Curbside garbage collection

Beginning October 1, 2023, households need to book in advance the pick-up of large furniture and bulky items for collection on their garbage collection day.

Large furniture and bulky items are more than 1 metre wide and 1.5 metres tall. Examples include a couch, a mattress, or a large wooden bookshelf. 

Please confirm your large furniture or bulky items meet all the requirements below. This booking service is for curbside residential households only. Businesses are not eligible to schedule a collection for large furniture or bulky items.

Request pick up for large and bulky items

To request pick up for large and bulky items:

1. Submit a request online or call Service London at 519-661-2489.
2. List your address, up to four large furniture or bulky items, and the preferred garbage collection date for your zone in your request

Staff will review submissions and may contact you if there is a problem with your request. Items set-out at the curb that are not in compliance will not be collected. Residents would be required to remove any non-compliant items from the curb, correct the issue, and book a request for another collection at least 5 business days in advance of their next scheduled garbage collection date.

Large furniture and bulky items - Require booking 5 business days in advance

• Collection is for accepted large items over 1 metre wide and 1.5 metres tall, generally requiring two or more people to safely place at the curb.
• Requests must be submitted at least 5 business days in advance of the request garbage collection date..
• Collection will occur on your next scheduled garbage collection day (unless otherwise noted).
• There is a 4-item limit per household per booking request for each garbage collection day.
• There is no annual limit on how many booking requests are submitted per residential address, or fee required to book.

Large furniture and bulky item set-out requirements:

• Unless specified below, do not break down or disassemble furniture or items; materials should be set out to the curb in one piece.
• Remove glass parts or inserts from large furniture.
• All mirrors, glass, or sharp items must be sealed separately in cardboard and labeled ‘Caution - sharps’ for collectors.
• Remove mattresses from sofa beds and tie springs down.
• Items that are soiled or contaminated with bed bugs must be wrapped and sealed in plastic. Plastic mattress covers may be purchased from hardware stores or self-storage locations.
• Set item(s) next to your garbage set out at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day but no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before.
• Learn more about what is considered large furniture or bulky items at london.ca/whatgoeswhere or use the Recycle Coach app
• The following items are not accepted at the curb for collection:
  • Appliances & electronics
  • Renovation materials
  • Vehicle parts, batteries, tires
  • Mostly metal items (e.g., bikes, metal furniture, scrap, etc.)
  • Loose or improperly prepared items

Medium size items do not require booking

Medium size items up to 1 metre wide and 1.5 metres tall do not require booking in advance.

These items generally require one person to safely place at the curb. They may be set-out on your collection day and do not require booking.

There is a 2 cubic metre limit per collection (e.g., 2 kitchen chairs or 1 medium shelf).

As part of London’s new Green Bin program, the frequency of collection days is changing beginning the week of January 15, 2024.

Green Bins and recycling will be picked up at the curb every week. Organic materials such as food waste that can cause odours will be collected weekly in the Green Bin.

Garbage will be picked up at the curb every other week. This means that Londoners will be required to hold onto remaining garbage 4 to 6 additional days compared to the current system.

The collection day will remain on the same day each week between statutory holidays. Every statutory holiday, the schedule will move forward one day, meaning collection day will change about 10 times a year instead of every week.

Yard waste collection will still occur every five weeks during the spring and summer and every two to three weeks during the fall.

The frequency of waste (garbage) and recycling collection is changing beginning the week of January 15, 2024. 

Businesses who place their garbage and recycling to the curb as part of the collection system offered by the City of London will be impacted by these changes.

What’s changing? 

• From January 15, 2024, to September 30, 2024, businesses may receive garbage collection each week. 
• The collection day will remain on the same day each week between statutory holidays. Every statutory holiday the schedule will move forward one business day, meaning collection day will change about 10 times a year. 
• If you are registered for curbside recycling collection, Blue Boxes will be collected weekly on the same day as garbage. 
• London’s Green Bin program is available for households that receive curbside collection services. The service is not available for businesses.

Garbage collection for businesses

• Businesses are permitted to set out 12 garbage bags.
• Trade waste is not accepted.
• Place garbage at your collection point before 7 a.m. on the date fixed for collection but not before 6 p.m. the day before.
• Bags must weigh less than 20 kg or 44 lbs.

Your business is also permitted to set out curbside recycling if you are located on an existing residential collection route.  The limit of recyclables for businesses is 10 ‘lifts’ per collection.  One lift = one blue box, or one large see-through bag, or one bundle of corrugated cardboard. 

To determine if you are located on an existing collection route, please contact service@london.ca

Learn more about Core Area Garbage Collection

• Do not place waste loosely in garbage containers. Bag items before placing them in the garbage container, including: 
  • used tissues, wipes, napkins, paper towels
  • used gloves and masks
• Please place COVID-19 rapid test kits in a sealed bag and then into a garbage container.
• If someone in your household is feeling unwell, bag any items that have been in contact with the mouth, nose or eyes before placing them into the garbage container. This includes items that you normally place into your Blue Box such as plastic bottles, pop cans and milk or juice containers.
• Please respect physical distancing with Sanitation and Recycling Operators and do not approach the vehicle.

Each household is limited to three containers for each collection day.

One container is equal to one garbage can (which may be filled with multiple bags), or one bag of garbage (following the accepted weight and dimensions). A container of garbage in the form of a bag or can must not exceed 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in weight. The container volume must not exceed 125 litres and must be at least 30 litres.

If a garbage can is being used, the garbage inside must not come above the rim of the can.  

