Curbside Collection

Getting Started:

The Municipality of Grey Highlands and Waste Management will be distributing around 10,000 new carts to the household and businesses that are eligible. 

The barcode on the carts are assigned to your address.

The carts are the property of Waste Management and must remain with the assigned address. You can report any broken or lost carts to enviro@greyhighlands.ca or 519-986-2811 ext. 246.

How to set out your carts:

• Do not over fill carts, the lids of the carts must be closed. 
• All material must be in the carts. Material on the ground or beside the carts will not be collected

 

Winter Consideration:

 

• Do not place carts on top of or behind snowbanks.

• When shoveling, clear a spot for the carts ensure it is flat and clear of any snowbanks.

 

Each property in Grey Highlands will receive the same number of carts.                    

Cart sizes were based on the average volume of waste and recycling Grey Highlands residents dispose of.

Recycling:

The recycling cart is the one with the yellow lid.            

Garbage:

The garbage carts is the one with the green lid.            

Extra Material:

All waste and recycling must be contained within the carts provided by the Municipality to receive collection. Extra waste outside of the carts will not be collected. Cart lids must be fully closed to ensure collection. For more information related to extra carts, please contact the Environmental Services Department at 519-986-2811 x246.

Waste Management and the Municipality have provided common collection areas to residents in Grey Highlands that are not eligible to receive curbside cart collection due to the condition of the road (i.e., private road, grade, non-winter maintenance, etc.).

These common collection areas are only intended for eligible residents determined by the Municipality and require a key to access them. Only these residents are permitted to dispose of their material that these locations, any others will be considered illegal dumping and fines may apply.

It is up to the residents that utilize the common collection areas to keep the area clean, and clear of any litter and/or debris.

              +Winter Consideration:

              During the cold seasons, the locks are treated with a deicer to help prevent the lock from freezing, below are                additional tips to assist with frozen locks:

              -warm the key up (in your hand, heater in the car, with your breath)

              -use hand sanitizer on the key

              -deicer on the key (and lock)

In October 2023, Council approve a Curbside Collection Alternative Program for residents who wish to return their carts or key to common collection areas. 

Properties that opt into the curbside collection alternative program shall receive 52 red marked bags per year based on original cart allocation.  The red bags can be taken to any of the Grey Highlands Waste and Diversion sites free of charge. 

Should you wish to opt into the curbside collection alternative program, contact Environmental Services at enviro@greyhighlands.ca or 519-986-2811 ext. 246.

More information can be found in the Curbside Collection Alternative Policy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. I just moved to Grey Highlands and do not have any carts- what do I do?

Please contact the Environmental Services Department at enviro@greyhighlands.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 the Municipality on your behalf.

2. My collection was missed, what do I do?

If your collection is missed, call the Waste Management direct customer service line at 1-888-730-3344 and reference your address. An operations specialist can look up the details regarding to specific address. They receive in-time information related to collections to help assist residents faster.

3. What is the size of the new carts?

Garbage Cart (green lid)- 64 gallon

Recycling Cart (yellow lid)- 95-gallon

4. What is the frequency of collection?

Garbage and recycling will both be collected bi-weekly on the same day. The complete calendar is available on our website. You can sign up for reminders related to your collection day with our Waste and Recycling Collection Calendar Tool!

5. Will my collection day stay the same?

Collection days will remain the same. Find you collection day and sign up for reminders by visiting our website Waste and Recycling Collection Calendar and Waste Wizard

6. What will the timing of collection be?

All routes are subject to change for numerous reasons (weather, amount of material, breakdowns, etc.). All carts must be at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your schedule collection day. Carts must be taken back in from the curb no later than 11:59 p.m. on your scheduled collection day, whether collection occurred or not.

Please note that residents that place carts out on private roads may leave carts out during the duration of the collection week at their own risk.

7. What is a multi-residential building? Will they receive municipal collection?

A multi-residential building is one that contains 8 units or less and is zoned as multi-residential.

