Hundreds of thousands of new garbage and green bins are ready to be delivered across Waterloo Region over the next few months.
It’s all in preparation for the March collection changes that will see the large, wheeled bins collected across the region.
The change was made in an effort to not only improve employee safety but also to increase reliability and efficiency in the waste collection service.
Those bins are now ready for residents, with deliveries set to start this fall and into February.
“Emterra Environmental has received multiple shipments of carts and remains on schedule to begin deliveries in the fall of 2025. Approximately 340,000 garbage and organics carts will be distributed to over 170,000 residential properties by February 2026,” reads a report to a Region of Waterloo committee.
A deadline to select a smaller garbage cart has come and gone, with 16,500 residents choosing the more space-efficient option.
It’s a decision that isn’t set in stone. A year from now, the region will launch a one-time no-cost garbage cart exchange if the size you’ve chosen isn’t working out.
The big curbside changes haven’t been a secret.
In the report coming to regional councillors next week, waste management staff highlight the efforts they have taken to get people informed.
Since March, staff have attended over 200 events, speaking with over 15,000 people about the new bins and collection changes.
Online, the interaction with the community hits some impressive numbers, with 1.6 million social media impressions, and 143,500 interactions.
The new collection program starts on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
