Blue Box Recycling

The Region of Waterloo offers residential curbside collection for blue box recyclables, green bin organics, garbage, appliances and bulky items and seasonal yard waste collection. 

Trucks begin collecting at 7 a.m. on your scheduled garbage day so please have all items to the curb by then. 

Blue box recycling program for residents

Collection schedule:

  • Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo have weekly blue box recycling collection on their garbage day and green bin day.
  • Township settlement areas have weekly blue box collection on their garbage day and green bin day.
  • Other township areas receive bi-weekly recycling collection on their garbage day. Please check your township calendar for more information.

Collection information:

How to get a Blue Box

Replacement and additional recycling boxes can be purchased from local retailers. For the safety of the collectors (who handle thousands of boxes each day), an approved size recycling box must:

  • Be no taller than 40 cm (16 inches).                                        
  • Have a rim around the top of the container.
  • Be made of rigid plastic that will not bend or give when lifted.

Recycling in wheeled carts, laundry hampers, storage totes or cardboard boxes will not be collected.

New homeowners in Waterloo Region can pick up a free Blue Box:

  • Bring an unaltered copy of your deed or purchase agreement to the administration building of either the Cambridge (201 Savage Dr.)  or Waterloo (925 Erb St. W., Gate 1) waste management sites from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tenants/renters: please contact your landlord/property manager about garbage and recycling containers. 

Properly prepared blue boxes

  • Use two boxes - one for containers and the other for paper and plastic grocery bags.
  • If you use a recycling box other than the Region one, the maximum size is 60 cm (24 in.) wide x 40 cm (16 in.) height.

Cart recycling program for apartment buildings and townhouse complexes

The Region's cart program is available to apartment buildings and townhouse complexes, having six or more units, and for schools.

Eligible buildings are provided with recycling containers and weekly collection service, at no charge. The recyclable materials collected are exactly the same materials collected in the residential blue box program.

Recycling is mandatory at multi-residential buildings having six or more units in Ontario under the Environmental Protection Act, Reg 103/94.

Please refer to the Recycling Handbook or Recycling Information Brochure or for more information please contact Region of Waterloo Waste Management at 519-883-5100 or e-mail waste@regionofwaterloo.ca.

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Recycling cart program for schools

Schools in the Region are eligible for the recycling carts program. Schools are provided with one paper cart and multiple container carts as well as weekly collection.

A free school recycling poster is available in PDF format to download.

Interested in getting on the cart program? Please contact Region of Waterloo Waste Management at 519-883-5100 or e-mail waste@regionofwaterloo.ca.

Nyle Ludolph and the blue box

Nyle Ludolph, "Father of the Blue Box"   1927 - October 14, 2011

"What's happened has surpassed my wildest dreams. I'm so proud I was allowed to be in the right place at the right time - to feel I had some impact." October, 1993

Nyle Ludolph has been credited with developing the world's very first residential recycling program in 1983 for Kitchener, Ontario.


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Contact(s)

Region of Waterloo Waste Management
925 Erb Street West, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 3Z4

Phone: 519-883-5100
TTY: 519-575-4608
Fax: 519-747-4944

Map this Location.
E-Mail to Region of Waterloo Waste Management
Link to Region of Waterloo Waste Management Landing Page

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