Young girl holding hands with green bin and blue box mascots at event

Special Events in Waste Management

Home Living HereSpecial Events in Waste Management

The Region of Durham offers various giveaway and waste events throughout the year, including Curbside Giveaway Days, Environment Days and Compost Giveaway Events.

Transforming Waste Into Energy! Durham York Energy Centre PA Day Events

Illustration of garbage truck unloading at an energy from waste facility with two people waving in the foreground.

Ever wonder what happens to our household waste after collection? Drop in to our free, family-friendly events at the Durham York Energy Centre and explore how we are transforming household waste into valuable resources!

Event Dates:

Please check back for 2025 event dates.

Here's what you can expect:

Guided tours to our control room to view the waste pit and ‘claw’!
Interactive waste sorting games.
Meet the staff and have your questions answered by our team.

The event will have accessible parking and access.

Curbside Giveaway Days

Various household items labelled as free for the curbside giveaway day

Curbside Giveaway Day events are organized in cooperation with the local municipalities, where residents place unwanted items in good condition—clearly marked FREE—on their curb for anyone to pick up. At the end of the Giveaway Day, residents return unclaimed items to their home.

Please ensure items whether new or used, are safe and meet current regulatory requirements. It is important to only place items that are in good condition. The Region is not responsible for quality of items placed out for the Curbside Giveaway Day.

Event Dates:

Please check back for 2025 event dates.

Rules and Guidelines

Mark all the items you wish to give away as “free” and secure the labels with tape.
Remember to obey all traffic laws and watch for children.
Do not block traffic, sidewalks, or place items on the road.
Do not trespass on other people’s property, block other people’s driveways or park illegally.

Clean and disinfect tables and items prior to the swap.
Clothing or other fabric items should be laundered prior to the giveaway. We also recommend laundering any clothing you have acquired.
For additional guidance: Facts for Garage Sale Vendors - Canada.ca.

Acceptable Items

Please clean and disinfect all items prior to the swap.

Appliances
Bicycles
Tools
Furniture
Books/movies/DVDs
Kitchen utensils
Building materials
Computers and electronics
Yard and garden equipment
Clothes
Usable paint
Sporting goods
Musical instruments
Plants, potted trees, etc.
Other durable goods

Unacceptable Items

Please do not put out any items with a potential safety risk.

Opened or used Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Garbage or recyclables
Chemicals of any kind
Weapons of any kind
Food items
Mattresses (potential for bedbug infestation)
Broken furniture
Dangerous/illegal items
Car/booster seats
Baby gates and walkers
Cribs/cradles

Check for consumer product recalls posted by Health Canada.

Unclaimed Items

Please remove items remaining at the curb by 7 p.m.
Material left at the curb after the Curbside Giveaway Day will be subject to by-law enforcement.
Unwanted items that are in good condition can be posted in a local buy and sell group.
Listed below are only some organizations and charities in Durham that accept gently used items for donation. Please contact the organization in advance to ensure it accepts materials or items you’d like to donate. There are many grassroots organizations working to support others, we encourage residents to explore available options.

Compost Giveaway Events

Collected leaf and yard waste is processed into nutrient-rich compost. In the spring, residents are invited to our complimentary compost giveaways. Quantities are first-come, first served and limited to four blue boxes of compost per vehicle.

What should I bring?

Shovels: residents are responsible for shoveling their own compost.
Containers: blue boxes, reusable containers, yard waste bags.

Residents are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item, to be donated to a local food bank (please check that boxes and cans are not damaged, opened or expired).

Event Dates:

Please check back for 2025 event dates.

Environment Days

Drop off items for reuse, recycling and safe disposal at Environment Days.

2025 Event Dates:

Please check back for 2025 event dates.

Donate items in good condition for reuse

We accept:

Clothing and textiles in all conditions, please wash before donating
Shoes and accessories
Home decor, bedding and linens
Games, toys, puzzles and sporting goods

We do not accept:

Garbage
Household hazardous waste
Electronics
Furniture
Cribs, high chairs, strollers and all other baby equipment
Renovation material

Charities have the right to refuse materials. Unaccepted materials are your responsibility. You can bring unaccepted materials to a waste management facility. Fees will apply.

Recycle your electronic waste

We accept:

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)

Safely dispose of your Household Hazardous Waste

We accept:

Anti-freeze
Batteries
Car batteries
Cooking oil
Compressed cylinders
Fluorescent lamps and energy efficient, compact light bulbs (CFLs)
Fuel (non-transferable)
Household chemicals and cleaners
Lawn and garden chemicals
Medicine
Mercury thermostats
Motor oil
Paints and solvents
Pool chemicals
Propane tanks
Syringes (contained in a sealed puncture-proof container)
Waxes and polishes

Tips for attending:

Pack HHW in sturdy cardboard boxes so that it does not spill during transport.
Put like chemicals together.
Separate different chemicals.
Do not mix products together.
Label materials that are not in their original containers.
Make sure containers are not leaking and lids are tightly sealed.
Place boxes in your car trunk, on a plastic sheet.
Place it away from passengers.
At the event, staff will ask you to remain in your car while they remove the HHW from your trunk.

October is Circular Economy Month

The Regional Municipality of Durham is celebrating Circular Economy Month this October. The Circular Innovation Council has extended Waste Reduction Week in Canada beyond the third week of October into Circular Economy Month to educate and excite Canadians about the opportunities and benefits of the circular economy.

The third week of October will continue as Waste Reduction Week (WRW), with daily themes related to specific waste streams and the waste reduction component of a circular economy. The primary goal of the week is to celebrate environmental efforts and achievements while encouraging innovative new ideas and solutions.

Daily Themes:

Repair Monday
Textiles Tuesday
E-waste Wednesday
Plastics Thursday
Food Waste Friday
Sharing Economy Saturday
Swap Sunday

The remainder of the month will focus on introducing the concept of circular economy and highlighting its broader social, environmental, and economic benefits.

Throughout the year, the Region supports residents in their waste reduction efforts by promoting the five “Rs” (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover), collecting materials such as textiles and electronic waste at Waste Management facilities, and with special pick-ups. Additional opportunities through special waste events, including annual environment days and compost giveaways, provide residents with options to implement waste reduction efforts.

The Region, together with our residents, is committed to supporting the circular economy and will continue to deliver innovative waste reduction, diversion, and disposal programs to meet the needs of our growing population. The 2022 to 2040 Long-term Waste Management Plan (Waste Plan) is focused on rethinking and reducing the waste we create, managing resources, and finding opportunities to create energy from waste.

To learn more about Circular Economy month, visit circulareconomymonth.ca. For more information about waste reduction in Durham Region, visit durham.ca/waste.