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Recycling Cart Information and FAQ

Wellington County is undergoing changes to its recycling program. This page provides further information on the changes underway, including how to request and determine the appropriately sized recycling cart to meet your household recycling needs. Residents in the City of Guelph should contact WM directly about cart questions at 1-800-561-1655 or canresidential@wm.com. The form below is intended for Wellington County residents only.

Starting July 6 2026, Wellington County residents will begin receiving a standard-issued 360–litre wheeled, lidded recycling cart designed to accommodate a broad range of accepted materials on a biweekly basis.

Your recycling cart will be delivered to your home beginning in the month of July 2026.

 

  • Expanded List of Accepted Materials: With advancements in the recycling system, residents will now be able to recycle more materials such as hot and cold beverage cups,  frozen juice containers, deodorant and toothpaste tubes. This expanded list of materials will increase the volume of recyclable materials generated and collected from households.  
  • Placement of all Materials Inside the Cart for Collection: All materials must go inside the carts with the lid fully closed to be ready for collection pick up.  
  • Collection Schedule: Recycling collection service in Wellington County will switch from weekly to every other week.
  • Transition to Single Stream: All recyclable materials will go in the same cart for the same collection day. Materials do not need to be sorted, such as separating paper and plastic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Beginning mid-August 2026, residents must place recycling materials in their recycling cart for curbside collection. Blue boxes will no longer be accepted. Check your calendar to confirm your first collection day.
  • Recycling carts will be delivered to residents starting in early July 2026 and deliveries completed by July 31, 2026.
  • Recycling carts, with lids fully closed, help minimize litter and reduce odour and pest issues.
  • Increased storage capacity between collections allows for more space for your recyclables.
  • Collection systems with recycling carts create a safer working environment for workers and reduce the risk of injury and accidents.
  • Recycling collection in Wellington County will switch from weekly to every other week. The day of the week will not change. Updated collection schedules will be available ahead of the program start in August here.   
  • A full list of materials that can be recycled can be found here. As of January 1, 2026, you are able to recycle the same materials wherever you are in Ontario. The list of materials accepted for recycling has also expanded to include additional items such as hot and cold beverage cups, frozen juice containers, plastic bags, Styrofoam, deodorant and toothpaste.
  • Place only accepted recyclable materials inside your recycling cart.
  • Flatten and bundle corrugated cardboard before placing it in your cart to save on space.
  • Ensure all containers are clean, dry and placed loosely in your cart. Do not bag your recyclables or stuff into other recyclables. The exception is shredded paper, which should be in a clear plastic bag and placed inside your cart.
  • Lids and labels can remain on containers and cans.
  • Keep your recyclables secure in your cart by making sure the cart lid is fully closed. On windy days, position the cart so the lid opens away from the wind between collection days. Remember when placing at the curb that the lid needs to open towards the road.
  • Set your recycling cart so that the wheels are away from the curb (towards your home, and the lid opens to the street).
  • Place recycling cart at least 3 feet in front of or beside fences, vehicles, obstacles, or other waste materials.
  • Place your cart on a flat surface clear of snow and ice.
  • Residents should have their cart at the curb by 7 a.m. on the morning of their scheduled collection day.
  • Anyone experiencing a permanent or temporary physical disability that restricts their ability to set out their recycling cart at the curbside may be eligible for assisted collection service.  Please note, a  physician’s note is  required to apply for this  assisted service. For more information, please visit our website to access the Special Accommodation Recycling Collection Application Form.  

 

  • Residents are asked to use their current blue boxes until mid-August, 2026. Starting then, residents will be required to use their new recycling cart. Residents can choose to re-purpose their old boxes, such as using them as storage containers. 
  • Additional residential units located on the same property that are registered with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) will receive a cart for each registered unit. Please contact WM for any questions regarding recycling carts.
  • Week A addresses will begin the week of August 10 and Week B addresses will begin the week of August 17. Then collection will be every other week. Recycling collection is opposite your garbage collection week.
  • Break down all cardboard boxes flat. This alone can free up space in your cart.
  • If a 360-litre size cart does not meet your recycling needs, you can pre-order a smaller 240-litre recycling cart by June 18, 2026.
  • If I didn’t complete the Recycling Cart Request Form for a smaller 240-litre recycling cart by the deadline outlined above, the standard 360-litre cart will be delivered to your residence.
  • No, you will not be able to exchange the smaller 240-litre recycling cart for a larger cart in the future. Residents are encouraged to review the expanded list of accepted materials, transition to single-stream recycling, and bi-weekly collection schedule before submitting a request for a smaller cart.
  • We’re not able to provide future exchanges for smaller recycling carts. We encourage residents to choose the recycling cart size that best fits their household’s needs before the deadline.
  • A standard 360L cart is 44.5”H x 34.375” D x 25.125” W. It will hold 4.3 tall blue boxes worth of recyclables or 6.8 short blue boxes. Please remember that collection will be every two (2) weeks and all materials must be placed inside the cart with the lid closed, including flattened corrugated cardboard. 
  • WM will continue to be the collection contractor for Wellington County. For more information, please contact WM at canresidential@wm.com or call 1-800-561-1655.