Curbside Collection Carts

Many municipalities are changing to automated waste collection. Waste is contained and better protected against wind and animals, keeping neighbourhoods cleaner. Carts are easy to roll and eliminate heavy lifting and dragging of containers and protect the health and safety of waste collectors. 

Commercial recycling collection is managed by the City and commercial properties have mixed recycling carts. Across Ontario, residential recycling is managed by Circular Materials under the provincial Blue Box Regulation; residential recycling is collected in blue & grey boxes, but Circular Materials may make changes to the way recycling is collected in the future. 

The 240L garbage carts are designed to accommodate current waste limits. The 120L organics carts are designed to accommodate an average weekly volume.

Carts allow for materials to be easily moved to and from the curb with limited effort. Carts have large sturdy wheels and a stable base, making them easy to move on all types of surfaces.

If you received the standard size garbage cart and require the smaller cart, the property owner can request a garbage cart size exchange for free until December 31, 2025. 

Those who may require additional accessibility accommodations related to automated cart collection can contact RethinkWaste@barrie.ca to discuss their specific accessibility needs. Please note: physician documentation may be required for accessibility accommodations.  

The City encourages and appreciate residents that compost on their own property – that’s a great way to reduce waste!  There are organic materials, however, that still should go in the organics cart that are not appropriate for a backyard composter. This includes materials such as grease and fat, meat, fish and shellfish, dairy products, nuts and shells, cooked food, pet waste, and food-soiled paper products.

Annual audit data indicate that over 30% of curbside garbage is organic waste that could be diverted from our landfill.  The new organics cart has additional capacity as the City would like to see increased use and less food/organic waste in the garbage.  As such, the organics cart is mandatory for any property receiving City curbside waste collection services.  The carts will be delivered as sets (organics and garbage) – belonging to the City and specifically assigned to your property.  Although one property owner may not use the cart, a subsequent owner may wish to use it.

The RFID tag on the cart is linked to the cart’s serial number, which is connected to the property address. The RFID tag will be read by the collection truck, allowing the City’s contractor to track the collection time and location of the cart. This data is reviewed periodically to identify any mismatches between carts and their assigned property addresses. If a mismatch is found, it will be investigated. 

Commercial recycling collection is managed by the City and commercial properties have mixed recycling carts. Across Ontario, residential recycling is managed by Circular Materials under the provincial Blue Box Regulation; residential recycling is collected in blue & grey boxes, but Circular Materials may make changes to the way recycling is collected in the future. 

Circular Materials' contractor in Barrie is Emterra; for any residential recycling collection questions, please contact Emterra at 1-888-597-1541 or customercareont@emterra.ca. 

Between February 3 to March 31, 2025, property owners could preview carts at City facilities and request a smaller (120L) garbage cart size to be delivered, using an online cart selection form. 

We encourage you to try out your garbage cart size for a little while; however, if you received your cart and would prefer a different size, the property owner can request a garbage cart size exchange for free until December 31, 2025. 

Get full details re exchange requests

Reminder: Carts are assigned to the property address and equipped with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag and a unique serial number linked to the property. They must stay with the assigned property—even if you move!  

No. A set of two carts are provided to each property: one for organics, one for garbage. Should the smaller garbage cart be selected but some additional capacity be needed during the year, garbage bag tags can be purchased for the occasional additional garbage. 

Developers must contact rethinkwaste@barrie.ca for new subdivisions that are not yet receiving the City's waste collection service. Before the City will commence service, the development must be inspected by both Solid Waste Operations staff and the City's Waste Collection Contractor and a Site Servicing Agreement must be signed. The property owners will then receive notification from the developer on when collection will begin and how they can request carts. 

Please refer to Cart Limits per Property and note that owners of properties with two to five residential units can request additional sets of carts, within limits, by emailing ServiceBarrie@barrie.ca with the property information, requested number of carts, and preferred size of garbage cart for each set (large 240L or small 120L). 

Properties with 6+ residential dwelling units are eligible for municipal centralized collection services (organics and garbage collection). Property owners/designated managers of residential properties with 6+ residential units must email Environmental.Sustainability@barrie.ca with their contact information to discuss municipal servicing options (organics and garbage collection).

The expectation of the City of Barrie is that residents are diverting their organic material. Diverting organics from the landfill is environmentally and financially sound, and is an important part of Barrie’s long-term sustainable growth.

The organics cart must be a minimum size of 120L to be collected by the collection vehicles and be less prone to tipping over. Annual audit data indicate that over 30% of garbage collected curbside is organic waste that could have been diverted from Barrie's landfill; the new organics cart has capacity for increased use. The additional volume encourages greater diversion of organic waste and will better allow for seasonal fluctuations such as for pet waste, pumpkins, holiday/party food waste, etc. 

Not at this time. Please note that the organics carts are nearly three times the capacity of the current green bins (45 L) and are collected weekly.  

