Organics Collection

Organics Limits, Municipal Curbside Collection

• Residential Property (1–5 Units) Limits

  Residential properties must use a City-issued organics cart. Residential properties outside of the downtown BIA can place the maximum number of ogranics carts out for collection as prescribed in the table below every other week. Residential properties within the downtown BIA can place the maximum number of organics carts out for collection as prescribed in the table below twice weekly. Refer to Curbside Collection Schedules for more information.

  Refer to Cart Limits per Property and Curbside Collection Schedules for related information.

  Property Type	# of Units	Max. # of Organics Carts
  Residential	1	1
  	2	2
  	3	2
  	4	3
  	5	3

• Multi-Residential (6 units +) Limits

  The Multi-Residential Collection Calendar includes dates for collection at multi-residential buildings (6 units or more).

• Business/Institutional (Commercial) Property Limits

  Business/institutional properties must register for business/institutional curbside waste collection and use a City-issued organics cart. Business/institutional properties outside of the downtown BIA can place 1 organics cart out for collection every other week. Business/institutional properties within the downtown BIA can place 1 organics cart out for collection twice weekly. Refer to Curbside Collection Schedules for detail.

• Residential Organics Carts

  Carts were delivered throughout summer 2025. Please refer to how to get carts.

• Organics Kitchen Catchers

  Residents can get a kitchen catcher for free.

  Delivery

  For delivery of a kitchen catcher, please submit a request using ServiceBarrie.ca or contact Emterra Environmental at customercare.barrie@emterra.ca or 1-833-253-8207. 

  Pickup Options

  Note facilities may be closed on statutory holidays.

  • City Hall, 70 Collier Street (Service Barrie, first floor)
  • Allandale Recreation Centre, 190 Bayview Drive
  • East Bayfield Community Centre, 80 Livingstone Street East
  • Peggy Hill Team Community Centre, 171 Mapleton Avenue
  • City of Barrie Landfill, 272 Ferndale Drive North. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30am–3:30pm. The Waste and Recycling Depot located through the scalehouse at the top of the hill is open year-round. The Recycling Depot located at the lower gate area of the landfill is open April to November only.

  
  There is no charge for kitchen catchers. Upon pickup, photo identification proving Barrie residency must be provided. 

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• Multi-residential (6 units +) Organics Carts

  Depending on eligibility*, each multi-residential property may be supplied with large collection carts as well as small, in-unit kitchen catchers to collect and transport organic material. Once the bins are full, they can be emptied into the building's large organics carts. If you don't have an in-unit green bin, please contact your property manager or site superintendent.

  *If your building has not started this important diversion program, please contact your property manager or site superintendent.

• Business & Institutional Organics Carts

  Property owners of business/institutional properties City-wide must register for municipal waste service for business/institutional properties to receive an organics cart.

• How do I lock my organics cart?

  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. 

• Why can't I place yard waste in my organics cart?

  Yard waste and organic waste are different types of waste that need to be collected and processed separately and cannot go in the same curbside container. Leaf and yard waste collected in the Yard Waste Collection program is brought to the City’s landfill site for on-site composting outdoors (per the yard waste composting process) whereas food waste, pet waste, and food-soiled paper collected in the Organics Collection program is transported to a third-party with a specially designed processing facility. Mixing yard waste in with organics waste for collection is much less economical and less environmentally sustainable, and would result in considerably higher processing costs.

• Why can't I place diapers in the organics cart?

  Diapers are not accepted in Barrie's organics program because the processing facility does not accept these this material; they are difficult and costly to process.

  Residents can dispose of up to two clear bags of diapers per week for free at the  landfill, with a maximum weight of 20kg/bag, from May 1 to October 31 each year. 

  Soiled diapers are garbage items. Tips to help mitigate odour:

  • sprinkle a bit of baking soda in the bottom of your garbage can
  • be sure your garbage can has a proper lid & is securely sealed
• Do I need to use an organics cart if I use a backyard composter?

  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. These materials should be placed in the green bin.

• Why are organics and garbage picked up by the same truck?

  Garbage and organics are collected by a “split” collection truck. The same collection truck will hold both materials however it does NOT mix the materials together. These trucks are split this way to make the collection more efficient instead of having one designated truck for each material type.

  The split collection truck has two separated compartments for two different types of materials. The collector places the garbage material into one compartment of the truck, and the organics into the other. Although it may appear that these items are being mixed together after you spent time separating them, the materials are completely separated and do not get mixed with each other. 

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• Where do organics go after they're collected?

  Per the City's waste contract, curbside organics material is transported to a third-party processing facility (arranged by Emterra). This is a specially designed processing facility where microscopic bacteria digest the material and the result is rich and valuable compost. This material is then sold by the third-party processer. 

  The compost the City sells at the landfill site is generated from Barrie’s leaf & yard waste collection.

• How do I keep my organics cart free of pests (especially during hot weather)?

  • Wrap food waste in newspaper, boxboard or certified compostable liners before placing in the bin.
  • Clean your organics cart regularly and keep the lid tightly closed.
  • Empty the small kitchen catcher into the large curbside cart often, before food starts decomposing.
  • Freeze food scraps in acceptable bin liners before placing in the curbside bin.
  • Place your cart out for collection every week on your scheduled day, even if it’s only half full.​
• Why doesn't my multi-residential building have an organics program?

  The organics collection program was extended to eligible properties beginning in 2017. 

  Participation in the multi-residential organics collection program is mandatory for all residents in order for your building to receive municipal garbage collection services (Council Motion 15-G-223). If your building does not participate in organics diversion, please contact your property manager or site superintendent. 

• What kind of kitty litter is accepted in organics?

  Only plant-based kitty litters are accepted. Plant-based kitty litter includes litter made from wood shaving/pellets, wheat, corn, paper pellets, grass or grass seed, etc. It does not include traditional clay litter. Pet waste must be placed in certified compostable bags, which are marked with one of these logos:

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• Is pet waste in organics collection used in the City's composting program?

  Organics (green bin) collection is sent to a separate facility that can process pet waste and other organic matter, to be turned into compost. The compost sold at the landfill site will continue to be generated from Barrie’s leaf & yard waste collection.

• What to do if my waste has not been collected?

  Please remember to sort your waste for collection and have it curbside by 7am on your collection day/week. If you believe your collection of organics, garbage or yard waste was missed, please contact Emterra at customercare.barrie@emterra.ca or 1-833-253-8207.