Garbage and Recycling

Bag tags will be available for collection at the Town Hall annually in mid-September. Each property will receive 40 tags. Please ensure that identification is available when collecting your allotment.

Property owners are to collect the tags. If a tenant or alternate person is collecting the tags, a proxy letter is required to ensure that that person is representing the property owner. The designate must also provide identification. All property owners are responsible for the waste generated on their property as per bylaw 3215, and for the disbursement of waste tags to their tenants. Additional tags can be purchased at $3.05 each.

• Place your waste, compost or recycling at the curb by 7 A.M. on the correct day for your zone.
• Do not block sidewalks or roads.
• Do not place on top of high snow banks (where there is a slip hazard for the worker collecting waste)
• Place tags on every bag. Extra tags may be purchased at Town Hall, 80 Gore Street East.
• Ensure bags are securely tied, both loose curbside bags and bags within a garbage receptacle.
• Make certain the waste is less than 50 lbs. (22.5Kg)
• When recycling-secure lightweight materials so that wind does not create litter issues
• Place waste out only in front of your dwelling or in the designated collection location.
• Recycle all that you can to avoid having to use extra bag tags.
• Failure to abide by the conditions of the Town's solid waste By-law No. 1997-3215 may result in fines.

The Town of Perth schedules an annual leaf collection in Autumn and Christmas tree collection in January each year.

• This year leaves will be picked up the week of November 13 -17, 2023. Please have leaves curbside by Monday, November 13, 2023. Leaf Collection will only be picked up curbside during this time. Year round, leaves and yard waste (no brush) can be taken to the Perth Landfill Site at 666 Wildlife Road for no charge. Paper Bags ONLY, plastic bags will not be taken. 

• This year trees will be picked up the week of January 15-19, 2024. Please have trees curbside by Monday, January 15, 2024. Ensure all decorations have been removed. Residents that wish to dispose of Christmas trees before or after this date, may deliver them to the Perth Landfill Site located at 666 Wildlife Road during landfill hours, free of charge (proof of residency will be required).

For more information on the landfill, please click here.

• Newspaper, boxboard, and cardboard (cardboard must be flattened, bundled and left next to your Blue Box).
• Shredded paper may be placed separately at the curb in a clear plastic bag.

• Steel and aluminum cans
• Glass food and beverage containers
• Narrow neck plastic bottles (#1 and #2) 
• Aluminum foil and trays
• Empty paint cans
• Milk and juice gable end cartons
• Juice and drinking boxes (e.g. "tetrapaks")
• Wide mouth plastic dairy containers (#5 and #6)
• Clear "clamshell" plastic containers

But please, NO:

• Plastic bags
• Plant trays
• Styrofoam
• Black "clamshell" plastic containers, trays or boxes
• Other plastic containers (#7)

Yes, you can purchase a second box from Town Hall

No. You can use any colour or type of container, as long as you only put out the appropriate stream of materials on the correct week

There have been major problems with markets for these materials. This is particularly the case in eastern Ontario where very few Material Recycling Facilities accept these materials. 

• Scrape all your organics (which includes food, soiled paper products and pet wastes) into the kitchen pail
• Once full, empty into your green curbside cart
• Put your cart out at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the morning of your collection day

• Meat, bones, dairy, vegetables, sauces, breads, fruit, nuts, egg shells, etc.
• Soiled paper products: 
• Paper towels, tissues, soiled pizza boxes, coffee filters, tea bags
• Kitty litter and pet waste:  Not in plastic bags, please

Do I have to use a Green Bin and Kitchen Pail for compost?

Yes. Pick up your green bin and kitchen pail from Town Hall during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

• Green bins provide clear identification for the driver and worker on the collection vehicle.
• Green bins have a standard tipping arm on the collection truck.
• Green bins don't have drain holes, ensuring all compost materials stay contained until emptied. (Unlike the yellow and blue bin)

I've heard some programs accept diapers. Can we put diapers in our carts?

No. Perth's low-tech and low cost windrow composting facility cannot handle diapers

• Perth processing is a low-tech (and low cost) open windrow compost site.
• Any contamination by plastic will create major problems with the processing and end product.
• Paper biodegradable bags are acceptable.

• Line your beige kitchen pail with a few sheets of newspaper or paper towel.
• Crumple some newspaper and set it at the bottom of the green cart, then
• Add a few sheets of flattened newspaper to create a simple liner.
• PAPER bag liners may be used for your pail and/or cart.
• Materials such as food or kitty litter can go into used cereal boxes and then put the cereal box in the cart.
• Wrap particularly messy items in newspaper before adding them.
• Rinse your pail and cart periodically.

• Securely latch the locking handle
• If problems persist, secure with a bungee cord or specific lid security devices available at hardware stores
• If possible, keep your cart indoors until collection day

• In hot weather, you may find maggots in your Green Bin. Maggots come from eggs laid by flies - most commonly on raw meats
• Wrap any raw meats in newspaper so the flies have less chance to lay their eggs
• Store Green Bin in garage or in the shed
• Rinse out your kitchen catcher and Green Bin

Yes, bins can be refused if the weight exceeds 51 pounds (23 kg). Items like cat litter or coffee grinds are dense and can cause bins to become overweight if filled too to the lid. Extra bins can be purchased from the Town or local hardware stores.

Unfortunately, the Town's policy is to only give out the first cart and pail for free. You can buy a replacement cart at Town Hall at the wholesale cost. Carts, pails and paper liner bags are also available locally at Canadian Tire and Home Hardware.

If you bring your broken cart into Town Hall during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), you can get a replacement one for free.

• Because of site-specific issues with respect to apartments, the Town is phasing in the launch of the Green Bin program to apartment residents
• Once you get your Green Bin kit, keep the pail somewhere handy in the kitchen, and add food scraps, soiled papers and tissues and pet wastes
• Then find a good place for your cart (either in your unit or somewhere else that works for other tenants and building management)
• Make sure to write your apartment number on your cart so it doesn't get mixed up with other carts
• Make sure to take your cart out to the approved curbside location on your collection day, and bring your cart back that day after it is emptied