Three-container exemption days

The three-container limit is not enforced on exemption days marked in the Collection Calendar. These three-container exemptions occur at the following times of year:

• Early September
• Collection following Christmas
• Early March
• Spring collection in late April/early May

Downtown and Core Area garbage collection – changes to garbage collection

In an effort to improve the cleanliness of downtown and a few other areas, the City of London is conducting a pilot project for garbage collection in the Core Area. The goal is to reduce the length of time that bagged garbage sits at the curb, reduce the amount of litter, and better meet the needs of businesses and those living in the core.

Core Area garbage collection zones and schedule

Image

There is currently an east and a west collection zone, which are separated by Wellington Street. To ask questions about the garbage collection map, or to confirm if you are located in the collection zone, please contact service@london.ca

West zone

• West zone includes the area west of Wellington Street (including residents and businesses on Wellington Street in this area)
• Collection occurs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights (changed from Tuesday and Thursday mornings) and on Saturday and Sunday mornings
• On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, please set garbage to the curb between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. 
• On Saturday and Sunday, please set garbage to the curb between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

When garbage bags can be placed at the curb (west zone)

Businesses and residents in the west zone can place garbage to the curb between these times. 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	No collection	5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	No collection	5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.	9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

East zone

• East zone includes the area east of Wellington Street
• Collection occurs on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights (changed from Wednesday and Friday mornings) and on Saturday and Sunday mornings
• On Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, please set garbage to the curb between 8 p.m. and 9  p.m. 
• On Saturday and Sunday, please set garbage to the curb between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

When garbage bags can be placed at the curb (east zone)

Businesses and residents in the east zone can place garbage to the curb between these times. 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
No collection	5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	No collection	5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.	9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Please do not set out your garbage too far in advance of the set-out times. This will help keep streets free of litter and reduce the time that garbage sits out at the curbside or sidewalk.

Contact us about Core Area garbage collection 

Email questions to service@london.ca, or call 519-661-CITY (2489)

Report a garbage issue

The Recycle Coach App can help answer questions about what goes where in our local waste and recycling program. 

Items that will not be collected with curbside garbage include:

• Construction and renovation materials such as drywall, fence boards, concrete, bricks, asphalt, bathtubs and cupboards.  
• Appliances and electronics
• Scrap metals such as propane tanks, barbeques, bicycle frames, tire rims, swing sets, fences posts and car parts.
• Paint and stains and any material that is corrosive, flammable, ignitable or reactive.  
• Needles - Please place your needles in a hard plastic container and contact your local pharmacy, the Middlesex London Health Unit (519-663-5317), or visit Health Steward website for information and locations on where to dispose them.
• Broken glass and sharp objects will be collected if properly prepared to protect collection staff: completely seal the pieces in a cardboard box and label as "Glass" or "Sharps" and set out with your garbage.  Do not put these items in your blue box.

Your garbage may not have been picked up for a number of reasons, including:

• It was not at the curb by 7 a.m. for collection
• Can or bag weighed more than 20 kg (44 lbs)
• Can was larger than 125 litres (33 US gallons) or bag was larger than 80 cm x 125 cm
• Can was smaller than 30 litres (8 US gallons) or bag was smaller than 65 cm x 90 cm
• It contained yard materials or other non-collectible items
• There were more than three containers and they did not have garbage tags affixed
• Garbage can lid did not detach from can or was tied down
• Garbage bags were placed on top of a garbage can
• Contents of garbage can extended above rim of can
• It was not placed on the curb (it was on private property)
• It was set out on a snow bank
• Mattresses or furniture was soiled or infested with bed bugs
• A broken or cracked toilet was set to the curb

Report a garbage issue

If you have more than three containers, you will need a garbage tag ($2.00 each, tax included) for each extra container at the curb. Or you can bring extra garbage to an EnviroDepot ($2.00 per bag). 

Garbage tags are available for purchase at these locations:

The locations of the sale of garbage tags is subject to change:

• Canada Games Aquatic Centre:1045 Wonderland Road North
• Citi Plaza: 355 Wellington Street
• City Hall: 300 Dufferin Avenue
• Clarke Road South EnviroDepot: 28 Clarke Road
• Clarke Road North EnviroDepot: 21463 Clarke Road
• East Lions Community Centre: 1731 Churchill Avenue
• Kiwanis Seniors Community Centre: 78 Riverside Drive
• North London Optimist Centre: 1345 Cheapside Street
• Oxford Street EnviroDepot: 1450 Oxford Street West
• Parking Office: 824 Dundas Street
• South London Community Pool: 585 Bradley Avenue
• South London Community Centre:1119 Jalna Boulevard
• W12A Landfill & EnviroDepot: 3502 Manning Drive

Garbage tags do not expire and there are no refunds provided.

You can drop off your Christmas tree and greenery at a City of London EnviroDepot. Please remove all of your decorations and lights from your tree before visiting.

If you have space, you can also store your tree in your backyard. Your tree will become a habitat for birds. Wait until spring and place your tree and greenery out for Yard Waste Collection in the new year (only trees up to three meters in height will be collected).

Christmas trees are no longer collected at the curb. 

Additional holiday recycling tips

1. Put gift wrap, ribbons, bows, and bags in the trash can. These items are not recyclable.
2. Break down, flatten and bundle your cardboard boxes or stack them flattened in your recycling bin.
3. Things like take-out coffee cups, milk cartons, and juice boxes belong with other recyclable containers, and not paper. Here's a tip to help you sort it right: If you can drink out of it, it's a container.
4. Avoid “Wishcycling.” Just because you “wish” you could recycle something, doesn’t mean you can. When in doubt, leave it out.
5. Download the Recycle Coach app to help answer what goes where in our recycling program. Recycle Coach also includes personalized collection calendars, information on London’s recycling program, and collection reminders all accessible from your phone or device.