The City of Owen Sound is developing a Waste Management Strategy to provide strategic direction for managing the City’s waste. Through this Strategy, the City will be examining how new approaches in waste management and consumer trends will shape the future of waste management in Owen Sound and how to improve our current waste management system for a more sustainable future. Follow this project through Our City Owen Sound online engagement site.
Curbside Garbage Collection
Not sure when your garbage or recycling day is? Check out our Waste Management GIS page entering your address to find out your collection day!
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Please make sure that your garbage, blue box, and corrugated cardboard are placed at the curb by 8:00am (6:00am downtown) on the appropriate day. Garbage bags can be no larger than 89cm x 127cm (35in x 50in) and garbage cans no larger than 136 litre (30 Imperial Gallon) capacity. Garbage bags or containers are limited to 18kg (40lbs) including the container. There is a limit of 4 bags or containers per unit and each one must have a City Bag Tag. Please flatten and bundle all corrugated cardboard placed at the curb for collection on the appropriate Monday. Download the: |
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| West Side Collection | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Please make sure that your garbage, blue box, and corrugated cardboard are placed at the curb by 8:00am on the appropriate day. Garbage bags can be no larger than 89cm x 127cm (35in x 50in) and garbage cans no larger than 136 litre (30 Imperial Gallon) capacity. Garbage bags or containers are limited to 18kg (40lbs) including the container. There is a limit of 4 bags or containers per unit and each one must have a City Bag Tag. Please flatten and bundle all corrugated cardboard placed at the curb for collection on the appropriate Monday. Download the: |
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| Bag Tags | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The City of Owen Sound uses a bag tag payment program to encourage recycling and put a value on our environment. A bag tag is required on each bag or container placed at the curb for pick-up. You may set out up to 4 bags or containers of garbage every other week for collection. If you live in the downtown core, waste is collected every week and there is a 3 bag limit. Reminder: There is a 40lb (18kg) weight limit on each bag or can of tagged garbage. Retail bag tag locations are as follows:
*Bag tags can be purchased individually at City Hall, Public Works, the Transit Terminal and the Library for $2.50 individually or in groups of 5 for $12.50. Retail outlets selling bag tags will only sell in groups of 5 for $12.50. |
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| Prohibited Materials | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Below is a list of materials that cannot be put in your garbage for curbside collection:
Please deposit smoke detectors in your garbage. For more information, please see the proper safety and disposal method for household smoke detectors. |
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| Minimizing Odours | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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To minimize unpleasant odours caused from waste:
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Miller Waste Transfer Station
| Location, Hours and Disposal Fees |
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The Miller Waste Transfer Station is located at 2085 20th Avenue East. The City of Owen Sound's recycling drop-off depot is also located at the transfer station. Hours of Operation:
Disposal Fees: Miller Waste Transfer Station is a privately owned facility and the tipping fees are set by Miller Waste. Miller Waste operates the City of Owen Sound Recycling Depot, located at the transfer station, on behalf of the City. If you have more than 4 bags of garbage (the bi-weekly allowable limit for collection), you can take it directly to the Miller Waste Transfer Station. Ensure these bags do not have bag tags on them as Miller Waste has outlined disposal fees for their services. For more information about Miller Waste, please see the Miller Group website for the City of Owen Sound, or call (519) 372-1855. |
| Material Separation |
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The following list of materials must be separated from your garbage and placed in the appropriate bin or area at the Miller Waste Transfer Station:
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Curbside Recycling
| Mandatory Recycling By-Law |
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The Mandatory Recycling By-Law has information for industrial, commercial and institutional facilities. |
| Blue Box Recycling |
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Residential recycling containers: Residents can recycle using either the standard blue box or transparent plastic bags, but it must be properly sorted. Blue boxes can be purchased at the City of Owen Sound Public Works (1900 20th Street East), the Transit Terminal (1020 3rd Ave E), and at City Hall (808 2nd Avenue East).
