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Garbage, recycling and collection in Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Guelph, Ontario: garbage, recycling and collection. Find local rules, practical steps, useful answers and official service links.
Key information
Guelph’s grey, blue and green carts have different bag rules. A compostable label does not mean every compostable product belongs in the green cart. The city’s facility accepts certified compostable bags, but not the same range of food containers or cutlery.
On this page
At a glance
| Question | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| Can I use black bags in the grey garbage cart? | No. Go bagless or use clear plastic bags. Black, white and grocery bags are not accepted in that cart. |
| Who collects the blue cart? | The city’s sorting page identifies WM as the blue-cart collector following the provincial recycling change. |
| Can compostable cutlery or food containers go in the green cart? | No. The city says its facility is not designed or permitted to process those other certified compostable products. |
Sources: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
Plan your next step
- Find your service
Check the address, building type and collector for the material.
- Sort and prepare
Use the local container, quantity, weight and set-out rules.
- Check the date
Use the address calendar and the correct reporting route if collection fails.
Collection, containers and dates
Can I use black bags in the grey garbage cart?
No. Go bagless or use clear plastic bags. Black, white and grocery bags are not accepted in that cart.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
Should blue-cart recycling be bagged?
No, except for shredded paper. The city says other bags do not belong in the blue cart.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
How do I recycle shredded paper?
Put it in a clear plastic bag in the blue cart. The guidance also permits shredded paper directly in the green cart.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
Sorting and special services
Who collects the blue cart?
The city’s sorting page identifies WM as the blue-cart collector following the provincial recycling change.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
Can I use a liner in the green cart?
Yes. Accepted choices include newspaper, paper bags, flour or sugar bags, cereal boxes and certified compostable plastic bags.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
Are ordinary plastic liners acceptable?
No. Plastic liners need the stated certified compostable symbols. Ordinary shopping bags do not meet that rule.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
Problems, exceptions and help
Can compostable cutlery or food containers go in the green cart?
No. The city says its facility is not designed or permitted to process those other certified compostable products.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
How can I contain messy food scraps?
Wrap them in newspaper or used paper towels before placing them in the green cart.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
Is paper shredding still offered at the waste centre?
The sorting page says the paper shredding service at the Waste Resource Innovation Centre is no longer available.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
How do I get collection reminders?
Use the Guelph Waste app for reminders and sorting tips, then follow your property’s current address schedule.
Source: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph
Local service links
These are the service sources used for this Guelph guide. Use their current forms, calendars and notices when completing a task.
Sources: How to sort garbage and recycling in Guelph - City of Guelph