Changes Coming to Curbside Collection

New Collection Contractor Starting May 1, 2024  

• Key Changes for Residential Collection Effective May 1, 2024

  • There will be a new collection schedule. This means your collection day may change to balance the routes. View the interactive map to see the curbside collection schedule in Barrie as of May 1, 2024.
  • You will be able to put pet waste in your organics (green bin). This includes dog waste, plant-based kitty litter and bedding for small animals. Use only certified compostable bags when disposing pet waste.  
  • There will be no shifts to the collection schedule due to holidays, except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. This means if a collection day falls on a holiday, you will put your items curbside on your regular collection day, except on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
  • Yard waste will be collected every other week April through November. There will be no yard waste collection in February, March or December. Yard waste will be collected weekly in January to accommodate Christmas tree collection.
  • There will be no specific day for yard waste collection. Place yard waste curbside Monday by 7am on your yard waste collection week (opposite garbage week). It will be collected sometime before the end of the day Friday.
  • Curbside collection service will be expanded to eligible private roadways and laneways. This will be phased in starting May 1, 2024. The City will contact the eligible property managers in 2024. 
  • For residents in the downtown BIA, there will be daily (Monday to Friday) collection of garbage and organics. There will be no change to weekly limits in this area. 
• Key Changes for Other Sectors Effective May 1, 2024 

  • For businesses in the downtown BIA , there will be daily (Monday to Friday) collection of garbage, and recycling. There will be no change to weekly limits in this area. 
  • Businesses will now need to register with the City to receive municipal curbside waste collection (garbage, yard waste and recycling). Businesses will be able to register online in early 2024. More details on how to register will be provided closer to when registration opens.

• During Transition: May 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025

  • Recycling collection frequency and accepted materials will not change. Residents’ collection day may change.
  • Residents must contact the contractor retained by Circular Materials for recycling-related questions or concerns. This includes collection schedule, bin replacement, missed collection etc. Contact information for Barrie-specific recycling questions/concerns will be available closer to May 1, 2024 at CircularMaterials.ca/barrie or by calling 1-877-667-2626.
• After Transition (Effective January 1, 2026)

  • Residents will continue to contact the contractor retained by Circular Materials for recycling-related questions or concerns. Contact information for Barrie-specific recycling questions/concerns will be available closer to May 1, 2024 at CircularMaterials.ca/barrie or by calling 1-877-667-2626.
  • Circular Materials may make changes to the way recycling is collected (e.g. materials collected, collection mechanism, etc.).

Automated Cart Collection Starting September 8, 2025

• Key Details for Residents

  • There will be one cart for garbage and one for organics.
  • The City will continue to collect yard waste manually.
  • Recycling will be collected by the new contractor per the recycling program transition described above.
• Key Details for Businesses

  • Starting September 8, 2025, organics collection will be introduced to businesses.
  • Businesses will receive carts for organics, garbage and recycling (all recyclable material, both blue and grey box material, will be placed in the same cart).
  • The City will continue to collect yard waste manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

• When will I find out if my collection day is changing as of May 1, 2024?  

  Use the Curbside Collection Schedule Lookup tool to look up your current and upcoming (as of May 1, 2024) collection schedules.

  The collection schedules as of May 1, 2024 will also be detailed in the City’s 2024 Waste Collection Calendar. The calendar will be distributed by Canada Post admail to households in December 2023. It will also be available for pickup at City facilities by late December.

  A limited number of properties may experience a service gap in garbage and organics collection due to the timing of the transition to a new collection contractor. The City is investigating alternative disposal and/or collection options to accommodate the gap in curbside collection for impacted addresses. The City will identify and communicate options directly to impacted properties in 2024.

• Who will collect my recycling starting May 1, 2024?

  Residential recycling (blue and grey box) material will no longer be collected by the City effective May 1, 2024. A not-for-profit organization called Circular Materials will oversee the collection/management of residential recycling through a contractor. This change comes as part of a provincial regulation, where all Ontario municipalities are moving to a “producer responsibility model”.

• There is no specific day for yard waste collection starting May 1, 2024. Why is this change happening?

  As of May 1, residents will be asked to put yard waste curbside Monday by 7am on their yard waste collection week (opposite their garbage week). It will be collected sometime during the week before the end of the day Friday. This model gives the contractor flexibility in managing the highly seasonal volumes of yard waste. Residents will still have an unlimited number of bags they can put out.

• Will there be any changes related to garbage tags starting May 1, 2024?

  There will be no changes. Garbage tags will continue to be sold by the City to be used for additional bags or cans over the limits.

• What kind of kitty litter will be accepted in organics (green bin) starting May 1, 2024? 

  Only plant-based kitty litters will be 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.

• Will the City still offer Christmas tree collection in January? 

  Yes. Christmas trees (yard waste) will continue to be collected weekly through the month of January. Your current collection day will remain applicable in January 2024.

  After May 1, 2024, there will be no specific day for yard waste collection, including Christmas tree collection. Put trees curbside Monday by 7am in January 2025 and beyond; they will be collected by the end of day Friday of your collection week. 

• When the City moves to automated cart collection, will I get to choose my cart size?  

  Prior to September 8, 2025, the City will provide residents with standard sized garbage and organics carts. Carts will be designed to accommodate current waste limits. The City is currently looking at options for residents who may need a smaller size garbage cart to switch the standard size for a smaller one.