Apartment and Townhouse Collection

Durham’s recycling program is managed by Circular Materials, the administrator of the common collection system and a national not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario. Visit Circular Materials for more information.

Accepted materials

Place all containers in the containers blue cart. Rinse all food containers. Make sure there is no grease, liquids or food in them.

• Aluminum drink cans
• Aluminum foil and trays 
• Empty paint and aerosol cans (lids removed)
• Glass bottles and jars
• Juice boxes (no straws)
• Milk cartons
• Plastic bakery and cookie trays
• Plastic bottles
• Plastic egg cartons
• Plastic fruit and vegetable containers
• Plastic takeout food containers
• Single-serve yogurt and pudding cups
• Spiral containers
• Steel food and drink cans
• Toiletry bottles

Place all paper products in the papers blue cart.

• Boxboard and cardboard - broken down and flattened, into the available bin at your site 
• Catalogues, magazines and phonebooks
• Junk mail and envelopes
• Newspaper
• Office and computer paper
• Shredded paper (place inside a smaller box, such as a cereal box)

Unacceptable materials

• Food or beverage pouches
• Hangers
• Motor oil containers
• Plastic bags
• Plastic straws or cutlery
• Propane or helium cylinders
• Tupperware-type containers
• Motor oil containers

Put your garbage in the onsite bins. Furniture and large item collection is by appointment only. Your building manager makes these appointments.

Accepted materials

• All food waste
• Coffee cups
• Coffee pods
• Diapers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Filters
• Juice and food pouches
• Pet waste
• Plant trays
• Plastic bags
• Plastic plates, cups and cutlery
• Snack bags and wrappers
• Styrofoam food trays
• Toys
• Wipes
• Wooden fruit boxes

Learn how your garbage is processed.

Accepted materials

• Standard A, AA, AAA, C, D (standard or heavy duty) batteries
• 6-volt batteries
• 9-volt batteries
• Button cell batteries
• Rechargeable battery packs (NiCad, NiMH, or lithium ion)

Unaccepted materials

• Automotive batteries
• Damaged, leaking or wet cell batteries
• Industrial batteries

Drop off unacceptable batteries at a waste management facility.

Safe battery storage

Store batteries in a cool, dry place. Store them away from any flammable materials. In storage, battery terminals should not touch conductive materials. Cover the terminals on 9-volt batteries before storing them. 

Some buildings have an electronic recycling program. Participating buildings have special collection bins in the building. Ask your building manager if your building takes part in the program.

Accepted materials

• Display devices (televisions and monitors)
• Drones
• Home audio/video systems
• Desktop computers
• Home theatre in-a-box systems
• Cameras and security cameras
• Vehicle audio/video systems (aftermarket)
• Portable Computers
• Personal/portable audio/video systems
• Musical instruments and recording equipment
• Video gaming systems and peripherals
• Computer peripherals (routers, cables, chargers, USB)
• Desktop printing/multi-function devices, 3D printers and printer cartridges
• Phones (telephones, cellular & smart phone devices, pagers)

Do you have old or torn clothing? Participating buildings have special clothing donation boxes. Ask your building manager if your building has a program.

Accepted materials

• All clothing, even ripped or torn items
• Bedding and towels
• Sleeping bags
• Belts and ties
• Drapes, scraps and anything else that is a textile/cloth

Durham’s recycling program is managed by Circular Materials, the administrator of the common collection system and a national not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario. Visit Circular Materials for more information.

Circular Materials and their local collection contractor will perform the following services:

• resolve all instances of missed recycling collection
• coordinate the repair and replacement of recycling carts
• provide all promotion and education materials related to the recycling program for property management and residents

All recycling related inquiries should be directed to your local contractor, Miller Waste Systems using the following contact information:

• Phone: 1-888-852-4723
• Email: area8@millerwaste.ca

The Region of Durham has partnered with Raw Material Company Inc. (RMC) to provide collection containers inside the lobby or recycling area of participating multi-residential properties. These specially marked containers enable residents to safely dispose of their used batteries. This partnership also provides courier service collection of full pails and drums on a call-in basis.

Participating buildings must have a full time building superintendent who can oversee collection containers and ensure that they remain clear of non-acceptable materials. Collection pails and bins must be located indoors in a visible and accessible area. Building managers or superintendents arrange for shipment of the batteries to RMC for processing when containers are full. All contact information is found on the drum or pail supplied to your building.

Safe storage

Batteries should be stored in a cool, dry location, away from any flammable material. During storage, battery terminals should not be in contact with conductive materials. The terminals on nine volt batteries, in particular, should be covered prior to storage.

Battery types accepted

• Standard A, AA, AAA, C, D batteries (both alkaline and “heavy duty”)
• 6-volt (often used in lantern batteries)
• 9-volt batteries (often used in smoke alarms)
• Button cells (typically used in watches, toys, greeting cards, calculators)
• Rechargeable battery packs - NiCad, NiMH, or Lithium Ion (typically used in laptop computers, cellular phones, etc.)

Due to regulatory requirements, only undamaged household batteries are acceptable for collection. Residents with damaged, leaking or wet cell batteries (such as automotive), should place the batteries in a leak-proof container and deliver them to a Regional Waste Management Facility for recycling.

The Region of Durham operates an easy to use electronics recycling program in apartment buildings and townhouse neighbourhoods at municipally approved properties. This free recycling service provides residents with a convenient way to recycle their end-of-life or unwanted electronics.

In partnership with RecycleMyElectronics.ca - Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES), provides storage containers and all materials necessary to promote the program. Residents bring electronics to the designated recycling area for scheduled collection.

Properties are reviewed prior to beginning collection to ensure that safe collection and storage can occur. Indoor storage is recommended to avoid scavenging.

Collection is conducted on a scheduled basis by OES. Larger items that do not fit into the 95 gallon carts, such as TVs and stereo systems, can be placed beside the carts for collection. Maintenance by onsite staff is required to ensure electronic waste is the only material in the bins.

Diabetes Canada will provide donation bins inside multi-residential sites. Participating buildings are supplied with the bin and Diabetes Canada empties it weekly. Additional collections can be scheduled. All material collected is donated to charity.

Materials accepted

• all clothing, even ripped or torn items
• bedding and towels
• sleeping bags
• belts and ties
• drapes, scraps and anything else that is a textile/cloth

Not all multi-residential properties receive municipal waste service. Approval is granted based on the Region’s Waste Management By-law and Technical and Risk Management Guidelines for waste collection services on private property.

Durham Region provides waste collection services at approved properties in the City of Pickering, Town of Ajax, Townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge and the Municipality of Clarington.

Front-end waste bins are supplied for residential waste only. No renovation and construction waste is accepted in the bins.

Waste service can be suspended or canceled if unacceptable material is continually found in the bins. Large bulky items should not be placed in the bins but in a designated area so they can be safely collected.

The property manager or superintendent must make an appointment to have bulky and metal goods collected. Contact us by email or call us at 311 (within Regional limits), 905-668-7711 or toll-free 1-800-372-1102.

For garbage collection in Oshawa and Whitby:

Apartments and townhouses receiving municipal waste collection services in the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby, should contact their respective municipal office for information on garbage and bulky goods collection service.

City of Oshawa

905-436-3311

service@oshawa.ca

Town of Whitby

905-668-3437

pw.operations@whitby.ca