Why preparation matters
Getting your carts ready the right way keeps Wrenford's recycling and organics programmes running smoothly. Clean, loose materials go straight to the processor. Contaminated carts slow down sorting, can damage equipment, and may be left behind by collection crews.
Black cart: garbage
All household waste must be placed inside a bag before going into your black cart. Loose garbage will not be collected. Keep the lid closed at all times to prevent animals and wind from scattering your waste.
- Bag everything. Use plastic or paper garbage bags. Do not place loose items in the cart.
- Check the weight. The cart should be light enough for one person to lift. If it is too heavy, leave a bag in the bin until the next collection day.
- No hazardous materials. Paints, solvents, chemicals, and motor oil belong at the Household hazardous waste depot or during collection days, not in your black cart.
Green bin: organics
Putting food scraps and yard waste into your green bin helps Wrenford divert waste from the landfill. By law, all organics must be loose in the bin unless you are using an approved compostable bag for pet waste.
- Keep it loose. Food scraps, coffee grounds, and garden trimmings should go directly into the bin. You can line the bottom with newspaper or a compostable bag to make cleanup easier.
- Bag pet waste. Dog and cat waste must be placed in a 100% compostable bag marked with the Canadian Standards Association logo. Do not use regular plastic grocery bags.
- Manage odours and pests. Freeze strong-smelling food scraps until collection day. Sprinkle a little baking soda or garden lime on the rim of the cart, or place a briquette at the bottom to reduce smells.
- Acceptable items. Meat, bones, dairy, fruit and vegetable peels, soiled paper plates, pizza boxes, coffee filters, and small amounts of dirt or sawdust are all welcome. See the What goes in the green bin guide for a full list.
- Unacceptable items. Do not put plastic bags, glass, metal, or yard waste larger than a broom handle in the green bin. Large branches and tree limbs belong in your black cart or at the East Wrenford Waste Management Facility.
Blue bin: recycling
Wrenford's Blue Box program accepts clean, dry, and loose materials. Machines at the sorting facility cannot process items that are bagged or covered in food residue.
- Empty, clean, and loose. Rinse out containers to remove food and liquids. Scrape bits into your green bin or kitchen pail. Do not bag recyclables.
- Flat cardboard. Flatten all boxes to save space. Boxes larger than 60 centimetres by 90 centimetres must be cut down.
- Lids and caps. Leave plastic lids on bottles and jars. Remove metal lids from glass jars and place them inside the empty glass container to prevent injuries.
- Aerosols and tubes. Squeeze out toothpaste and lotion tubes until empty. Spray aerosol cans until nothing comes out. Do not puncture or cut them.
- What not to recycle. Plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, styrofoam, and coated paper cups go in the black cart. Take plastic bags and flexible plastics to the Northgate Drop-off Depot or a local grocery store.
Cart placement and inspections
Place your carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Leave at least one metre of space between each cart and between your cart and parked vehicles. Do not place carts out before the morning of collection to avoid wind or animal damage.
Collection crews and by-law officers check carts for contamination regularly. If your green bin or blue bin contains unacceptable items, a bright orange tag will be attached to the handle explaining the issue. Your cart will be left on the curb for the next scheduled collection. Repeated contamination may result in a fine under the By-laws.
Need help?
Not sure where an item goes? Use the Waste wizard and disposal guide online lookup tool to search for hundreds of products. You can also call or email our waste team with questions.
Phone: 311 (inside city limits) or 519-555-0100
Email: [email protected]
For free cart washing on the first Saturday of each month, visit the East Wrenford Waste Management Facility.