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Organics
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"Organic waste" refers to all food waste, some paper items, and small quantities of other organic items (e.g. indoor plants). The Green Bin Organics programme is a programme offered by the County of Wellington that will have organic waste collected from your home or business, diverted from landfill, and turned into compost. Click on the Green Bin button below to learn more.
Did you know that 60% of food wasted in Canadian homes could have been avoided?
Learn more surprising facts and get tips on how to reduce food waste in your own home by clicking on the Food Waste Reduction button below.
SWS believes that composting at home is the most practical and cost-effective way to manage organic materials in Wellington County. Click on the Home Composting button to learn how you can compost at home, whether you have a backyard or not!
Green Bin
Food Waste Reduction
Home Composting
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Leaf and Yard Waste
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Leaf and yard waste includes leaves, twigs, garden trimmings, dead plants, etc. There is a Leaf and Yard Waste Curbside Collection programme for urban residents in the County. Click on the Leaf and Yard Waste Curbside Collection button below for more details, including the collection schedule.
All six County waste facilities accept leaf and yard waste from County of Wellington residents, free of charge. This material is accepted from Spring through Fall (approximately April through November) every year. Click on the Leaf and Yard Waste at Waste Facilities button below to learn more.
Please note, grass clippings are not accepted as leaf and yard waste, and must be managed separately. Click on the Grasscycling button below for more information.
Please also note, wood and brush are not accepted as leaf and yard waste, and must be managed separately.
Many residents may also choose to compost leaf and yard waste in their own backyard. Click on the Composting Leaf and Yard Waste at Home button below for some tips and easy steps for composting your leaf and yard waste.
Leaf and Yard Waste Curbside Collection
Leaf and Yard Waste at Waste Facilities
Grasscycling
Composting Leaf and Yard Waste at Home
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Rapid Antigen Testing Kits
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Rapid antigen testing kits used in a home must go in the garbage. Please place the kit into a bag (e.g. plastic shopping bag) and tie shut before placing into a garbage bag.
Rapid antigen testing kits used in a workplace need to be treated as hazardous waste and be collected by a licensed service provider, such as Stericycle.
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Scrap Metal and Appliances
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All County waste facilities accept appliances and scrap metal for recycling. The site attendant will assess whether the item is suitable. Regular disposal fees apply since the cost of managing the material exceeds revenue received. Processing involves removing any precious metals, shredding and baling the metal for market (metal refineries).
In 2021, about 433.4 metric tonnes of scrap metal were diverted from landfill.
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Acceptable Items
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Appliances (White Goods)
White goods are large appliances such as fridges*, freezers*, dehumidifiers*, air conditioners*, water heaters, stoves, washing machines, clothes dryers and dishwashers.
*Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Regulation 347 requires that items containing ozone-depleting gases have the refrigerant material (Freon) removed by a Ministry certified technician. Do not attempt to remove the refrigerant waste yourself.
The County provides Freon removal service for $15, in addition to the regular waste disposal fee. This charge will only be waived if the appliance has an official tag confirming that the Freon was removed by an MECP certified technician.
Other Acceptable Scrap Metal
- bicycles
- swing sets and slides
- wire
- toaster ovens
- aluminium siding
- ladders
- pots and pans
- stairway railings
- tire rims
- desks and filing cabinets
- metal fencing
- furnaces
- BBQs
- lawnmowers
Remove hazardous materials, such as gasoline and oil from items before delivering to the scrap metal bins or designated pile for recycling. This applies particularly to:
- lawn mowers
- weed whackers
- leaf blowers
- snow blowers
- oil tanks, etc.
Note: These are just some examples of acceptable items. Please use the Recycle Coach waste app to look up how to properly dispose of certain items.
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Unacceptable Items
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Not sure where an item goes? Use the Recycle Coach waste app to look up how to properly dispose of certain items.
Please be aware that there is no opportunity for customers to remove scrap metal or appliances except through the three Reuse Centres.
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Bulky or Large Items
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Items too large to fit into a user pay garbage bag are not accepted at the curb for waste collection. These items can be brought to any of the County's six waste facilities for disposal. Regular fees apply.
If in good condition, these items can be brought to any of the County's three Reuse Centres to be reused, rather than sent to the landfill. Regular fees apply. Items in good condition can also be sold or donated to charitable organizations.
