Acceptable Container Sizes for Curbside Collection

Sizes of garbage bag / recycling container allowed

Garbage bags must not exceed a height of 91cm (36 inches) and a diameter of 61 cm (24 inches)

A garbage bag / can or recycling container may not exceed:

  • Height: 91 cm (36")
  • Diameter: 61 cm (24")
  • Weight: 22.7 kg (50 lbs) when full

Garbage should not be loose inside of garbage containers and must be bagged. Several smaller kitchen sized garbage bags may be used and placed inside a garbage container for placement at the curb.

Garbage bags placed inside a container must not exceed the lip of the container.

All garbage cans should have handles on the outside of the container. For garbage cans with lids, the lid must be removable.

Buy Bag Tags - Look up collection limits for your location

Acceptable containers for garbage

The container must be no larger than three feet high and two feet in diameter.

Unacceptable containers for garbage

Metal or plastic barrels and drums, and cardboard boxes are not acceptable garbage or recycling containers.

Only flattened cardboard is acceptable inside a cardboard box.

Alternative containers to recycling boxes and Green Bins

You may use any other rigid plastic container for organics and recycling, so long as the material is sorted correctly. The alternate container must be obvious to collection staff (i.e. clearly labelled and have an open top so sorted materials are visible). The alternate container (like a Rubbermaid storage tote) must have handles or indentations on both sides and must not exceed 91 cm (36 inches) tall, 61 cm (24 inches) wide of 22.7 kg (50 pounds) when full. Blue and Grey Box materials must be separated.

You can order free recycling or organics labels online to place on your alternative container or call the Waste Info-Line at 905-356-4141 or 1-800-594-5542 (toll-free).

Broken glass

Sealed cardboard boxes may be used to store broken glass or sharp objects for collection.

Clearly write "broken glass" or "sharp object" on outside of box and call your collection contractor to book pick up:

  • St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, Welland and Fort Erie - Call Miller Waste Systems at 1-833-621-0726
  • Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Thorold, Wainfleet and West Lincoln - Call Green for Life at 1-855-971-4550
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