Industrial, commercial, institutional and apartment building containers: City recycling carts are available for no charge to qualifying city businesses and apartment buildings. For more information, please call Public Works at (519) 376-4274. |
| Goods Exchange Day |
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The Goods Exchange Day program is designated to provide an opportunity to City residents to leave items that are no longer useful to them but may still be useful to others. Place items at the end of your driveway or edge of your lawn and tie a white plastic bag to one or more of the items to indicate these are goods exchange day items. Some acceptable items include:
The City does not assume any liability for items lost or removed during goods exchange days. Leftover items must be removed by 6:00pm that evening as there will be no special municipal collection. 2022 Dates:
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| Material List |
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Residents can recycle with either a standard blue box or transparent plastic bags. To ensure your recycling is collected, please properly sort all bags and containers. A list of all items that can and cannot be accepted can be found by using our Owen Sound Recycling Guide. When recycling in clear plastic bags, please refer to the Clear Bag Sorting Guide. |
| Electronics Recycling |
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The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is the certified collection point for the Ontario Electronic Stewardship Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. At no cost, you can drop off electronics, including computers and peripherals (keyboards/mice), fax machines, televisions and cell phones. For a list of accepted ewaste items please visit the Owen Sound ReStore ewaste items page. Alternatively, you can call the ReStore at (519) 371-6776. Grey Bruce ReStore location: 223017 Grey Road 17, Springmount |
| Battery Recycling |
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As you uncover old batteries in your garage, basement or junk drawers, remember that properly recycling them is the safest and the most responsible thing you can do. Batteries thrown in the trash or recycling bin can spark and possibly cause a fire and batteries that end up in our landfills can be harmful to wildlife and the environment. When you have used batteries, safely protect and store them at home until you’re ready to take them to a drop-off location for recycling. For more information please visit www.call2recycle.ca. |
| Corrugated Cardboard Recycling |
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Corrugated cardboard is the thick cardboard. Boxes must be flattened and tied in a bundle when placed at the curb for pick up. Unlike boxboard, this will not be accepted in the regular curbside blue box collection. Corrugated cardboard is picked up separately every Wednesday in the downtown core (before 6:00am) and approximately one Monday per month throughout the rest of the city (before 8:00am) with the exception of the Industrial Park. |
Household Hazardous Waste
This service is open to residents of:
- City of Owen Sound
- Township of Chatsworth
- Municipality of Meaford
- Township of Georgian Bluffs
- Municipality of West Grey
- Municipality of Grey Highlands
All residents attending the Household Hazardous Waste facility must bring valid ID indicating their home address from the townships listed above.
Material List |
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Household Hazardous Waste includes materials that are corrosive, oxidizing, flammable or poisonous. Acceptable items include:
Unacceptable items include:
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| Household Hazardous Waste Printable Form |
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All residents visiting the Household Hazardous Waste facility are required to fill out the form below. |
| Operation Dates and Location |
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The City is prohibited by law from accepting hazardous waste at any other time. City of Owen Sound Public Works Building Open 9:00am to 2:00pm on the following Saturdays: 2022 Dates:
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Leaf & Yard Waste Composting Facility
The City of Owen Sound does not collect leaf & yard waste at the curb (even if it has a bag tag). It must be brought to the composting facility that is located at 2450 28th Avenue East (the southwest corner of the intersection of 28th Avenue East and 26th Street East, north of 20th Street East).
| Hours of Operation |
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Monday 8:30am to 8:00pm Tuesday 8:30am to 8:00pm Wednesday 8:30am to 8:00pm Thursday 8:30am to 8:00pm Friday 8:30am to 8:00pm Saturday 8:30am to 8:00pm Sunday 8:30am to 8:00pm |
| Material List |
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Items that can be accepted at the leaf & yard waste facility include:
We cannot accept the following materials:
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| Backyard Composting |
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The City of Owen Sound does not have a curbside organics program. To divert some organic material from your household garbage, kitchen containers ($7.12) and backyard composters ($23.73) can be purchased at the following locations year round:
Your backyard composter will come with a detailed instruction book. Composting is simple, easy and has plenty of benefits which include:
Composting is a free and easy way to recycle by turning your leaves, vegetables and fruit scraps into a natural, nutrient rich compost that can be used to apply to your lawn and gardens. |
Long Term Waste Management Plan
Owen Sound City Council adopted the Long Term Waste Management Plan on October 22, 2007, following a public process in order to maximize waste diversion.
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