For help with transportation, please check out the local classifieds.
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Tires
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The County of Wellington accepts tires from residents and farms at no charge at all waste facilities for recycling. There is a maximum of 10 tires per customer per day.
A list of Ontario tire collection locations is available on the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) website. Just enter your postal code to find additional tire collection locations near you.
Tires from businesses are not able to be accepted at County waste facilities. Please go to the RPRA website to find a tire hauler and determine if your business needs to register as a collector.
Acceptable Tires (Residential Customers Only)
On-Road Vehicle Tires
- passenger, small RV and trailer, light truck and temporary spare
- motorcycle and golf cart
- free rolling farm
- medium truck
Off-the-Road Vehicle Tires
- agricultural drive and logger skidder
- forklift, construction equipment
- small, medium and giant off-the-road
Go green by bringing used tires to a registered collector! Doing so will keep tires from being burned or landfilled.
Tires collected under the RPRA programme will be recycled into new products such as under-the-hood automotive products, flooring, sports fields, playground surfaces, and construction-related equipment and materials.
In 2021, about 133.2 metric tonnes of tires were diverted from landfill.
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Electronics
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The County of Wellington accepts electronic waste from residents at no charge at all waste facilities. Metals, glass and plastics are recovered from electronic waste and recycled. Please follow staff directions for proper material placement.
In 2021, about 113.7 metric tonnes of electronics were collected at County waste facilities and diverted from landfill.
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Reuse options
If electronics are in good working order:
- give away to family or friends, or donate to local community groups, charities, or Computers for Schools
- take to a Reuse Centre at a County waste facility (fees apply)
- find out about local organizations that accept computers for reuse, refurbishment, or dismantling
Remember to remove all personal or confidential data from equipment and drives, or find out if the organization has suitable privacy protection measures in place to ensure your information cannot be accessed.
Recycling options
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Acceptable Items
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desktop computers, portable computers, monitors, wiring, peripherals including modems
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printers, photocopiers, fax machines, scanners, electric typewriters
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phones, cellphones, pagers, PDAs, answering machines
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stereo systems, TVs, projectors, digital frames, cameras, audio/video recorders and players (MP3, cassette, digital)
- cable and satellite receivers
- headphones, microphones
- video game consoles and peripherals
- ink and toner cartridges
Note: These are just some examples of acceptable items. Please use the Recycle Coach waste app to look up how to properly dispose of certain items.
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Unacceptable Items
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Note: These are just some examples of unacceptable items. Please use the Recycle Coach waste app to look up how to properly dispose of certain items.
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Construction and Demolition
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Materials known as C and D waste (drywall, shingles, bricks, wood, metals etc.) are accepted as regular waste at County waste facilities. All sites will accept small quantities, but larger loads must go to Riverstown.
General disposal fees apply.
Please consider recycling opportunities during renovation or construction projects. When possible, segregate the materials so that recycling opportunities can be maximized.
Not sure where an item goes? Use the Recycle Coach waste app to look up how to properly dispose of certain items.
Some construction or renovation materials need special preparation and arrangements before bringing to a County waste facility:
| Asbestos |
- all asbestos must be delivered to Riverstown waste facility since it must be buried immediately upon receipt
- loose asbestos must be double bagged in heavy duty plastic and tied closed
- larger asbestos sheets that can't fit into a bag should be kept whole
- arrangements must be made through the Disposal Compliance Supervisor at least 48 hours in advance
- inform site attendant of load contents
- follow site attendant's instructions once you check in at the scale house
- general disposal fees apply
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Small quantities
- will be accepted at all waste facilities
- staff have the right to re-direct loads if necessary
- general disposal fees apply
Larger quantities
- will only be accepted at Riverstown waste facility
- arrangements must be made through the Disposal Compliance Supervisor at least 48 hours in advance. Please contact SWS to arrange.
- inform site attendant of load contents and any arrangements made
- follow site attendant's instructions once you check in at the scale house
- general disposal fees apply
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| Concrete and Rubble |
Small quantities
- will be accepted at all waste facilities
- staff have the right to re-direct loads if necessary
- general disposal fees apply
Larger quantities
- will only be accepted at Riverstown waste facility
- arrangements must be made through the Disposal Compliance Supervisor at least 48 hours in advance. Please contact SWS to arrange.
