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City of Winnipeg
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Water and Waste Department

Recycling and garbage collection service

If you need to temporarily suspend your business's collection service due to COVID-19, please submit an application to cancel your service and we will contact you. The requirement of 2-weeks' notice will be waived for temporary suspensions.

Businesses with 0.6 to 3.0 cubic metres (600 - 3,000 litres) of garbage per week

Do you provide recycling and garbage collection service for businesses with 0.6 to 3.0 cubic metres (600 - 3,000 litres) of garbage per week?

Yes. We provide front-load garbage bin service for businesses that put out 0.6 to 3.0 cubic metres of garbage per week (based on garbage from an entire property and not from an individual unit, for example, of a strip mall). If you sign up for our garbage collection service, we provide recycling collection service, including the recycling containers, at no extra charge.

Signing up for service
How do I sign up for your service?

You can sign up any time. Fill out the application formAdobe Acrobat icon indicating a pdf file that will open up in a new browser window. Close the new window to return to this page. (pdf - 118kb) and return it to our office by mail, email or fax.

Can I sign up for recycling service if I have private garbage collection?

No. You can only sign up for our recycling service if you sign up for our garbage service. We will not collect your garbage or recycling if you are receiving private collection services.

What is the charge for your recycling and garbage collection service?

The fee is based on cubic metre of garbage container size collected. Your quarterly payment will depend on container size and collection frequency. The current rates can be found here.

When will I be invoiced?

You will be invoiced at the end of each quarter (i.e., March, June, September, December). Payment is due 15 days from the invoice date.

Is this rate subject to change?

If our collection costs increase, the charge may increase accordingly.

Can I change the level of service I receive at any time?

Yes. For example, if you sign up for twice per week garbage collection service and you have less garbage because you are recycling, you can change your garbage collection to once per week. Just fill out an application formAdobe Acrobat icon indicating a pdf file that will open up in a new browser window. Close the new window to return to this page. (pdf - 118kb) and return it to our office by mail, email or fax.

Can I cancel your recycling and garbage service at any time?

Yes. Fill out the application formAdobe Acrobat icon indicating a pdf file that will open up in a new browser window. Close the new window to return to this page. (pdf - 118kb) and return it to our office by mail, email or fax. We require at least two weeks' notice.

If I move my business, can I transfer your recycling and garbage collection service to my new location?

Yes. Please fill out an application formAdobe Acrobat icon indicating a pdf file that will open up in a new browser window. Close the new window to return to this page. (pdf - 118kb) to discontinue service at your current location and fill out another copy to begin service at your new location. Return both application forms to our office by mail, email or fax. We require at least two weeks' notice.

What if I put out more than 3.0 cubic metres of garbage per week?

You need to hire a private company to collect your garbage. There are businesses listed under “Garbage” in your MTS Yellow Pages Phone Book that may provide garbage collection service for a fee.

Are there other companies that provide recycling and garbage collection service for small businesses?

Yes. A list of private garbage collection companies is in the Winnipeg Yellow Pages Phone Book.

What steps can I take to keep my garbage collection costs down?
  • Recycle. This will help you reduce your volume of garbage, and perhaps the size of your container or the number of times your container is emptied.
  • Share a garbage container with a neighbouring business.
Containers
Who will provide the garbage containers?

Business owners must obtain the front-load bins. You can rent or buy them from most private garbage collection companies or container manufacturers.

Who will provide the recycling containers?

We provide the recycling containers. You can choose from two types of containers:

  • 360-litre plastic carts (on wheels), or
  • 2.25 cubic metre metal bins - available with wheels and lockable metal lids if requested.
Where should I place the front-load garbage bins?

Front-loading bins need to be placed on your property. The truck must be able to access the bin and safely enter and exit your property.

If you have difficulty placing your bin, contact 311 and one of our service representatives will contact you to set up an appointment to visit your property.

What happens if there isn't enough room for the truck to access front-load containers?

We provide a pull-box service for properties where the truck cannot access the bin from the front for a fee per bin, per collection.

How often do you empty the recycling containers?

We empty plastic carts and metal bins once every week, on a set day of the week. Your collection day may shift on weeks with holidays. Place plastic recycling carts along the roadway by 7:00 a.m. on collection day

Can I lock or secure my front-load garbage and metal recycling containers?

Yes. To ensure that others do not use the service you are paying for, you may consider placing lids and locks on the containers. If you lock the containers, be sure to unlock them before 7 a.m. on collection day. We provide an unlocking service for a fee per bin per month.

Can I secure my recycling carts?

You can chain your carts to a secure object (e.g., fence), or store them inside, but they must be unlocked and/or moved to your collection point before 7:00 am on collection day.
We do not provide an unlocking service for recycling carts.

Who is responsible for cleaning and maintaining the recycling containers?

Business owners are responsible for maintaining the recycling containers.

What happens if my recycling containers get damaged, lost or stolen?

You are responsible for replacing or repairing damaged metal bins, unless the collector damages them during collection.

You are responsible for the cost of replacing or repairing plastic carts unless:

  • we damage it during collection, or
  • it is damaged by a third party, as long as:
    • the cart was stored in a safe place on your property and not left at the back lane/front street between collection days,
    • the cart can no longer hold material when stored or when collected, and
    • you return the damaged cart to the City.
More information

For more information on what you can recycle, read our recycling web page.

If you have any questions, please contact our 311 Centre, open 24 hours every day, by phone at 311 or by email at 311@winnipeg.ca.

Last updated: April 3, 2020

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Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.

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Le présent formulaire ne vise pas à recueillir des renseignements personnels. Cependant, les renseignements personnels que vous choisissez d’inclure dans vos commentaires sont recueillis par la Ville de Winnipeg en conformité avec l’alinéa 36(1)b) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée dans le but d’améliorer son site Web et ne seront ni utilisés ni divulgués pour d’autres raisons, sauf dans les cas où cela est autorisé par la loi. Communiquez avec l’agent de l’accès à l’information et de la protection de la vie privée de la Ville par courrier au Bureau du greffier, immeuble Susan-A.-Thompson, 510, rue Main, Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3B 1B9, ou par téléphone au 311 si vous avez des questions sur la collecte de ces renseignements.