Frequently Asked Questions

• Tilt the cart slightly toward you.
• Roll it using the wheels.
• Keep the lid closed while moving it.

Carts are designed to be easier to move than carrying multiple garbage bags.

• If you have a long or rural driveway, you must bring your cart to the end of your laneway on collection day.
• You can either transport the cart to the end of your laneway on your pickup day, or there are many rural residents who prefer to build a small garbage enclosure at the end of their driveway.

This allows the cart to:

• Stay near the road.
• Be easily accessed for pickup.
• Reduce the need to move it long distances each collection.
• If you build an enclosure, just make sure that you:
• Place the enclosure on your property (not on the road allowance)
• Do not block traffic or sightlines.
• Ensure the cart can be easily rolled out for collection.
• Keep the area clear of snow and obstacles.

There are also commercially available vehicle accessories to allow towing or transportation of waste carts that residents may choose to purchase. 

Before launch, we will provide detailed set-out instructions. In general:

• Place the cart at the end of your driveway.
• Face it toward the street.
• Leave space around it (away from vehicles, mailboxes, and snowbanks).
• Make sure the lid is fully closed.

All waste and recycling must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. for collection. Crews may collect at any time throughout the day and the timing of your collection may not be consistent.

• Place your cart at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
• Set your cart so that the wheels face away from the curb (towards your home) and the lid opens toward the street.
• Ensure the cart is at least 3 feet (1 metre) in front of or beside fences, vehicles, or other obstacles.

Place your cart on a flat surface that is clear of snow and ice to ensure safe collection.

Crews have until the end of the day to complete routes. If your items have not been collected by the end of your regularly scheduled day, please contact Waste Management.

Please contact Waste Management:

• Phone: 1-800-561-1655

Email: canresidential@wm.com

No, only approved carts will be accepted.

Please contact Waste Management for all questions relating to recycling carts at 1-800-561-1655 or canresidential@wm.com

• Sort materials: Ensure recyclables are separated from garbage.
• Bundle cardboard: Flatten any cardboard before placing it in the cart.
• Ensure materials are clean, dry and loose: This helps ensure materials are ready for recycling.
• Leave lids and labels on: They are recyclable too.

If your recyclables don’t fit in the cart, please save the extra materials for your next collection day. Do not overload your cart or place excess recyclables beside your cart. Items beside the cart will not be collected.

Waste carts will be provided to all residential properties, with the following exceptions:

• Multi-residential properties with more than five units
• Campgrounds
• Mobile home parks
• Institutional, commercial, and industrial (ICI) properties without a residential unit

Property owners may request as many carts as they want, additional fees will apply.

The new automated waste collection program begins June 29, 2026.

Eligible residential properties will receive one 240-litre waste cart.

All carts remain the property of Waste Management.

Yes. Carts are available upon request, for a fee.

If a cart is damaged by the property owner, replacement fees will apply Contact West Grey for a replacement.

Institutional, commercial, and industrial properties without a residential unit will not  receive a cart. Businesses may request carts and pay the associated fees.

Properties with more than five residential units will not receive a cart under the program.

Beginning Monday, June 29, 2026, residents must place materials in their carts for curbside collection. Garbage bags will no longer be accepted. Please check your calendar to confirm your first collection day.

Waste carts will be delivered to residents from Monday, June 8, 2026, to Friday, June 19, 2026.

Your collection schedule and service day will not change.

A full list of recyclable materials can be found at circularmaterials.ca/west-grey. Starting January 1, 2026, you will be able to recycle the same materials wherever you are in Ontario. The list of accepted materials has expanded to include items such as:

• Hot and cold beverage cups
• Black plastic containers
• Frozen juice containers
• Ice cream tubs
• Deodorant and toothpaste tubes

•    Place only accepted recyclable materials inside your recycling cart.
•    Flatten and bundle cardboard before placing it in your cart to save space.
•    Ensure all containers are clean and dry, and place them loose in the cart. Do not bag recyclables.
•    Lids and labels may remain on containers and cans.

Keep recyclables secure by making sure the cart lid is fully closed. On windy days, position your cart so the lid opens away from the wind.

•    Place your carts so the wheels face your home and the lid opens toward the street.
•    Keep carts at least 3 feet away from fences, vehicles, or other obstacles.
•    Place carts on a flat surface, clear of snow and ice.
•    For rural one-way roads, place carts on the designated collection side of the road.
•    Have your carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.

• Carts with securely closed lids help minimize litter and reduce odours and pest issues.
• Increased capacity allows for more storage between collections.
• Automated cart collection creates a safer working environment and helps reduce the risk of workplace injuries.

Residents with a permanent or temporary physical disability that limits their ability to set out carts may be eligible for assisted collection service. A physician’s note is required to apply. Please visit the Circular Materials website to complete the Special Accommodation Recycling Collection Form.

If you still have your blue box, consider reusing them for storage around your home, such as for sand, mulch, gravel, soil, pet food, or yard waste.

Please contact WM for questions about missed collection, cart inquiries, or other questions:

• Phone: 1-800-561-1655
• Email: canresidential@wm.com