the mechanical arm can grab your cart efficiently. To ensure collection, place your cart:
- On a level surface within eight (8) feet from the travelled portion of the road,
- Two (2) feet from each other or other objects (such as parked cars, mailboxes, etc.),
- With the arrows on the carts pointing towards the street,
- Do not over-stuff carts, fill loosely, ensure lid is fully closed,
- Do not use bungee cords or other items to keep the cart lids closed,
- Do not block bike lanes, sidewalks or impede on traffic/snow-clearing equipment,
- In the winter, clear an area at the end of your driveway for your carts,
- Don’t place carts behind or on top of snowbanks and,
- Those with long driveways can leave carts at the end of the driveway (off to the side) and bring materials to deposit into carts as needed, then wheel the carts out by 7a.m. on collection day.
Inclement weather or poor road conditions may result in the cancellation or rescheduling of collection services, download the Simcoe County Collects mobile app to receive alerts specific to your collection area.
What do I do with material that won’t fit in my cart?
Overflow garbage is anything that doesn’t fit into the cart with the lid closed. To ensure collection, please follow these instructions for managing overflow garbage:
- Garbage tags must be affixed to all overflow garbage
- A garbage tag affixed to a bag of recycling will not be collected as garbage. Please contact Emterra at 1-888-597-1541 for issues with recycling collection.
- Garbage tags cost $4 each, sold in sheets of 5 at various retail locations .
- Max of 5 tagged bags are permitted on garbage day
- Use standard-sized garbage bags (max weight 20 kg, max volume 90 cm x 75 cm)
- Place 2 feet apart from cart or any other objects, not on top of cart
- Old garbage cans may be used as long as the garbage inside is tagged and bagged as above (limit 1 bag per container to ensure collection)
Participating in organics will free up more space in your garbage cart and reduce the need for overflow. The County will not be offering the option for a second garbage cart due to our commitment to diversion.
What sizes of carts are available?
The standard cart sizes (which are based on an average County household) are:
- 240L garbage cart
- 120L organics cart
There is a smaller size option for garbage (see image). Please read below for more information.
tips & information
Please contact our Service Simcoe Contact Centre at 1-800-263-3199 or email service@simcoe.ca. They will be able to assist getting carts delivered to eligible households/businesses. If you are renting, please have your landlord or property manager contact Service Simcoe on your behalf.
New homeowners can exchange the existing carts to select a set-out that reflects the needs of their household within six months of homeownership without charge. New homeowners should contact Service Simcoe to inform them of the ownership change and request cart exchanges.
Please note, when you move, carts should be left behind and stay with the address they have been assigned to.
Submit a request for carts to service@simcoe.ca or 1-800-263-3199. Waste collections services may not yet be initiated in your community. Please contact Service Simcoe to determine whether collection is occurring, and if so, request your carts. Upon approval, carts will be delivered at no charge. If collection has not be initiated by the County of Simcoe please contact your builder/developer.
Write your address in the white space on side of the carts. Carts remain the property of the County of Simcoe. Each cart has a set of serial numbers which are assigned to the specific address they’re dropped-off to, do NOT exchange carts with others. Report a missing, found or damaged cart to service@simcoe.ca or call 1-800-263-3199. Fees may apply.
If you would like to exchange the size of your garbage cart, it is important to consider your waste capacity needs first. Your cart should allow extra capacity for peak periods such as over the holiday season and in case of weather impacts that may result in collection delays. There is an administration fee of $50 per cart, unless you are a new homeowner. The administration fee must be paid in full before the exchange request will be processed. The administration fee can be paid via phone, or in person at our Administration Centre. *Organics cart is only available in one size.
- Exchange is limited to once in a 12-month period for any property.
- Exchange requests must be submitted by the property owner. Renters or tenants should contact the property owner to make this request on their behalf.
- When your delivery date is scheduled, you will be notified via email or text in advance of the exchange to ensure you promptly place the old cart(s) EMPTY at curbside. Failure to have carts out during the timeline will result in a $50 per cart administration fee for any subsequent attempts.
Carts are required to be accessible and at the curb by 7 a.m. on your regular collection day. If you believe your carts were missed, please contact Service Simcoe at service@simcoe.ca or 1-800-263-3199.
Want to know when service delays impact you? Download the Simcoe County Collects app and sign up for alerts.
The County will not be offering the option for a second garbage cart due to our commitment to diversion. Any additional garbage must have a purchased garbage tag attached to be eligible for collection.
To request an additional organics cart, please contact our Service Simcoe Contact Centre at 1-800-263-3199. The $50 administration fee per cart will apply.