The City of Cornwall's contractor collects garbage and organics (green bin) at the curb once a week. The Producers' contractor collects recycling at the curb once a week also. Recycling is no longer provided by the municipality, the Producers of recycling products in Ontario are now responsible for this service.
Collection is divided into five zones. Where you live will indicate what day of the week your garbage is collected.
Garbage Collection Rules:
- Check out the Waste Management By-Law.
- Your waste must be at the curb after 7 p.m. the day before your collection, or before 7 a.m. the day of collection.
- Each household can only set out 4 clear bags or two cans of trash per week.
- If you want to set out more than the limit, you'll need bag tags.
- If you need an exception from bag limits or another accomodation due to a disability, you can apply for a Disability Exception and email it back to the Division Manager for review.
- Diapers are exempt from the bag limit - learn more. They can also be placed within your organics bin.
- Cans must have two handles. They must not be bigger than 121 litres or 32 gallons.
- Bags must not be bigger than 90 litres. Small grocery bags are not accepted: put them in a garbage bag or can.
- Large items, or items not in a bag or container, won't be collected. You can bring these to the landfill directly or register for the monthly bulky collection.
- Help us keep the collection crew safe:
- bags and cans of trash must not weigh more than 50 pounds or 22 kilograms each.
- please do not tie the lid to your garbage can.
- garbage set out in cardboard boxes will not be collected.
NEW - 2026 Waste Collection Calendar
| Bag Tags: where to buy and how to use them |
When you have more bags than the permitted limit, you can buy tags. Bag tags, which will allow residents to set out more bags than the current 4- clear bag or 2-can limit, are sold in sheets of 10 for $15.00 at:
On clear bags, tags should be attached to the bag in a visible manner and in the shape of a flag. Tags should not be cut or altered. They should be securely attached so that they don't blow away and cannot be removed. Using tags for garbage cans:
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| Buy a Can or Bin |
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Tall rolling bins with lids are sold at the landfill by appointment only. Call 613-937-1777 or email us to make your appointment. Prices are listed below including tax:
*only 95-gallon recycling bins can be purchased for residential purposes. 95-gallon garbage cans are reserved for commercial properties. Small square recycling bins without lids can be purchased for $5.80 including tax at:
Prices are at cost - the City of Cornwall sells the bins for the price they were purchased. |
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Disablity Exception |
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If someone has a disability which prevents them from adhering to a requirement of the Waste Managemgent By-law, they can request a personal and private disability exception to be recognized by the City using this confidential Disability Exception Application and emailing it back to the Division Manager for review. The City’s current in force Collection, Removal, and Disposal of Solid Waste and Recyclables By-law (referred to as the “Waste Management By-law”) is By-law 2025-119, amending By-law 2024-111. The City is committed to maintaining its disability accommodation policy in its waste management program in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 11, as amended or replaced. The City’s in force Waste Management By-law includes a disability exception (subsection P(1.)(a)(i-xi)) to the By-laws’ Bag Rules. In the event that any individual who creates waste has a genuine disability which prevents them from adhering to a requirement of the By-law, they are permitted to request a personal and private disability exception to be recognized by the City using the attached confidential Disability Exception Application Form. The Application requires medical confirmation of disability from a medical professional licenced to provide medical “controlled acts” in Ontario, as defined by the Regulated Health Professionals Act, 1991, S.O. 1991. c. 18, as amended or replaced but Application materials shall not include any undue information, such as diagnosis or medical particulars. Applications will be considered at the discretion of the City under individual circumstances and be answered in writing within two (2) weeks of the application being made. The City reserves the right to verify disability status with the applicable licenced medical professional identified by an applicant. By forwarding an application, an applicant will be deemed to have consented to the City contacting the applicable third-party medical professional listed to confirm the disability status and functional abilities of the applicant, such that a potential accommodation may be considered by the City. In the event that accommodation based on disability is recognized by the City, in writing, such accommodation serves as a disability exception, as defined by the By-law, allowing a qualifying individual to either place additional bags to the curb above the set limit, use certain opaque bags specified in writing when placing additional bags to the curb, or receiving some other discretionary accommodation specified in writing by the City. Any individual granted a disability exception by the City based on a third party medical professional opinion confirming that the applicable disability is permanent will not need to resubmit their application for their waste management disability exception to continue over time. Where an individual waste management disability exception is granted by the City and a medical professional has not confirmed the applicable disability giving rise to the granted exception is permanent, the individual to whom the exception applies will at reasonable intervals upon request by the City, be required to provide updated confirmation of disability from a medical professional (without undue information, such as diagnosis or medical particulars) to the allow the City to evaluate the exception’s continuance. If you require a disability exception, please complete the confidential Application and return to the Division Manager for consideration. |
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Diaper Exemption |
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Diapers are exempt from the 4-clear bag limit. Here’s how it works:
Other residents who have medical waste due to health conditions should contact the waste management division for a medical exemption application form. Once complete, this form will provide residents with additional bag tags. The form is only for those who cannot meet the two-bag limit. Email us or call 613-937-1777. |
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Diversion (or: things you can't throw in the trash) |
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Some items aren't accepted for collection at the curb. That's because they need to be sorted, or diverted, from the landfill. You can bring them directly to the landfill site, where they can be dropped off at specific sorting locations. Large items, wood, tires, appliances, mattresses, and construction waste have to be brought directly to the landfill. Electronics can be brought to the landfill free of charge Monday through Saturday, from 7:30 to 4:30. Electronics waste must be brought to the household hazardous waste depot, which is open four times a month, except in winter: check out the schedule. Medication and needles can be returned to pharmacies. Medication can also be dropped off at Cornwall MediDrop locations: Cornwall Community Police Service (340 Pitt Street) or Cornwall Community Hospital (840 McConnell Avenue). |
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Winter Waste Collection |
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Winter poses many challenges – especially when it comes to waste collection. Please take note of these tips to ensure your waste is not left behind. When:
Where:
Waste will be left behind if it is placed on a snowbank, is buried in the snow, or is frozen into the bin. Everyone deserves a safe work environment. Waste rules are in place to ensure the health and safety of waste collection staff. When waste is left behind, it is often because it is unsafe for the contractor to collect. |
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Information for businesses and multi-residential units |
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The City of Cornwall provides curbside collection services for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional customers. Fill out this form to request a new collection. Businesses in the Downtown and Le Village areas have recycling and garbage collection on Mondays and Fridays between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Businesses outside of the Downtown and Le Village areas will have their garbage collection on the regular collection day for their area, however their recycling will be collected as per the following schedule:
Please contact the waste management department for more information about waste collection for businesses: 613-937-1777. Residential buildings with more than 7 units must set out garbage in carts with capacity between 75 litres and 360 litres. The cart must have a watertight lid, two working wheels, and a single metal bar at the front of the receptacle. Recycling can be set out in a bin, transparent bag, or 95-gallon recycling cart with a metal bar. Sort your waste according to the rules at the beginning of this page. |
Contact Us
Waste Management Division
861 Second Street West, Box 877, Cornwall ON, K6H 5T9
T.: 613-937-1777
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