Downtown Orillia Waste & Recycling Information

Waste and recycling collection in Orillia has undergone significant changes in 2026, including changes that directly affect downtown businesses.

The Downtown Orillia BIA has compiled the information below to provide businesses with a clear, up-to-date reference for collection days, recycling requirements, new recycling carts, garbage and organics collection, and available City resources.

Please note: Waste and recycling collection is a City of Orillia service. Collection schedules, requirements, fees and program changes are determined and administered by the City of Orillia, not the Downtown Orillia BIA.

Quick Reference – Downtown Businesses

RECYCLING

Thursday – Every Week

• Downtown business recycling is collected every Thursday.
• Businesses must be registered with the City of Orillia to receive business recycling collection.
• As of September 1, 2026, recycling must be placed in an approved 360-litre roll-out recycling cart.
• Registered businesses are eligible for up to two recycling carts per business location.
• Paper, cardboard and containers can be placed together in the cart.
• Cardboard should be flattened/broken down to fit inside the cart.
• Recycling carts cost $125 each, including HST and are available through the City of Orillia Waste Diversion Site.

GARBAGE

Wednesday – Every Other Week

• Garbage is collected every other Wednesday.
• Garbage must be placed in a clear garbage bag or an approved rigid container.
• A valid City of Orillia garbage tag is required.
• Each bag or container has a maximum weight of 20 kg (44 lbs.).
• Rigid containers must be 133 litres (35 gallons) or smaller.
• Bags or containers containing more than 10% organics or recycling will not be collected.

ORGANICS / GREEN BIN

Wednesday – Every Week

• Green bin and eligible organic material is collected every Wednesday.
• Food waste and other accepted organics should be placed in the green bin.
• Green bins should be lined with newspaper, a paper bag or a certified compostable bag.
• Garbage tags are not required for eligible green bin material.
  
  

What Changed for Business Recycling?

Ontario’s residential recycling system changed in 2026 as responsibility for residential recycling transitioned to producers under the province’s Blue Box Regulation.

Businesses are not included in the provincial residential recycling program.

As a result, the City of Orillia operates a separate recycling collection program for eligible businesses and institutions.

For downtown businesses, one of the most significant changes took effect September 1, 2026. The previous use of recycling boxes and bags was permitted only until September 1. Businesses participating in the City’s curbside business recycling program must now use the new roll-out recycling carts.

Business recycling is also collected separately from garbage and organics. Downtown business recycling is collected Thursday, while garbage and organics continue to be collected on Wednesday according to their respective schedules.

These changes are part of the City of Orillia’s waste management and business recycling program and were not initiated or implemented by the Downtown Orillia BIA.

The DOBIA’s role is to help communicate the City’s requirements to our members, share updates as they become available, and bring downtown-specific concerns forward to the appropriate City departments.

New Recycling Carts

Businesses participating in City curbside recycling must use the approved 360-litre roll-out recycling carts. Registered businesses are eligible for up to two carts per business location.

How Much Does a Cart Cost?

The current City of Orillia fee is:
$125 per recycling cart, including HST.

The City’s 2026 fee schedule also lists a $10 loading charge where loading by City staff is applicable.

Where Do I Get a Cart?

Recycling carts are available through the:

City of Orillia Waste Diversion Site
100 Kitchener Street
Orillia, ON L3V 6Z9
Phone: 705-325-3522

Regular Waste Diversion Site hours are:

Tuesday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday & Monday: Closed

The City’s Sale of Goods Fee Schedule lists loading/pick-up hours as:

Tuesday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Businesses may wish to call the Waste Diversion Site at 705-325-3522 before visiting to confirm availability and pick-up arrangements.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
You MUST Register for Business Recycling

Having a recycling cart does not automatically register a business for collection. Businesses and institutions must be registered with the City of Orillia’s Business Recycling Program to receive curbside recycling collection. The City advises that only registered locations will be serviced, regardless of whether a business already has a City-issued cart or previously used recycling boxes or bags.

