With the rollout of new waste and green bin carts just weeks away, Waterloo Region is reminding households to choose their preferred cart size before the September 5, 2025 deadline. Residents can select between the default 240-litre garbage cart or a smaller 120-litre version, but those who don’t make a choice will automatically receive the standard size. The change is part of the region’s transition to an automated cart collection system that will cover about 170,000 homes under the new waste collection contract set to start next year.
The new cart system is designed to modernize curbside collection by using trucks equipped with mechanical arms, reducing the physical strain on workers and creating a cleaner, more efficient service. Regional officials, including Waste Management Director Olivia Kwok, have stressed that although production of carts is already underway, there is still limited time for residents to submit requests to downsize. The initiative reflects a broader move across Ontario municipalities to improve safety, consistency, and sustainability in waste collection. More