Automated Cart Collection

There are several reasons why your cart may not have been collected. They include:

• The carts were set out too close together – carts must be set out with a 1 metre space between them and any other obstructions such as hydrants, lawn decorations, trees, etc. This ensures there is enough space for the truck arm to grab the carts.
• The carts are blocked by a parked car – carts must be set out so they are directly accessible to collection vehicles. In areas with high volumes of street parking, residents are recommended to set carts out in their driveway.
• The carts are too far from the curb – while the truck is able to reach several feet to retrieve a cart, carts that are set too far back from the curb cannot be collected. 
• The carts are set out backwards – carts must be set to the curb with the arrows pointing towards the street to allow for effective cart emptying.
• The carts are overfilled – carts must be set out with the lid closed completely. Overfilled carts will not be collected.

Still unsure why your cart was not collected? Contact us at 613-546-0000 or by email at contactus@cityofkingston.ca 

The City of Kingston’s current waste collection system is a manual system, with garbage picked up by hand in bags and organics from 45L or 80L green bins. Waste collectors in a manual system face significant health hazards, including falls, strains and cuts.  

The waste industry as a whole has been undergoing significant changes in recent years and many cities and towns have begun collecting garbage and organics using automated trucks.

The benefits of this program include cleaner streets with less mess, impactful health and safety improvements for staff, and a more accessible solid waste collection system for all residents. 

The first phase will take place on July 1, 2025. Many of these neighbourhoods will be in north and east Kingston.  Find the list of these neighbourhoods on the cart collection areas map. 

We will be transitioning most areas of Kingston by 2030 and will notify the neighbourhoods in advance of their changeover.

We will source new vehicles with automated collection arms and supply all the carts needed for the program. The City will aim to replace the current vehicle fleet as each vehicle reaches its scheduled service replacement date, between 2025 and 2030.

There will be locations throughout the city that a fully automated collection system may not be possible. We will be identifying these locations and will be reviewing options. For locations where fully automated collection is not possible, programs like semi-automated, or status quo manual collection may be required. 

The standard carts provided to residents will be 120L for garbage and 120L for organics. They hold approximately one to two bags. 

There is theoretically no weight limit for the carts when used for garbage and organics. The automated arm is capable of lifting weights higher than the current 44lb limit. However, the lid must be able to close fully. Carts are picked up and turned completely upside during collection, however, any materials jammed tightly into the carts may not fall out when tipped. Additional bags set beside carts will not be collected by the automated vehicle but will be collected manually. 

Carts do not need to be full to be put out for collection.  

Yes, you can request to either upgrade or downsize your waste cart. All residential properties in Kingston are automatically provided with a 120L waste cart.

If you prefer a larger 240L cart for your weekly waste collection, you can submit a request using the form below. Alternatively, if you move to a residence that currently has a 240L cart but do not require a cart of that size, you can also apply to downsize to the standard 120L cart. 

Sign up/log in to MyKingston to complete the Garbage Cart Size Change Request online. We will contact you within 7–10 business days with an invoice for the upgraded cart.

The transition to automated cart-based waste collection is separate from the recycling transition, also taking place on July 1, 2025. 

We will not be distributing carts for blue or grey bins because as of July 1, 2025, the City will no longer be responsible for recycling programs. This is a provincial mandate that all Ontario municipalities are required to follow. 

Residential recycling programs in Ontario are moving to a new collection system that is fully funded and operated by producers of recycling materials. The program will be administered by Circular Materials Ontario and Emterra Environmental has been contracted for collection of materials in the City in 2025. 

Residents will continue to use recycling containers. Find more information about recycling collection.

We will deliver carts to addresses in the first rollout in mid-June. If you receive a cart, you will start using it on your first collection day after July 1. We will soon share instructions and videos on how to set out your carts.

Trucks equipped with a mechanical arm pick up standardized carts from the curb, empties them, and returns the carts, all without the driver needing to leave the cab. No manual lifting is required.

Carts should be placed on level ground at the end of your driveway facing the road and spaced one metre apart to allow the truck arm to pick them up. Lids must be fully closed. If you have an additional tagged bag of garbage for collection, place it on the ground next to the cart, not on top of the cart.

Carts placed behind vehicles or other objects cannot be accessed and are not able to be collected.  

If you have any accessibility concerns or needs regarding the new carts, please email us at contactus@cityofkingston.ca or call us at 613-546-0000

We will not pick up unwanted containers at the curb. You can drop off cleaned, unwanted waste containers at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (196 Lappans Lane) from July 2 to July 5 during regular operating hours (8 a.m.– 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.– 4 p.m. on Saturday).

If you have further questions or need more information, please Contact Us.