Garbage and Recycling Curbside Collection Program

An acceptable "Recycling Container" includes blue boxes offered for sale by the County, and any other container approved by the Designated County Official, by public notice, for the storing and setting out of recyclable material which includes;

Rigid Plastic Containers

• that will not bend or give when lifted
• no taller than 21 inches and 24 inches wide
• have a rim around the top of the container (no lid) and do not have wheels

Clear plastic bags

• maximum size 50 litres (13 gallons) and must be securely tied

Cardboard Boxes

• that will not bend or give when lifted
• no taller than 21 inches and 24 inches wide

• County of Brant residents are able to put all of their acceptable blue box materials together loose, or co-mingled, into their blue box. No sorting of materials is required. The table below lists examples of materials which “Do” and materials which “Do Not” go into the County of Brant blue box.
• Recycling markets are commodity markets, driven by the supply and demand of products made from recycled materials. By purchasing products with “post-consumer” recycled content, you will be creating greater demand for the materials which go in your blue box. You will also be creating a demand for new products containing post-consumer recycled content. This helps to create a self-sustaining, circular program.
• The blue box recycling program is currently funded in part by the County and by the “producers and first importers” of the packaged foods and household products that you use every day. For more information on upcoming changes to the blue box program, visit www.rpra.ca.
• The collection and processing of acceptable blue box materials transforms those materials into new products. This helps to extend the life of our landfill, which is both an environmentally and financially positive practice to adopt and promote. Take the time to educate yourself about what materials are acceptable in our blue box program. See the table below.
• "Not everyone knows that Ontario is the birthplace of the Blue Box. The world’s first curbside recycling program made its official debut in Kitchener in 1981. Since then, Ontario’s Blue Box has become a blueprint for recycling programs in more than 150 countries around the world, and has received awards for its healthy curbside appetite.” Full story at https://stewardshipontario.ca
• Recycle right! When you place a non-recyclable item in the blue box, it simply goes on a long and expensive trip to a landfill. Contamination in the blue box only reduces the effectiveness of the recycling program.  For examples of the types of products that are made from your acceptable blue box materials, please visit www.rpra.ca.
• Remember, the 3Rs - Reduce Reuse and Recycle, all contribute to waste diversion. We all have the choice of purchasing items that use less packaging (Reduce), or buying items that can be used again (Reuse), or thirdly to Recycle materials rather than dispose of them. With these three options available to us, we all have some control over the effectiveness and the costs of our municipal waste management programs.

Visit our Interactive Map today to find out what day your collection day is or by downloading the Recycling Coach App, details below! 

You can also view your garbage collection month-by-month:

If you are unsure about where your address falls on the garbage collection schedule, contact the County of Brant Operations Department at 519.44BRANT (519-442-7268)

Please have your municipal address ready when you call.

A printable copy is available here: Blue Box Do's and Don'ts PDF

DO'sDo… have your materials placed at the curbside by 7:00 am on your collection day to ensure collection.

Do… try to put out your blue boxes only when they are full.

Do… remember to check the County of Brant website regularly for changes to the blue box program.

Do… Watch the weather!  Bring your blue box out the morning of your collection day (by 7:00 am), to avoid materials getting wet overnight by rain and snow, or the contents getting blown around by wind. If its a windy day, pack heavier items on top of the blue box or wait until next week to put it out.

Do… secure cardboard that is too big to fit loose in the blue box with masking tape, packing tape or light string. (Maximum bundle size is 0.8 m x 0.8 m x 0.25 m (32” x 32” x 10”).)

Do… remember that there is no charge to take your acceptable blue box materials to the either of the County of Brant Waste Management Facilities during regular operating hours.

DON'TsDon’t… place your blue box up on top of a snow bank. It should be placed at the end of your driveway, so that the collection crews can access it quickly and efficiently.

Don’t… put empty oil, anti-freeze, herbicide, pesticide or other hazardous waste containers in your blue box. Please visit www.makethedrop.ca or www.productcare.org for other local disposal outlets for your ‘Municipal Hazardous or Special Wastes’ (MHSW).  If paint cans are empty and dry, with lids removed, they can be placed in the blue box.

• Unlimited Blue Box containers can be set out
• Materials that are set out late (after collection vehicles have been by your location) will not be picked up until the following collection day
• Rollout carts, or roll out totes will not be picked up, containers must be acceptable in accordance with Solid Waste Bylaw
• All acceptable blue box materials can be placed loose together in the blue box, there is no need to separate the materials
• The maximum weight per container is 20 kg (45 lbs), including the material and container

We understand the frustration of a windy and/or snowy collection day that can quickly turn your recycling upside down – literally! That’s why we want to share the following tips for how to combat the weather.

1. Check the forecast. If wind or snow is forecast, skip the week is possible. The County of Brant allows unlimited blue box materials to be set out each week to catch up the following week. 
2. Set out at 7am. Don't put material out early that could get blown away or impacted by snowplowing. 
3. Organize. Place those heavier items like glass bottles or jars on top and keep the lighter items like plastic containers at the bottom of the blue box. Stand up paper or cardboard instead of laying flat. 
4. Label. Label your blue boxes and bins with your family name and address so if the wind decides to take them for a trip, they can be returned.
5. Don’t overfill. It’s nice to fit everything into one container but an overflowing bin is a recipe for a blown over mess. 
6. Use a garbage bag. Use a garbage bag instead of a bin on windy and/or snowy days so it the bin doesn't blow around or be in the way for plows after the garbage is collected. 

Condominium, Multi Residential, School and Not for Profit Collection Information 

Eligibility and application details for excess garbage bag limits are available for the following:

• Condominium Development Collection
• Multi Residential Collection
• School Collection (recycling only)
• Not for Profit Collection