How do I use my recycling cart?
- First rinse food residue from containers and remove and include lids
- Recyclables should go in the recycling cart loose (except shredded paper)
- Ensure to shred sensitive documents; shredded paper must be bagged using a clear bag
- Flatten boxes first to conserve space
- Place your RECYCLING CART OUT BI-WEEKLY on your regular collection day by 7 a.m.
Click here to check your collection day and view your customized collection schedule.
What goes in my Recycling Cart?
- Cardboard & boxboard
- Glass bottles & jars (LCBO and beer bottles can be returned to The Beer Store for a refund)
- Rigid plastic packaging (#1 – 7)
- Paper
- Plant pots & trays
- Empty aerosol, beverage & food cans
- Spiral-wound containers (frozen juice)
- Gable top & tetra-paks (drinking box, milk cartons and broth containers)
- Aluminum plates & foil (must be clean)
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
- 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 recycling is anything that doesn’t fit into the cart with the lid closed. To ensure collection, please follow these instructions for managing occasional overflow recycling:
- Flatten boxes and plastics and crush aluminum before placing in cart to conserve space
- Contain overflow recycling in blue boxes or transparent / clear bags
- If you have quantities of cardboard too large to fit in your cart, flatten, bundle and place beside your cart (max. 75 x 75 x 75 cm)
- Place 2 feet apart from carts
If you are using a 360L cart, the largest size recycling cart, and have overflow material regularly, contact Customer Service to obtain one extra recycling cart ($50 fee applies) per serviced unit. Contact Service Simcoe at 1-800-263-3199 or service@simcoe.ca or click here to learn more.
What sizes of carts are available?
The standard cart sizes are:
- 360L recycling cart
- 240L garbage cart
- 120L organics cart
There are smaller size options for recycling and garbage (see image). Please see 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 sizes of your recycling cart and/or garbage cart it is important to consider your waste capacity needs first. Your carts 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.
If your household/business regularly exceeds your carts’ capacity for recycling and/or organics, one additional recycling and/or organic cart may be provided per property, upon verification of need and under the premise that the largest cart size for the same material is first utilized. The $50 administration fee per cart will apply. To request an additional recycling or organic cart, please contact our Service Simcoe Contact Centre at 1-800-263-3199.
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.