Garbage & Recycling
Garbage & Recycling
PROTECT YOUR COLLECTOR! Follow these safe waste-disposal guidelines.
A temporary limit of four garbage bags per collection is in place to allow households to follow these safe waste-disposal guidelines to protect collectors.
- If you are sick, place ANY items that have touched your face into the garbage – even if you would usually put them in a Green Bin or a recycling box (i.e. drinking containers, tissues).
- Place ALL used tissues and napkins in the garbage and not the Green Bin.
- Make sure garbage is contained in a bag (i.e. do not place it loosely in a can or container).
- Ensure your garbage bag weighs 44lbs (20kgs) or less.
- Set out ONLY what you absolutely need to.
- Use liners for food waste placed in the Green Bin. (Use paper or compostable liners as outlined on the Green Bin page.)
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If you can, please separate glass from other Blue Box recyclables and set it out in a separate recycling box or plastic container of a similar size with handles (e.g. laundry basket or pail). This will reduce the items collectors must handle.
DO NOT:
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Place gloves and masks in with recycling. These items are always garbage.
- Use the increased bag allowance to spring clean.
- Place large items at the curb or in garbage bags.
- Overload the garbage bags beyond the 44lbs (20kgs) weight limit.
- Flush facial tissue, paper towel, wipes and other items. Place these in the garbage.
Please note: there have also been changes to specific Solid Waste services due to COVID-19 pandemic.
#WasteNotYGK
The City aims to divert 65 per cent of residential waste from landfill by 2025 by:
- offering residents waste reduction tips,
- convenient recycling and reuse programs (like Giveaway Days) and
- other sustainable alternatives that keep items out of landfill.
Missed collection or other collection issue?
Was your waste missed? First look for a notice tag or sticker from solid waste staff. Still not sure why it was left behind? Call 613-546-0000 or email contactus@cityofkingston.ca.
Reducing waste = climate action
Change for climate by reducing your waste and by diverting it properly. Garbage sent to landfill contributes to climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions.
Customer service excellence
The City strives to provide high-performance, innovative and responsive waste management services to meet your needs. Over a three week span in November 2017, the City asked residents to complete a survey on their satisfaction with waste programs. More than 1,300 residents completed the survey.
The information gathered from the survey, along with various audits conducted throughout the year, help decide which initiatives solid waste will undertake. See the results of the 2017 Waste Customer Satisfaction Survey.
Help make sure your household waste is collected as expected:
- Sign-up for collection reminders or download the "Kingston Waste" app.
- Watch our Household collection videos to see how to put out your waste so it can be safely picked up.
- Don't know where it goes? Use the Waste Sorting Look-up.
Not satisfied with the services you have received? Please contact us.
Managing solid waste services and facilities
The City's solid waste division manages the services and facilities outlined on these pages and as regulated by the Garbage Bylaw, 2014-5. The solid waste division operates out of the Kingston Area Recycling Centre at 196 Lappan's Lane.
Rules & Enforcement
The City's bylaw enforcement division is required to investigate when a garbage infractions is reported.
A garbage infraction includes, but is not limited to:
- Failing to remove receptacles, garbage bins, garbage, or anything left out after 8 p.m. on the day of collection
- Setting out waste for garbage collection before 5 p.m. the day before collection
- Illegal dumping on private or City property