Garbage

Curbside collection set out instructions

We accept up to two garbage lifts – bags, cans or bulky items that meet the requirements for acceptable lifts – each week for household curbside collection.

• Please ensure your garbage is at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day, but not before 6 p.m. the preceding day
• Each household can put out up to two garbage “lifts” each week
  • An acceptable “lift” for a garbage bag is a plastic garbage bag that's no larger than 89 cm (26 in) by 90 cm (36 in) and weighs no more than 22 kg (50 lbs)
  • An acceptable “lift” for a garbage can is a garbage can that's no larger than 120 L (30 gallons) and weighs no more than 22 kg (50 lbs)
  • For bulky items, an acceptable “lift” is no longer than 1 m (3 ft) and weighs no more than 22 kg (50 lbs)
• For commercial properties, you can put out up to four containers per week
• The collection limits are doubled for the week after Christmas
• Any bags over the limit are tagged and left behind
• Overflowing garbage cans don't meet the definition of one lift
• Remove bungee cords or bricks that are holding down your garbage before collection
• If your garbage isn't collected by 8 p.m. on your collection day, please remove it from the curbside

Curbside: unacceptable items

• Construction and renovation materials, including shingles, drywall, tiles, concrete, bricks and wood waste
• Household Hazardous Waste
• Tires and automotive parts

Large item collection

We provide a large item collection service for items that are too big or heavy for our regular curbside collection service. The cost is $30 for the first item and $10 for each additional item, except for mattresses and box springs. Mattresses and box springs are $30 each and do not count as a first item for qualifying for the reduced rate.

Large Item Pickup is available monthly from April to September. Book your large item pickup online. For further information contact 705-742-7777 ext. 1657. 

We define large items as items weighing more than 23 kg (50 lbs) and longer than 1 m (3 ft).

The six large item collection days in 2023 are:

• April 24 (cut off date for booking is April 18 at 4:30 p.m.)
• May 29 (cut off date for booking is May 23 at 4:30 p.m.)
• June 26 (cut off date for booking is June 20 at 4:30 p.m.)
• July 24 (cut off date for booking is July 18 at 4:30 p.m.)
• August 28 (cut off date for booking is August 22 at 4:30 p.m.)
• September 25 (cut off date for booking is September 19 at 4:30 p.m.)

Frequently asked questions

The primary reason for implementing a clear bag (garbage) collection program revolves around worker safety and protecting the collector from cutting themselves on sharp objects such as broken glass or needles.

• The collector is also able to conduct a quick scan to assess the contents within the clear bags to ensure that the contents does not contain recyclables or hazardous items such as oil, paint, pharmaceutical products of corrosive wastes are in the bag – these items should be disposed of at an appropriate facility (e.g. the Peterborough Household Hazardous Waste Depot).
• We know that mistakes can occur and sometimes some recyclable material may end up in the clear bag. Our collectors also recognize this and use judgement when determining what to collect and what not to. A reasonable, practical tolerance level will certainly be observed when taking that quick look at the bag.

Yes. In fact, waste audits undertaken over the past two years in the City of Peterborough have illustrated that approximately 8–10% of residential garbage actually contains items that should presently be placed in a blue box for curbside recycling.

To date, over 2 million Canadian households now participate in clear bag garbage collection programs and the municipal waste diversion achievements are typically over 55%, some as high as 80% (e.g. Markham).

The City will include a “privacy bag” allowance whereby you will be able to place one smaller (kitchen catcher size) bag within each larger clear bag. This provides an adequate method to shield items.

Key items that you may choose to place in a privacy bag include sanitary products, diapers, incontinence products, shredded financial information, medical / pharmaceutical objects (bags, tubes – not needles).

The City is proceeding with the implementation of a source separated organics (food waste) collection program at the same time as the clear bag garbage collection program for all single family residences.

All households will be receiving a green bin for the collection of their food waste as well.

Green Bins will be delivered to eligible properties beginning in September 2023 and is expected to be completed by mid-October. After receiving their Green Bins, residents are encouraged to wait until about October 20, 2023 before starting to use them to store food waste for collection.

Informational material will be distributed with the Green Bin.

The Green Bin for curbside collection is a heavy duty, pest-proof cart with a locking mechanism on the lid.

All residences presently receive two lifts per collection schedule (presently weekly). The City is pursuing implementing the collection of garbage every-other-week to coincide with the weekly collection of recycling and organic waste.

This is happening because so much material will be diverted through weekly Green Bin (organic waste) and weekly Blue Bin (recycling) collection that garbage amounts will be greatly reduced.

The City is presently working on optimizing collection routes and schedules, so there is the potential that some residences will see their day of collection change. However, everyone will get the same level of service, regardless as to where they live.

Once routes are finalized, the City will provide updated information accordingly, including a Waste Management Collection Calendar that will identify all collection schedules effective October 31, 2023.

Collection calendars will be included in the new program information kits delivered to all single family residences between mid-September and mid-October.

The City will also make collection calendars and schedules available online (targeting summer 2023).

With the introduction of the weekly Green Bin (organic waste) collection alongside weekly Blue Bin (recycling) collection, the amount of garbage for landfill will be greatly reduced. Food waste will be put out weekly through the Green Bin program.

The implementation of Green Bin programs in other communities has shown that there’s no longer a need for weekly garbage collection.

Yes, the City is in the process of updating the waste management collection bylaw. It will be mandatory, effective October 31, 2023, that only large clear bags placed curbside by single family households will be collected.

There is no limit to the number of blue boxes residents can place at the curb. Blue boxes continue to be sold at the subsidized rate of $8 per box – either the tall box for container items or wider box for paper items, and the smaller box with handle for accessibility at $5.

Blue boxes can be purchased at the following locations:

• City Hall (500 George St. N.)
• Peterborough Green Up (378 Aylmer St. N.)

Yes. In fact, as all of the townships within the County of Peterborough have already transitioned to a clear bag garbage collection program, clear bags should be readily available now.

However, the City is interacting closely with local retailers and their head offices, and companies that supply plastic bags to local stores to ensure that stores offer appropriate product and load up on adequate supplies to meet the community demand.

No, the costs of plastic garbage bags should be the same. Both clear plastic and opaque (black) plastic bags are manufactured from the same type of plastic resin – typically linear low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film. The only difference between the bags is that dyes (colouring) would have been added to colour the bag.

From a sales perspective, the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) should be equal (if not less) between the two products.

Price differences may occur based on individual bag sizes, package counts, closure type (e.g. drawstring, easy-tie), brand name vs. private label/no-name.

The City will be sending information on the changes to garbage collection and the new organics collection program to all households through the mail well ahead of the changes.

Information will be posted on the City website with key, timely information to assist all residents.

Information will be shared through local media (e.g. radio, television, newspaper, online news outlets) as well as through roadside display boards and social media channels to support awareness.

To kick off the program, informational material will be distributed along with Green Bins to all eligible properties starting in September.

Residents are welcome to call the City Waste Management Division during regular business hours at 705-742-7777 ext. 1657.