Old garbage containers and green bins will not be collected curbside. Look for ways to repurpose these containers, such as: 

• Repurpose your garbage can or green bin as a reusable yard waste container. 
• Store potting soil, mulch, salt, sand, garden tools, dog food, etc. 

You can also:

• bring your old green bin to the landfill (272 Ferndale Drive North), where it will be recycled at no charge. 
• bring your old garbage container to the landfill. A minimum disposal fee applies to plastic garbage containers, as the type of plastic that plastic garbage containers are made of is not currently accepted for recycling. 100% metal garbage cans are accepted for disposal at the landfill free of charge.

Starting September 8, 2025, only garbage and organic waste placed in the City-provided carts is being collected.  Garbage or organics materials set out in personal bins, bags, or other containers will not be picked up. The only exception is if you have a garbage bag tag attached; however, garbage placed in bags with tags will only be collected if the garbage cart is also set out for collection.

Delivery of residential property carts (organics and garbage) and business/institutional property carts (organics, garbage and recycling)  happened between June 16 and August 2025. Over 90,000 carts were delivered to individual properties; they were not available for pickup at City facilities.

To lock the organics cart, turn the dial on the top left or right to the ‘lock’ position. If it doesn't lock properly, lift the lid and shut the lid hard while the dial is in the lock position. The organics cart is equipped with a gravity lock to secure material and keep out wildlife; the lock opens automatically when the cart is dumped into the collection vehicle. 

It is the responsibility or the property owner/occupant to ensure carts are reasonably clean. Tips: 

1. Organics and garbage can be placed bagged or loose into the carts. Using bags will help keep your carts clean. Remember that only certified compostable bags or paper bags (including yard waste bags) can be used for organics. 
2. Rinse carts with water and empty them on grass or gravel (make sure it doesn’t enter the storm drain). 
3. To remove odour, mix one part vinegar and three parts hot water and pour it into your carts. 

The City’s contractor will be implementing a cart repair and replacement program. If your cart gets damaged or was delivered damaged, please contact Emterra at customercare.barrie@emterra.ca or 1-833-253-8207.

When you receive your carts, write the property address on the white space on the side of each cart with a permanent marker. Carts are assigned to the property address and equipped with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag and a unique serial number linked to the property. 

For garbage or organics waste, only garbage and organic waste placed in City-provided carts is collected. Garbage set out in bags or other containers will not be collected unless it is placed curbside next to garbage carts and a garbage bag tag is attached to each additional garbage bag/container. 

Residential recycling is collected in blue and grey boxes, and there are options for acceptable yard waste containers. 

Generally, setting carts on the road is not permitted. On your collection day, carts must be placed on the driveway/boulevard, spaced 2 ft apart from any obstacles. If you have a single driveway, setting your carts out on your collection day may require you to move your carts to allow space to enter/exit the driveway. Reminder: you will only have both carts (garbage and organics) set out once every two weeks, as garbage is collected bi-weekly. 

Under the City’s Traffic By-Law, parking is prohibited within 1.5 metres of an entrance to a public lane or private driveway, which will allow enough space for carts to be collected. Please contact Enforcement Services at enforcement.services@barrie.ca or 705-739-4241 to report Traffic By-law violations. 

Please note the contractor makes every effort to collect carts, and any missed collections are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Trucks are equipped with technology that can be reviewed to assist with investigating concerns.

Loose materials can be placed in carts, but you are responsible for ensuring your cart is not overly soiled or odorous. Using bags will help keep your carts clean, but please remember that only certified compostable bags or paper bags (including yard waste bags) can be used for organics.

There is no prescriptive weight limit for carts, but please note that carts will be damaged if too heavy. Excess garbage (with necessary garbage bag tags affixed) have a weight limit of 20 kg per bag).

For occasions when you have extra garbage that cannot be diverted, you may use garbage tags for additional bags. Garbage placed in bags with tags will only be collected if the garbage cart is also set out for collection. See list of locations that sell garbage tags. Tagged garbage bags must sit 0.6 m (2 ft) from the carts. Extra garbage, bulk items, and electronics can also be dropped off at the Barrie Landfill (fees may apply). 

Carts need space to be collected. Do not place carts on a snowbank or within 2 ft of a snowbank. Place your carts within a cleared area, no more than 2.4 meters (8 feet) from the travelled portion of the road, without blocking the sidewalk. Should it snow or if snow removal equipment covers the carts after they have been placed out for collection, it is the responsibility of the resident to remove the snow from the carts so they are accessible and visible to collectors. If you have a single driveway, setting your carts out on your collection day may require you to move your carts to allow space to enter/exit the driveway. 

Please note the contractor makes every effort to collect carts, and any missed collections are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Trucks are equipped with technology that can be reviewed to assist with investigating concerns.