Registered businesses are eligible for up to two recycling carts per business location.

Businesses that have not yet registered must register with the City of Orillia to receive business recycling collection, which you can do here.

What Goes in the Recycling Cart?

The business recycling program allows recyclable materials to be placed together in the cart.
This includes eligible:

• Paper and paper products
• Cardboard
• Containers and other accepted recyclable materials

Businesses should ensure materials are properly prepared and that the cart is not contaminated with garbage or organic material.

What About Cardboard?

Cardboard is an important consideration for many downtown businesses.

Cardboard should be flattened and broken down so that it fits inside the recycling cart.

Businesses that regularly produce more recycling or cardboard than can be accommodated within their permitted carts may need to consider additional disposal arrangements or private collection.

Garbage Collection

Downtown garbage collection continues every other Wednesday.

Garbage must be placed in clear bags or an approved rigid container and requires a full City of Orillia garbage tag.

Each bag or container must weigh no more than 20 kg (44 lbs.).

Rigid garbage containers must be 133 litres (35 gallons) or smaller. Larger containers are considered storage bins, and individual garbage bags placed inside them still require garbage tags.

The City may refuse to collect garbage containing more than 10% recyclable or organic material.

Need More Garbage Tags?

Additional City of Orillia garbage tags are available in packages of five for $15.

Tags can be purchased at:

• Orillia City Centre, 50 Andrew St. S.
• Waste Diversion Site, 100 Kitchener St.
• Online through OrilliaNow
• Participating retailers throughout Orillia

Green Bin / Organics

Green bin and organic material continues to be collected weekly on Wednesday for downtown businesses. Eligible food waste and compostable material should be placed in the green bin.

Green bins can be lined with:

• Newspaper
• Paper bags
• Certified compostable bags displaying the appropriate certified compostable logo

Garbage tags are not required for eligible green bin material.

Businesses should be aware that the Waste Diversion Site charges applicable fees for business-generated green bin organics and yard waste brought directly to the facility.

Mixed-Use Downtown Properties

Downtown properties containing both residential and commercial units may now have two different recycling programs operating at the same property.

Residential recycling is managed through Ontario’s producer-responsibility recycling system and Circular Materials. Business recycling, however, remains a City of Orillia-managed program.

This means residential tenants and businesses within the same building may have different carts, collection days and recycling requirements.

Businesses should ensure they are registered for and using the appropriate City business recycling program.

Need to Dispose of Additional Waste or Recycling?

The City of Orillia Waste Diversion Site is located at 100 Kitchener Street, Orillia.

The facility accepts a variety of materials for disposal and diversion. Some materials are accepted free of charge, while others, including certain business-generated materials, are subject to tipping fees.

Businesses with ongoing disposal needs can also apply for a Waste Diversion Site Charge Account, which allows approved businesses to receive monthly billing.

Questions or Collection Issues?

Waste collection is administered by the City of Orillia.

For questions about business recycling, recycling carts, garbage, organics, collection requirements or the Waste Diversion Site, please contact:

City of Orillia
Customer Service: 705-325-1311

Waste Diversion Site
100 Kitchener Street
Phone: 705-325-3522

Businesses are encouraged to consult the City’s current waste management information for the most up-to-date requirements and schedules.

Helpful City Resources

City of Orillia – Curbside Collection | City of Orillia
Collection requirements, garbage and organics information, business recycling information and business recycling registration.

City of Orillia – Waste Facilities | City of Orillia
Hours, accepted materials, disposal fees and business charge accounts.

Downtown Orillia BIA

We understand that changes to waste and recycling collection can have a significant impact on downtown businesses, particularly those with limited storage space or businesses that generate higher volumes of cardboard and recyclable materials.

While the Downtown Orillia BIA does not establish or administer the City’s waste collection policies, schedules or fees, we will continue to share relevant information with our members as it becomes available and communicate downtown-specific questions and concerns to the City of Orillia.