Cart Collection

*Garbage capacity is by standard black garbage bags

You will see a separate line item charge for garbage collection under the Special Charges/Credits section of your property tax bill (example: 80 L Cart will appear as 'SMCART')

If you feel your cart size is not accommodating to your household needs, please email carts@centralelgin.org to change your cart size. Please note there is an exchange fee.

All of your garbage is placed in the supplied cart and no bag tag is required.

Bag tags can be purchased at the main office at a cost $5.75 and never expire.

Please note that the Municipality of Central Elgin does not offer a large item or bulk waste pick-up service. Only waste placed inside your waste cart will be collected.

Residents are encouraged to place as much material with curbside recycling so that we can minimize the amount of waste going to landfill and we can work towards meeting our regional waste diversion goals. Please visit the Recycling Section for more details.

You also have the option to use the St. Thomas Community Recycling Centre (330 South Edgeware Road, St. Thomas) to dispose of excess recycling, compostable or garbage (please check their website to see if fees apply).

Some tips to help maximize space in your cart and manage your excess waste include:

Extra Recycling

• Break down and flatten boxes
• Stomp on milk jugs and other bulky plastic containers
• Only put accepted materials in your blue bin
• Hold onto extra recycling until your next scheduled recycling collection day
• Drop items off at St. Thomas Recycling Centre

Visit the Recycling Section.

Grasscycling

• Grasscycling means leaving your mowed grass on the lawn, allowing it to decompose and release water and nutrients back into the soil.
• Grasscycling is great for your lawn; it promotes a healthier and deeper root system, increases grass resistance to drought and disease and keep moisture in the soil which decreases lawn watering.
• Leaving your clippings on your grass can also save you maintenance time.

Visit the Grasscycling Section.

Leaf Mulching

• Take the grass catcher off your mower and mow over the leaves on your lawn, reducing your leaf clutter into dime-size pieces.
• Allow the leaf bits to decompose so nutrients are released back into the soil.
• Leaves can be mulched and used in gardens and planting beds and as a filler in your backyard composter.
• Matted layers of unmulched leaves can negatively affect lawns, so ensure that you do not mulch to the point where the leaves smother the grass.

Visit the Leaf Mulching Section.

Backyard Composting

• To avoid attracting pests such as rodents and to minimize odors, always avoid composting the following materials: meat, fish, bones, grains, breads, baked goods, dairy products, oils, cat waste, or dog waste.
• There are several different styles of backyard composters available at local retailers
• Find more information on how to get started with backyard composting visit the Compost Council of Canada website or the Compost Research and Education Foundation website.

Visit the Backyard Composting Section.

The Municipality owns the carts and will be responsible for the maintenance of the carts. The cart will be assigned to each household and will stay with the property. If you move, your cart stays at the house.

All carts are identical so having your address on your cart will make it easy for you and your neighbour to distinguish the carts.

No. Each cart is assigned to your address so it is important that the cart stays with the assigned property. When moving to a new home, leave your cart at your old home and use the cart that is at the new address. The previous owner or tenant in your new home should leave their cart behind. If there is no cart there when you move in, please contact the Municipality to request a cart at carts@centralelgin.org

Please contact the Municipality at carts@centralelgin.org to report a damaged, lost or stolen cart.

Please visit the Hazardous Waste Section to determine if your item is acceptable at the St. Thomas Community Recycling Centre (330 South Edgeware Road, St. Thomas).

If it is (which most are) this is the appropriate and environmentally safe way to dispose of the item in question.