- inform site attendant of load contents and any arrangements made
- follow site attendant's instructions once you check in at the scale house
- general disposal fees apply
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- will only be accepted at Riverstown waste facility
- arrangements must be made through the Disposal Compliance Supervisor at least 48 hours in advance. Please contact SWS to arrange.
- inform site attendant of load contents and any arrangements made
- results of laboratory sampling may be required before disposal
- follow site attendant's instructions once you check in at the scale house
- general disposal fees apply
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- will only be accepted at Riverstown waste facility
- material must be double bagged in heavy duty plastic
- arrangements must be made through the Disposal Compliance Supervisor at least 48 hours in advance. Please contact SWS to arrange.
- inform site attendant of load contents and any arrangements made
- follow site attendant's instructions once you check in at the scale house
- general disposal fees apply
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Termite Infested Wood
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- will be accepted at all waste facilities
- please inform the site attendant that the material may contain termites, and you will be directed to a waste bin
- not accepted in wood and brush pile
- general disposal fees apply
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Clothing and Textiles
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Solid Waste Services has a partnership with the Canadian Diabetes Association Clothesline Programme. Funds raised from the sale of the textiles are used to promote the health of Canadians affected by diabetes through research, education, service and advocacy. A Textile Recycling Drop Box is located at every County waste facility. There is no charge to drop off your old textiles. Please place items in a plastic bag for easier drop-off in the bin. Items in good condition will be reused and damaged items will be recycled.
Acceptable items include
- clothing
- fabric, yarn
- shoes, boots
- belts, bags, purses, hats, ties
- bed linen, blankets, pillows
- drapes
- sleeping bags
- stuffed animals
Note: These are just some examples of acceptable items. Please use the Recycle Coach waste app to look up how to properly dispose of certain items.
For other donation bin locations, visit The National Association for Charitable Textile Recycling donation bin locator. Simply enter your address to find a drop-off location near you.
In 2021, about 17 metric tonnes of textiles were diverted from landfill through the Textile Recycling Drop Boxes.
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Wood and Brush
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Please ensure that large metal pieces, such as rebar, plates and angle iron, are removed from all wood materials (to prevent damage to chipping equipment). After chipping, the materials are used for waste facility projects (such as roadway building) and other Wellington County initiatives. The site attendant will assess material to determine if it is suitable for chipping. Unacceptable materials are landfilled.
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Acceptable Items
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- natural wood
- branches less than 6 ft in length
- brush
- painted and treated wood
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Unacceptable Items
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- branches over 6 ft in length
- termite infested wood - This material is accepted at waste facilities, but not in the wood and brush pile. Please inform the site attendant that your material may contain termites, and you will be directed to a waste bin.
- burnt wood
- wood materials with plastic or aluminium siding, metal sheets or strips, steel angle iron, hinges, door/window hardware, large spikes or toxic materials
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Creosote Railroad Ties
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- will only be accepted at Riverstown waste facility
- arrangements must be made through the Disposal Compliance Supervisor at least 48 hours in advance. Please contact SWS at: 519.837.2601 or 1.866.899.0248 to arrange.
- follow site attendant's instructions once you check in at the scale house
- general disposal fees apply
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Regular disposal fees apply.
Wood and brush diversion programmes are available at the following waste facilities:
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Christmas Trees
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The County of Wellington provides annual natural Christmas tree collection, as well as the opportunity to drop off trees at waste facilities. In addition, there are other collection and drop-off opportunities offered by local organizations throughout the County, as well as creative ways to recycle your tree at home.
Please prepare your tree properly for recycling.
Tree Preparation
Remove all decorations, wire, plastic bags, stands and lights.
Ways to recycle
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Drop-Off at Waste Facilities
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All County waste facilities will accept Christmas trees at no charge from December 28, 2022 to January 31, 2023 during regular site hours. Staff will direct you to a specific bin for Christmas trees only.
Food bank donations are gratefully accepted.
Trees are ground into mulch.
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Urban Curbside Collection
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Christmas trees will be collected in urban areas only during the week of January 9, 2023. Please have trees out by 7:00 am on Monday to ensure they are collected. However, your tree may not be collected until later in the week. We thank you for your patience.
