Cart placement tips

Cart placement tips

How to put out your carts on pickup day

The City uses collection trucks with mechanical arms to pick up black, blue and green carts. 

The mechanical arm requires adequate space to reach, grab and lift the bins to empty them. Placing your carts and extra bags with enough space means your driver will be able to collect them up safely and stay on schedule for you and your neighbors.

Follow these quick steps to get ready for collection day.

Download the "How to use your carts" guide

1. Fill your carts

Fill your carts and lower the lids. On pickup day, only put out cart(s) if needed to minimize the number of carts in the alley or street.

  • Make sure all materials fits securely inside the cart with the lid closed. At the same time, do not pack your cart too tightly so the materials easily come out when the collection truck picks it up.
  • If your cart is overfilled, it will not be collected as there’s a risk materials will spill out on to the ground.
  • Carts have a 60 kg weight limit. If you can easily roll the cart, it should be ok.

How to set out extra bags

  • Place paper yard waste bags at least 0.5 m (2 ft) away from the side of your green cart.
  • Place tagged garbage bags 0.5 m (2 ft) to the side of your black cart. 
  • No extra recyclables are allowed outside the blue cart.
Find out what to do with extra waste
Blue and green carts are picked up on the same day of the week. Ensure adequate spacing between carts, extra yard waste bags and other obstacles.

2. Place your cart

To ensure collection, carts need to be out by 7 a.m. on your collection day. Place the carts on flat ground, not on a raised platform.

  • Front street: Place cart wheels against the curb.
  • Back lane: Place cart wheels with enough space to walk between your cart and your back hedge, garage or fence.
Parking guidelines on pickup day
Black carts are picked up on a separate day than your other carts. Keep your other carts stored to make room for garbage pickup.

3. Cart spacing

Leave enough space around your carts so you can easily walk between and around them.

  • At least 3 metres (10 f) of space above your carts. Keep away from basketball nets, overhanging branches, eavestroughs and electric lines.

  • At least 1 m (3 ft) from obstacles on either side, such as parked cars, power poles, utility boxes, fences, downspouts and garages.

  • At least 0.5 m (2 ft) of space behind your carts. If you can open the lid fully without hitting anything, that should be enough space.

4. Storing and taking care of carts

Storing carts

  • Put your carts away by 7 p.m. on your collection day by pulling them back against your fence or property. Don't leave your carts blocking the alleyways. This helps keep our alleys clean and prevents others from using your carts.
  • Write your address on the side of your carts to prevent them from being taken/lost.

Cleaning carts

You are responsible for taking care of your carts and keeping them clean.

  • Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of your carts to prevent odours.
  • Rinse the cart with a hose and pour the water onto grass/gravel (not down the storm drain).
Store all your carts directly in between pickups.
​​​​​​​​​

Additional information

drop-off/landfill-throw-n-go-facilities,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null