Household Waste Collection

Each property is entitled to two free blue boxes and 1 grey box. You can also get a replacement if yours has been lost, stolen, or broken. Extra boxes cost $6.50 / box. You may use another rigid-plastic box for recycling, but it must have dimensions that are like the boxes we provide: 56 cm (22") long x 43 cm (17") wide x 37 cm (14.5") tall, and be able to hang on the side of the collection vehicles. 

Get your boxes at:

• • The administrative building at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC), 196 Lappan's Lane, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (will also accept damaged bins for replacement).
  • City Hall, 216 Ontario St., Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except civic holidays).
  • Rideau Heights Community Centre & Library, 85 MacCauley St., Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except civic holidays). 
  • Kingston East Community Centre, 779 Highway 15, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Put items in the boxes and place them by the curb on their pickup date before 6 a.m.
• Place your boxes on the curb as close to the roadway as possible, without blocking the sidewalk.
• Place items loosely in the boxes, do not bag your recyclables.
• Put all plastic bags into one plastic bag, tie it closed, and place it in your grey bin. 
• Broken glass is not recyclable. Put it in a cardboard box, tape it shut, label it, and put it out with your garbage. 
• Help us avoid recycling blowing away on a windy day! Place heavier recyclable items on top or place an unattached piece of wood over top of the box.
• Ensure each box and its contents weigh less than 44lbs (20kg).

Residents can get one free green bin. You can also get a replacement if yours has been lost, stolen, or broken. You can choose either a 45L or 80L green bin size, but you cannot change this later. 

Get your green bin at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC) at 196 Lappan's Lane. 

• • Monday to Friday 8 a.m to 4 p.m from the administrative building 
  • Saturday 8 a.m to 4 p.m from the scale house 

Please bring your broken green bin with you if you want a replacement. 

Kitchen containers, for collecting food waste in your kitchen, can also be bought at KARC for $4.10.  

Backyard composters are also available at KARC for $54. The green bin takes items that cannot be put in backyard composters like meat, bones, shells, dairy products, fats, and oils.

• Put acceptable items in loosely or in an acceptable liner and place your city green bin by the curb on the correct pickup date before 6 a.m.
• Place your green bin on the curb as close to the roadway as possible, without blocking the sidewalk.
• The green bin and its contents must weigh less than 66lbs (30kg).
• The green bin must be able to close without material sticking out of the top lip of the bin.
• If adding yard waste to your green bin, remember that food waste must be visible to collectors, or they will not pick it up. 

While you don't have to use them, using green bin and kitchen container liners can make things smell better, keep things cleaner, and ensure we collect everything. Liners can also prevent materials from freezing to the green bin in the winter. 

We accept the following liners:

• • Paper liners: Look for paper food waste bags at grocery and hardware stores. You could also use newspapers or other paper products (like paper bags or magazines) to line your bin or kitchen container. 
  • Compostable liners: BPI or Certified Compostable Bags are available at grocery and hardware stores. 
  • Green Lid compost container: Please make sure to only place the container in the green bin. The lid is not compostable and needs to be placed in the garbage. 

Note: Not all kitchen container or Green Bin liners sold in Kingston are accepted in Kingston Green Bins. Bags that are marked "Oxo-Degradable" or produce bags are not accepted in Kingston Green Bins. 

Look for the BPI or Certified Compostable logo! 

• One untagged bag or container per week.
• Place garbage by the curb on the correct pickup date before 6 a.m.
• Place your garbage on the curb as close to the roadway as possible, without blocking the sidewalk.
• All items must be in a bag or container, except broken glass.
• Broken glass must be in a cardboard box, taped shut, and labelled. Place it beside your garbage for collection. It does not need a bag tag.
• Bags or containers must be under 135L and 44lbs (20kg).
• You cannot use tie downs or bungee cords on containers.
• Extra bags or containers must have a bag tag.

If you need to regularly put out extra bags of garbage due to medical reasons, you can apply for a bag tag medical exemption. This will allow you to put out your extra bags of garbage for free, without needing a bag tag. A note from a medical practitioner stating the needs for additional garbage bags is required. Apply for a bag tag medical exemption.

Contact us for more information.

We collect brush and leaves separately. Your area will have a designated brush collection week and a designated leaf collection week. Check the collection calendar to confirm your brush and leaf collection schedule. Place the proper items at the curb by 8 a.m on Monday of your collection week.  If you do not put out the correct material on the proper collection week, we will not pick it up. 

Brush

Materials from trimming small trees and bushes. This does not include stumps, logs, or root balls. 

Set your brush with the cut end facing the curb. Pieces must be smaller than 90 cm (3 feet) in length or 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter. Do not bundle brush. 

Leaves

Leaves from trees, small sticks, and garden waste. This does not include soil, sod, or root balls. 

Make sure to collect your leaves in an acceptable bag or container. Only use brown (kraft) paper bags or rigid-sided containers with handles, like garbage cans. Plastic bags, even compostable ones, are not acceptable. All bags / containers must weigh less than 44lbs (20kg). 

Do not just rake your leaves to the curb, we will not collect them! 

Tree limbs, logs, root balls, Christmas trees, and sod must be dropped off at the KARC at 196 Lappan’s Lane. 

• Monday to Friday 8 a.m to 5 p.m  
• Saturday 8 a.m to 4 p.m 

We will accept tree limbs, logs, and root balls up to 40 cm (15 inches) in diameter and 90 cm (3 feet) in length. 

To drop off sod, please shake off excess dirt and ensure it is dry. 

1. Feed yard waste to your garden 
2. Grass-cycling: Cut grass when dry and leave clippings on the lawn (keep it about three inches long) 
3. Use leaves as mulch in your garden. 
4. Think about backyard composting – get a backyard composter at the KARC for $52.45.

Invasive species, like Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip, cannot be put in green bins or accepted as yard waste. Learn how to recognize and dispose of invasive species.