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Skip Navigation LinksSimcoe County > Departments > Solid Waste Management > Cart Collection > Size Swap

Size Swap

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The Cart Exchange Request System is open!
The program provides residents with an opportunity to swap their recycling and/or garbage carts for smaller ones. A $50 per cart administration fee applies.

It is important to consider your waste capacity needs carefully before deciding to switch size as the volume of waste produced by each household or business fluctuates considerably throughout the year. Please make note of your volumes over holiday seasons to ensure you have capacity for peak periods and in case of weather impacts, etc. that might affect set out and collection of material.  Frequent set out of overflow material reduces the efficiency of the automated collection process. 

Please note that all excess garbage t​hat does not fit within the cart, regardless of its size, requires a County of Simcoe garbage tag to be affixed in order to be collected.  If a smaller cart size for recycling or garbage is selected and the location is found to be placing out additional/overflow materials, or if material is overstuffed in the smaller cart with some frequency, the location will be required to revert to a larger size cart and the $50 per cart administration fee will be applied.

Cart Sizes

​Cart sizes available for selection are:

  • Recycling – 360 L (default size), 240 L, 120 L​
  • Garbage – 240 L (default size), 120 L
  • Organics – 120 L only




Cart ​dimensions:

Cart TypeCapacityHeightDepth
Front to Back
Width
Side to Side
Recycling360 litres110.4 cm84.5 cm74.1 cm
Garbage240 litres102.8 cm71.4 cm67.8 cm
Organics120 litres95.2 cm62.2 cm46.9 cm

Frequent set out of overflow materials reduces the efficiency of the automated collection process. Please note that if a smaller cart size for recycling or garbage is selected and the location is found to be placing out additional/overflow materials, or if material is packed, or bridges within the smaller cart with some frequency, the location will be required to revert to a larger size cart and the $50 per cart administration fee will be applied.

Cart Exchange Costs

There is an administration fee of $50 per cart, unless you are a new homeowner. The $50 administration fee per cart covers the costs involved in exchanging carts, registering the new carts to your address, assembly and delivering each cart, removing the old carts and cleaning/preparing them for re-use. The administration fee must be paid in full before the exchange r​equest will be processed. The administration fee can be paid via phone, or in person at our Administration Centre.

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 via phone to inform us of the ownership change and request cart exchanges. Our contact number is 1-800-263-3199.

How to submit a cart exchange request

IMPORTANT:

  • If you are exchanging more than one cart, please ensure all your cart exchanges are submitted at the same time
  • 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. 
  • The timeline for cart exchanges will depend on the volume of requests received. We will NOT be able to provide a specific delivery date at the time of your request. 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.
To make a size swa​p call:
1-800-263-3199​

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 FAQ

Will the carts being exchanged be delivered to my house?

Yes. As part of the County’s cart exchange service, the County will coordinate delivery and exchange of your carts to your household/business. You will be notified prior to delivery to have your current EMPTY cart(s) at roadside for the exchange to occur. Failure to have old carts out on the exchange date will result in a $50 per cart fee to return subsequently. 

Please note that our timeline for cart exchanges will depend on the volume of requests and we will not be able to provide a specific delivery date. The exchange process may take several weeks. We appreciate your patience as we implement this new process. ​

Will you take my old carts or do I need to drop them off at a County facility?

​As part of the County’s cart swap service, the County will coordinate delivery, exchange and pick up of your old carts at your household/business. You will be notified prior to delivery to have your current EMPTY cart(s) at roadside for the exchange to occur. If current carts are not accessible at the time of the delivery, the exchange will not occur, and any subsequent requests will result in the $50 administration fee per cart​

Can I swap my carts at a landfill/ transfer centre or other County building?

​No. Cart exchanges will occur by delivery to your household/business only. Carts will not be stored or accessible for resident exchanges at County facilities/buildings. Please complete the cart exchange request process above for delivery information. ​

How many times can I change my carts?

​An administration charge of $50 per cart will be charged, unless you are a new homeowner. Each eligible unit can request one exchange in a 12-month period. If you are exchanging more than one cart, ensure all requests are submitted at the same time.  

Can I get additional recycling and/or organics carts?

​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. For more information, go to https://www.simcoe.ca/SolidWasteManagement/Pages/tags.aspx

Can I get a larger garbage cart or an additional garbage cart?

​No, the County will not be offering the option for a larger or​ second garbage cart due to our commitment to diversion. The 240 L garbage cart provides capacity for two to three large garbage bags. Up to 5 additional bags can be set-out, with a purchased County garbage tag attached to each bag to be eligible for collection. For more information on garbage tags go to https://www.simcoe.ca/SolidWasteManagement/Pages/tags.aspx

Alternatively, additional garbage can be brought to a County landfill site with a disposal fee. ​

I am a renter. How can I change my cart size?

​All cart exchange requests must be submitted by the property owner. Please contact your landlord for assistance.​

Can I get additional carts for a rental unit within my property?

​It is County policy to provide one set of carts per registered serviced unit. The County has delivered a trio of carts to each serviced property within Simcoe County. If you believe your property was missed in error, please contact Service Simcoe at 1-800-263-3199.​

Can I use carts that are smaller than the 120 L cart?

​No. The 120L cart option (the pre-selected organics cart size) is the smallest option available that will function with automated collection equipment. 

To be eligible for the County's curbside collection program, you must use the carts provided by the County. 

If my cart is broken, do I have to pay the administration charge?

​No. If your cart is broken, please contact Service Simcoe at 1-800-263-3199. Repairs to existing carts are not subject to the administration fee.​

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