Residential Collection

Clear bag program

The City of Kawartha Lakes participates in clear bag waste collection. Benefits of clear bag waste collection include:

• cost savings
• less recyclables going to landfills
• improved safe handling for workers
• less hazardous waste going to landfill

 Bag limit

As of March 1, 2022 the temporary three bag waste limit per home per week for curbside collection will change back to two bags.

The three bag limit was put in place during the pandemic to encourage the public to stay at home and minimize their trips to the landfill. If anyone wants to put out additional bags at curbside, bag tags can be purchased from the Service Centres. One tag is required for each additional bag of waste on top of the two bag limit.

Although the bag limit will be back to two bags as of March 1 there will be a grace period of two months to ensure everyone is aware and has time to adjust to this change. During the months of March and April, three bags per household will still be collected, but notification stickers will start being issued in April and  Starting May 1^st, any waste above the two bag limit, will not be collected unless it has a bag tag.

For tips and tricks on how to reduce your waste, please visit the City’s Waste Reduction Jump In Page.

 Privacy

Privacy bags are small opaque bags that allow you to discretely dispose of personal items. Many people use grocery bags or white kitchen catchers as their privacy bags.

You are allowed a maximum of two small privacy bags each week, one inside of each of your two clear bags per week. Privacy bags should be approximately the size of a standard grocery bag.

• If you are only placing one clear bag of waste at the curb for collection you may place both of your privacy bags inside of it.
• If your two small privacy bags are the only waste you have you can place them directly on the curb for collection and do not need to put them into a clear bag.
• You can put your clear bags inside garbage cans for collection to increase privacy at the curb. Large 65 or 95 gallon carts will not be accepted.

 Why was my waste left behind?

Bags of waste will be tagged and left behind if the bag:

• is not clear
• contains more than 10% recyclables
• contains any household hazardous waste
• contains needles or other sharp hazards
• is in a large 95 gallon cart
  

 Seasonal road maintenance requirements

If you receive curbside waste and recycling collection on a private seasonal road during the winter months, please ensure your road is plowed and sanded as required.  You will receive curbside collection if the road is maintained to the following standards:

• snow plowed to a minimum of 12 feet or 4 metres wide
• sand or salt applied during icy conditions
• vegetation cut back to 15 feet or 5 metres high and 12 feet or 4 metres wide
• filling of potholes, cracks and grading as required

If the collection contractor assesses the road as unsafe for a collection vehicle, you will not receive curbside collection until such time as winter maintenance occurs.

Note: Collection may be delayed if road conditions do not allow for safe passage by collection vehicles.

Alternate winter collection set-out locations

If your road does not receive curbside waste and recycling collection between November 1 and May 1 you can use an alternate winter collection location to have your waste and recycling picked up. As always waste must be in clear bags. There is a two bag waste limit and additional bags and large items require pre-paid tags for collection. The construction of permanent storage containers at the alternative set out locations will not be permitted.

Your collection day will not change. View our Recycling and Waste Collection Calendar or download our app to find out when your collection day is.

Blue Box (container) recycling

Recycling must be loose in containers. Bagged recycling will not be picked up.

Always remove lids and rinse food and drink containers before recycling them.

Common household items that go into your Blue Box include:

• milk and juice cartons, drinking boxes, ice cream containers (plastic only)
• glass bottles and jars
• metal cans
• aluminum foil containers
• plastic bags and film (place all bags and film in one bag and tie closed)
• empty paint cans
• clear plastic food containers
• plastic bottles, jugs, tubs and lids with a recycle symbol of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7
• plastic plant and flower pots, pails, plant trays and cell packs (soil removed)

The following items cannot be recycled:

• packing peanuts and Styrofoam insulation
• coffee cups
• light bulbs, mirrors, dishes and window glass
• straws and plastic cutlery
• metal pots and pans
• plastic or metal coat hangers
• VHS tapes
• solar pool covers and tarps
• motor oil and antifreeze containers
• plastic toys or large plastic items that do not fit in the Blue Box

Green Box (fibre) recycling

Recycling must be loose in containers. Bagged recycling will not be picked up.

View our Recycling and Waste Collection Calendar or download our App for an extensive list of items that go into the Green Box.

Green Box recycling tips:

• Break down cardboard boxes so they are no larger than the size of your green bin;
• Do not place fibre contaminated with motor oil or pet waste inside your green box, it is garbage;
• Ice cream containers go into the Blue Box.

Common household items that go into your Green Box include:

• newspapers, insert flyers, catalogues, magazines, phone books, mail, writing paper and envelopes
• brown paper bags, fibre egg cartons, toilet and paper towel rolls
• non-metallic wrapping paper and gift bags with rope, metal handles and decals removed
• cereal, cracker, detergent, drug, shoe, gift and tissue boxes
• shredded paper (secure in clear plastic bag)

The following items cannot be recycled:

• shipping envelopes with bubble liner
• Polaroids
• pet food bags
• peat pots
• wooden clementine boxes
• paper towel and facial tissue

Large items and appliances

Purchase a 'Large Item' sticker at a cost of $10.00 and attach to each item.

Large items and appliances include:

• stoves
• washers and dryers
• furniture
• microwaves
• televisions
• computers, monitors and stereos

Freon Items

In addition to the $10.00 Large Item sticker, appliances containing Freon must also be tagged with a pre-paid Freon Appliance sticker. Freon Appliance stickers cost $20.00 per item. The total cost to have a Freon item collected at the curb is $30.00.

Only appliances with Freon removed by a licensed technician and certified Freon Free do not require the $20.00 sticker.

Freon items include:

• refrigerators
• freezers
• dehumidifiers
• air conditioners
• household water coolers

Please call Miller Waste Systems Inc. at 1-888-557-4711 to schedule your collection before setting your Freon items on the curb.

Mattresses and box springs

Mattress Stickers: $15.00 each

Box Spring Stickers: $15.00 each