Free reminders the evening before collection — by email, SMS, push or WhatsApp. Garbage, recycling and organics (green bin), sorted.
Three simple steps to never miss bin day again
Enter your address and we'll find your council's collection schedule.
Choose email or push notifications and we'll nudge you the evening before collection.
Put the right bin out on time, every time — we'll mind the schedule for you.
BinMinder reminds you the night before curbside pickup, whichever cart, bin or bac your municipality wheels out.
In Canada, household waste collection is run by your municipality or by a hauler under municipal contract, and the rules change the moment you cross a city line. Toronto residents roll out a black or grey garbage bin, a blue bin for recycling and a green bin for organics, with the green bin collected weekly and garbage every other week. Vancouver mixes city crews with private haulers and puts food scraps in a green bin, while much of Quebec sorts everything into a bac brun for matières organiques, a bac bleu for recyclage and a separate collecte des ordures.
Collection frequency varies widely across the country. Weekly organics pickup is now the norm in most large cities, while garbage typically runs every other week and recycling alternates on the off weeks or follows a colour-coded zone calendar. Leaf and yard waste usually has its own seasonal schedule in spring and fall, often requiring kraft paper bags or clearly marked open containers rather than your regular carts. Statutory holidays routinely shift collection day by one, so a Monday pickup can slide to Tuesday after a long weekend.
Many Canadian cities bill waste through your utility or property tax account, and cart size matters: choosing a larger garbage cart often means a higher annual fee, while recycling and organics carts are frequently included at no extra charge. Most municipalities set a curbside deadline — commonly 7 a.m., with carts out no earlier than the evening before — and publish calendars by address or zone. BinMinder tracks your specific schedule, including holiday slides, seasonal yard waste weeks and large item pickup windows, so the right cart is at the curb on time.
Black or grey cart (Toronto); black cart in Calgary; green-lidded garbage cart in Vancouver
Non-recyclable, non-compostable household waste. Usually collected every other week, with many cities charging more for a larger cart size on the utility bill.
Blue bin or blue cart; blue box in much of Ontario
Containers, paper and cardboard — some provinces now run blue box programs through producer responsibility organizations. Typically bi-weekly or weekly depending on the city.
Green bin (Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa); brown bac brun in Quebec
Food scraps, soiled paper and coffee grounds. Collected weekly in most large cities to keep organics out of landfill.
Kraft paper yard waste bags or open labelled cans; some cities issue a separate cart
Leaves, grass clippings and small branches on a seasonal spring and fall schedule — never in plastic bags, and not in the organics cart in many Ontario municipalities.
No bin — items placed at the curb as-is
Furniture, mattresses and appliances collected on designated days or by booking; some cities require a paid tag per item, while others include a set number of free pickups per year.
It depends on your municipality. Cities like Toronto run their own crews, while places like Vancouver and many suburbs contract private haulers for some or all streams. Your municipal website's waste calendar — or BinMinder — reflects whichever schedule applies to your address.
Both take food scraps and other organics — the green bin is the term in cities like Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver, while bac brun is used across Quebec for matières organiques. Accepted items differ slightly by processor: some programs take pet waste and diapers, others do not, so check your local list.
Usually yes. Most Canadian cities shift pickup one day later for the remainder of a week containing a stat holiday, though some — particularly those with Saturday service — do not. BinMinder follows your city's published holiday schedule so you get the right day.
Many municipalities bill waste collection through the utility or property tax account and charge more for larger garbage carts to reward waste reduction. Recycling and organics carts are typically included at no extra cost, so sorting well and choosing a smaller garbage cart can lower your annual bill.
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General waste, recycling and garden or food waste.
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50 municipalities across Canada. Not live yet? Join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment your area goes live.
Enter your address and we'll look up your council's collection schedule. Sign up once and you'll get a reminder the evening before every collection — by email, SMS, push or WhatsApp.
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General waste, recycling and garden or food waste — whatever your council collects kerbside. Check your address to see every upcoming collection.
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