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Durham's on a Roll: Automatic Garbage Cart Pilot

Durham's Automated Garbage Cart Pilot is continuing

We are pleased to inform you that the Garbage Cart Pilot is continuing.

As a resident in the pilot area, your participation is mandatory. Please continue to use your garbage cart for garbage collection. Any garbage bags placed outside of the cart will require a garbage bag tag for collection.

Thank you for your continued participation and cooperation. Your support plays an important role as we work towards transitioning future residential curbside waste collection contracts from manual to automated systems for both garbage and organics.

What is automated cart collection?

In a cart-based waste collection system, garbage is stored and set out at your curb in easy-to-use wheeled carts, so there is no more bending over to lift and carry heavy bins or bags to the curb. Carts are emptied using a mechanical arm on the collection vehicle, which is an efficient touch-free system that helps keep everyone safer

Potential benefits of an automated garbage cart collection program include:

  • Reduced litter caused by rodents and pest activity;
  • Less storage space by allowing you to consolidate multiple garbage bags or bins into one;
  • Increased efficiency and safety for collection operators; and
  • Added convenience for residents using carts with wheels and secure lids.

Using your cart

Garbage is collected every other week. Garbage carts must be placed out at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.

Please check your collection schedule here

Tips for cart usage:
  • Handles must be facing your house
  • Place at the end of your driveway. Do not block the sidewalk.
  • Green bin, blue boxes and yard waste must be set out two (2) feet away from the garbage cart to allow for automated cart collection.
  • Please ensure there are no obstructions above the garbage cart (e.g. tree branches, basketball nets etc.).
  • Do not overfill your garbage cart. Extra garbage material can be bagged and placed beside the cart but must have a bag tag attached.
  • Renovation materials, such as lumber, drywall, carpet and underlay will not be collected. This material should be taken to any Waste Management Facility.
  • Winter tips:
    • Clear a flat spot for your cart at the end of your driveway.
    • Do not place the garbage cart on the road, leave room for snow clearing equipment.
    • Do not put the garbage cart on top of snow banks.

Storing your cart

The carts can be stored where you currently keep your garbage, recycling, and organics bins – in the garage, backyard or side of your home – as long as it’s within your property boundary. The carts cannot be stored on a road or sidewalk.

Tips for storing your garbage cart:
  • Put the garbage cart in a secure location and ensure you can access it easily.
  • Keep the garbage cart clean. Frequently rise your cart on your property with a hose.

Waste Collection Reminders

  • Waste must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on your schedule collection day.
  • Green Bin and Blue Boxes are collected weekly and garbage is collected every other week.
  • Don't miss another garbage day! Download the free Durham Region Waste app today - available on Google Play and the App Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

The automated cart pilot began on July 12, 2024 for Scugog pilot residents and July 19, 2024 for Ajax pilot residents.

Automated cart collection is an efficient way to collect waste. Carts are convenient and easy to use as wheeled containers improve maneuverability and have a higher measure of safety for residents (no lifting or carrying). Use of carts has been shown to create cleaner and healthier neighbourhoods with less litter on the streets after pickup with automated collection. The use of automated carts increases collection efficiency, reduces employee injuries, and allows for a more diverse workforce to complete the job as the heavy, manual labour is reduced. The collection vehicles are being developed to include internal-facing cameras that can identify contamination in waste being deposited into the vehicle. Automated collection vehicles can be electric or fitted with alternate fueling systems such as compressed natural gas.

There will be no change to your waste collection schedule.

Yes, additional garbage bags with Region purchased garbage bag tags can be put to the curb next to the cart. The driver will pick up and return the cart, then put the extra bags in the cart and pick up and return the cart again.

Ensure all garbage is bagged and securely tied before placing in the cart. Any loose garbage will not be collected.

Each pilot project household will receive one wheeled cart. The carts will have a width of 74 centimetres (29 inches) and a height of 110 centimetres (43 inches) including the lid and will have a capacity of 360 litres (95 gallons).

Putting your carts out the right way on collection day ensures your carts will be collected safely and on schedule. The placement of carts is very important because the automated truck’s mechanical arm needs sufficient room to pick up and empty the cart. All material must be placed in the cart with the lid completely closed. Overflowing carts and loose material placed outside of the carts will not be collected. When setting your cart out for collection, keep the cart two (2) feet from other objects such as vehicles, mailboxes, or fences. Set carts within eight (8) feet of the travelled portion of the road so that the mechanical arm can pick up and return the carts to the same spot they were placed after collection occurs. Region staff will be addressing problematic areas ahead of the start of the new program to determine the most suitable areas for cart placement. If it remains an issue or you are unsure of where to place your cart, please contact the Region.

One cart can hold up to four large bags or cans of garbage. One cart takes up much less space than four bags or garbage cans – up to 50 per cent less space by providing more vertical space. Carts have been rolled out successfully all over North America, including more than 1.5 million locations in Toronto where storage space is limited.

The carts can be stored where you currently keep your garbage, recycling, and organics bins – in the garage, backyard, outdoor storage unit, side of your home or front yard – as long as it’s within your property boundary. The carts cannot be stored on a road or sidewalk.

If you have a long driveway, as many of our rural residents do, you may choose to leave your carts near the end of your driveway and transfer your materials to your carts as needed. Lids on the cart will protect against inclement weather conditions. Carts are also much easier to roll out to the curb, and most households will be able to reduce the quantity of bins/bags they use each week. Rural communities across Ontario, including Timmins, Sudbury, Simcoe County, and Southgate Township are already utilizing carts successfully.

Getting materials to the curb just got easier. Carts have been designed around the user, with practicality rolled in. Our carts are easy to use; no more bending over to lift and carry different bins and heavy bags to the curb. These stable carts allow materials to be easily moved around with very limited effort. With large wheels and ergonomic handles, all residents, including seniors and many with accessibility requirements, should find it easier to roll carts to the curb.

If you can, store your cart outside in a shady spot on your property. Sprinkle baking soda, use a few drops of essential oils or spray air freshener into your cart. Freeze or refrigerate your organic waste and throw it into your green cart the night before collection day. Rinse your cart on your property with a hose.

The wheeled carts are designed to work well in our snowy weather conditions as seen in many northern communities such as Timmins, Sault St. Marie, Winnipeg, and Yellowknife. Just as with your current waste set-out it is important to clear a spot for carts at the curb, do not place carts on or behind snowbanks.

As a resident in the pilot area, your participation is mandatory.

Should your bin become damaged, please contact waste management staff by email at wastestaff@durham.ca or (Ajax) Kevin Burden 289-404-5783 (Scugog) Tabitha Talbot 289-830-7748.

No, it is important that each cart stays with the assigned property.

The cart will be collected by the Region at the end of the pilot. You will be notified prior to the pilot end date.

The material will remain the same as the current collection program. Please refer to the Regions Waste Management Bylaw Schedule “F” in 2024-009 for unacceptable waste for curbside.

Typically when we see the colour blue we think of recycling but for this pilot program, the blue cart is for garbage. The cart is blue because after the pilot is over the cart will be collected and used in other Regional waste programs.