Council approved additional cart allocations for multi-residential properties. These additional carts were supplied at a ratio of units in the building.

A multi-residential building contains more than 8 units will not receive curbside cart collection and are responsible for their own private direct disposal.

8. I am a commercial business; will I receive municipal collection?

Standalone commercial business will receive collection at the property owner’s request. Each eligible property will receive 1 set of carts (1 95-gallon recycling cart and 1 64-gallon waste cart).

If additional waste or recycling is generated over the allowable volume, the owner can request an additional waste cart for a free of $100.00 and the annual tipping fee or must arrange for their own private direct disposal. 

9. What will commercial-residential combined buildings in the downtown collection area receive?

Council approved additional cart allocations for commercial-residential combination buildings in the downtown collection area. These additional carts were supplied at a ratio of units in the building. If

10. I live in a basement apartment or additional dwelling unit; will I receive municipal collection?

Each eligible property will receive 1 set of carts (1 95-gallon recycling cart and 1 64-gallon waste cart). To clarify, regardless of any additional units or dwellings located on an eligible property, each property will receive 1 set of carts.

11. Where can my carts be placed if I have a laneway that makes it difficult to maneuver the carts?

Carts may be placed at near the end of your laneway, on your property. Material can then be brought to the carts as needed. The carts would then need to be moved to the curb on the day of collection and brought back once the collect has occurred or no later than 11:59 p.m.

12. What happens if I have more material than what will fit in the carts?

The carts will be the only means of collection starting January 1, 2023. Any extra material that does not fit in the carts would have to be saved for your following collection day or disposed of at any of the Grey Highlands Waste and Diversion Sites.

Outlined in the by-law, extra carts are available for a fee and are subject to the follow conditions:

            a) one waste cart for commercial use;

            b) one recycling cart and one waste cart for residential use

            c) double the allocated number of recycling carts and waste carts for multi-residential bases on number of units.

            d) double the allocated number of recycling carts and waste carts for combined commercial and residential properties within                   the downtown collection area based on number of units.

13. What happens to bag tags?

Bag tags are no longer accepted for extra waste for curbside collection. Yellow Bag tags will be accepted at the Grey Highlands Waste and Diversion sites on bagged waste in place of the tipping fees.

14. Can I place something on the lid or anchor the cart to the ground?

During storage of the carts something can be placed on the lid or they can be secured to the storage units. During collection, all carts must be clear of restraints to allow for the automated collection system. Items being placed on the lid or carts being anchored may result in a collection refusal.

15. Do recyclable get bagged before going into the cart?

No, recyclables should be left loose in the cart.

16. Does garbage get bagged before going into the cart?

Yes, we recommend that garbage be bagged before putting into the carts. 

17. How does snow and snowbanks affect the placement of the carts?

Carts are not permitted to be placed on snowbanks and must be cleared of snow. Carts on snowbanks and/or covered in snow may result is a non-collection.

18. What happens if my cart is damaged or stolen?

The carts have barcodes on them. These barcodes are associated with each property to ensure that they are tracked if any are stolen or misplaced. If cart(s) are damaged by the municipality or Waste Management, the municipality will replace the damaged cart(s). If other damage occurs to the cart(s), it is the responsibility of the property owner to replace the damaged cart(s).

The replacement fee for the cart is $100.00.

19. Where can I send comments and questions?

Comments and/or questions can be sent to enviro@greyhighlands.ca

In 2021, the Ontario government introduced the Blue Box Regulation, a significant shift in the management of recycling programs. This regulation transfers the financial and operational responsibility of recycling from municipalities to producers – the companies that produce and supply blue box materials to residents.

Under this new extended producer responsibility framework, producers are now accountable for both the costs and logistics of collecting and recycling blue box materials. This change aims to create a more efficient and sustainable recycling system.

For more detailed information, please refer to the fact sheet and Q&A section, where you can find comprehensive explanations, answers to common questions, and additional resources to help you understand the implications and benefits of this regulation.