Trees are ground into mulch.
If you are not sure if you are in an urban curbside collection area, please contact Solid Waste Services.
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Trees For Tots Collection
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The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington will be collecting Christmas trees for their Trees For Tots programme on Saturday, January 7, 2023 in the following areas: Rockwood and the Township of Puslinch.
To participate in the Trees for Tots Christmas tree collection, please register at www.treesfortots.ca by January 3, 2023. If you do not register for this collection you will not be able to participate. The minimum donation amount for this charity is $15 per tree.
Trees should be set at the curb by 8:00 am.
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Kinsmen Club Collection
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The Kinsmen Club will be collecting Christmas trees at the curb in exchange for food bank donations on Saturday, January 7, 2023 in the following areas: Drayton, Moorefield, and Rothsay.
Trees should be set at the curb by 8:00 am. Food bank donations should be attached to the base of the tree for the Kinsmen Club collection.
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Lions Club Collection
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We are not aware of any collection by the Lions Club in 2023. Please check with your local Club for information.
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| Fergus Elora Belwood Snowmobile Club |
| We are not aware of any collection by the Snowmobile Club in 2023. Please check with the Club for information. |
| Other Drop-Off Options and "Recycling" Ideas |
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Natural Christmas trees can be reused in many ways. They can serve as food or shelter for birds and animals, landscaping materials, or a source for unique crafting. Check out the tips and local farm drop-offs from Taste Real, or check out these 6 Uses for Your Real Christmas Tree After the Holidays.
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Food bank donations are gratefully accepted by County waste facilities and by the Kinsmen Club when you recycle your tree.
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Popular food bank requests
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- canned vegetables, fruit, chili, stew, soup, meat or fish
- rice, pasta and sauce, dried side dishes (Hamburger Helper, Sidekicks, etc.)
- peanut butter and jam
- children's lunch snacks
- cereal and oatmeal
- baby supplies, such as formula, diapers (sizes 3 to 6), baby food (no outdated please)
- cookies, crackers and microwave popcorn
- baking supplies
- juice (canned and drink boxes), skim milk powder, coffee and tea
- condiments
- toiletries, such as shaving razors, shampoo, conditioner, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, adult Depends, toothbrushes, soap, etc.
- toilet paper, paper towels and tissue paper
- cleaning supplies
- large and small sandwich bags
Please watch expiry dates. Food products past expiry are discarded. Thank you.
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Heavy Rigid Plastics
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Broken or damaged blue boxes, green bins, and plastic pails can be recycled at any of the six county waste facilities.
Blue boxes can be exchanged for a new one at no cost.
Regular disposal fees will apply for all other heavy rigid plastic containers including garbage cans, totes, composters, and rain barrels.
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Election Signs
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Note: Election signs are only accepted during an active election.
Reuse
For many candidates, they may wish to collect and hang onto their signs for reuse in the next election.
Recycling
For those who are looking for another option, Solid Waste Services can offer recycling for all types of temporary election signs. We will accept signs made of:
- Polypropylene (PP) Coreplast
- Fibre - similar to boxboard
Signs will be accepted at all six County waste facilities at no charge. Please alert site attendant that you have election signs to recycle.
- Signs must be free of contamination. Remove metal/wood stakes, nails, fasteners, etc.
- Signs will be placed in the marked temporary recycling containers. Follow site attendant's directions.
- Place wood in the wood bin or pile (where available). Place metal in the metal bin. Regular fees apply.
Please note any signs that are not free of contamination will be treated as garbage and regular fees will apply.
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Bale Wrap
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SWS partners with Switch Energy Corp. who will collect agricultural film directly from the farmer. There are several types of agricultural plastic which can be recycled in the programme:
- bale wrap
- silage bags
- greenhouse film
Each material type and colour must be kept separate for recycling and placed in collection bags.
Please contact Switch Energy Corp. to confirm current acceptable materials, obtain collection bags, and to get more information on how to participate.
80171 Kinburn Line
Clinton, ON N0M 1L0
T 519.524.0193
E dnott@switchenergycorp.com
Why Recycle Bale Wrap?
- conserve natural resources
- recycled bale wrap and greenhouse film will be recycled into various new products
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