Garbage, Recycling & Composting

OVERVIEW

Winnipeg provides weekly garbage collection and bi-weekly recycling and composting services. Understanding how to properly sort your waste helps keep our neighbourhood clean and supports environmental sustainability.

1. COLLECTION SCHEDULE

Collection Day for Royalwood: Tuesday

All carts must be placed at the curb (not blocking sidewalks or streets) by 6:00 AM on Tuesday morning.

Holiday Collections:

Regular collection resumes the day after observed holidays
Check winnipeg.ca/waste or call 311 for holiday-specific schedules
Collections may be delayed during extreme weather

2. GARBAGE (BLACK CART)

2.1 What Goes In

Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, oils)
Soiled paper products (napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes with grease)
Diapers and personal hygiene products
Pet waste (in bags)
Broken glass and ceramics
Ash and burnt materials
Items that can’t be recycled or composted

2.2 What NOT to Include

Recyclables (paper, cardboard, plastics, metals)
Compostable materials (food scraps, yard waste, leaves)
Hazardous materials (paint, chemicals, oil)
Electronics (see E-waste below)
Large items (see Bulk Items below)

2.3 Black Cart Size

The standard black garbage cart holds approximately 240 litres. If you consistently overfill your cart, you may purchase an additional cart through the City.

3. RECYCLING (BLUE BAG SYSTEM)

Winnipeg uses a blue bag recycling system. Recyclables must be placed in blue bags, tied securely, and placed in or near your cart.

3.1 What Goes In Blue Bags

Paper & Cardboard:

Newspapers and flyers
Magazines and catalogues
Books (hardcover and paperback)
Cardboard boxes (break down if large)
Office paper and envelopes
Paper bags

Glass & Metal:

Glass bottles and jars (remove lids)
Aluminum and steel cans
Aluminum foil and pie plates (clean)
Metal food containers

Plastics:

Plastic bottles (#1 and #2 primarily)
Plastic containers with #1–#7 symbol
Milk jugs and juice cartons
Plastic bags (tie loosely to avoid jamming equipment)

Additional Items:

Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene, #6 symbol)

3.2 What NOT to Include in Recycling

Food or liquids (rinse containers first)
Electronics (see E-waste below)
Textiles or clothing
Nylon bags or plastic films
Ceramics or broken glass
Hazardous materials
Yard waste (see Green Cart below)

3.3 Preparing Items for Recycling

Rinse out containers (don’t need to be spotless)
Remove lids from jars and bottles
Break down cardboard boxes
Ensure items are clean and dry
Don’t mix different materials—blue bags accept all types together

3.4 Blue Bag Pickup

Blue bags are collected bi-weekly on the same day as your garbage (Tuesday). You may place multiple blue bags at the curb.

4. COMPOSTING (GREEN CART)

The green cart collects organic materials for composting. Collection is bi-weekly on Tuesday.

4.1 What Goes In Green Cart

Food scraps (all types: meat, bones, dairy, oils, citrus, onions)
Vegetable and fruit waste
Bread, rice, and grains
Cooked and raw food
Leaves and grass clippings
Garden waste and plant trimmings
Wood chips and small branches (less than 2.5 cm diameter, less than 30 cm length)
Paper towels and napkins (unsoiled)
Cardboard (torn into small pieces)
Sawdust and plant-based bedding

4.2 What NOT to Include

Meat or fish bones (too large)
Oils in large quantities
Dairy products in large amounts
Pet waste
Diseased plants
Treated wood or sawdust
Synthetic materials
Plastic bags or liners (use paper bags or carts without liners)

4.3 Cart Liners

Don’t use plastic liners. Use paper bags or line your cart with cardboard if desired
Paper bags will break down with the compost
Plastic prevents proper composting at the facility

4.4 Green Cart Maintenance

Rinse out periodically to prevent odours
Cover food scraps with leaves or paper to minimize flies
Keep cart covered to reduce pest access
Wash cart in summer months

4.5 Yard Waste Collection

During summer months (May–October), bulk yard waste (branches, leaves, grass) can be placed next to your green cart on collection day. Large branches will not fit in the cart.

5. LARGE ITEM / BULK COLLECTION

5.1 What Is Accepted

Furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
Mattresses and box springs
Carpeting and rugs
Large appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers)
Large wooden or metal items
Yard debris (bundled branches, wood)

5.2 Scheduling Bulk Pickup

Call 311 or visit winnipeg.ca/waste
Request a large item pickup
Provide your address and description of items
Place items at the curb (not blocking sidewalk or street)
Pickup occurs within 7 days

5.3 What Is NOT Accepted for Bulk Pickup

Paint or hazardous materials
Electronics (see E-waste below)
Construction debris
Items requiring specialized disposal

6. E-WASTE (ELECTRONICS RECYCLING)

Electronics require special handling. Never place electronics in regular waste, recycling, or compost carts.

6.1 What Is E-Waste

Computers and monitors
Televisions
Printers and scanners
Cell phones and tablets
Chargers and cables
Gaming consoles
Small appliances
Any device with a battery or plug

6.2 Drop-Off Locations

4R Winnipeg E-Waste Drop-off:

Various depot locations throughout Winnipeg
Check winnipeg.ca/4Rwinnipeg for nearest location
Many are open evenings and weekends

Retail Options:

Best Buy accepts many electronics (sometimes for free)
Other electronics retailers may accept e-waste

6.3 Reuse Options

Consider donating working electronics to:

Schools and community centres
Nonprofit organizations
Online marketplaces (Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace)

7. HAZARDOUS WASTE

7.1 What Is Hazardous Waste

Paint and solvents
Motor oil
Propane and gas cylinders
Batteries (rechargeable, button, car)
Light bulbs (fluorescent, CFLs)
Cleaners and chemicals
Pesticides and herbicides
Thermostats and mercury items

7.2 Drop-Off Locations

4R Winnipeg Depots:

Multiple locations across the city
Open: Year-round
Hours: Check website for current hours and locations

Find your nearest depot:

Visit winnipeg.ca/4Rwinnipeg for locations and hours

Visit winnipeg.ca/4Rwinnipeg for:

Current depot locations and hours
Acceptable items list
What to bring (original containers recommended)

7.3 Important Safety Notes

Keep hazardous materials in original containers
Don’t mix different chemicals
Store safely away from children and pets
Never place hazardous waste in garbage, recycling, or compost

8. PROBLEM MATERIALS

8.1 Polystyrene (Styrofoam)

White styrofoam can go in blue recycling bags
Styrofoam packaging: Check if marked #6 (recyclable) or #7 (not recyclable)
Large styrofoam should be broken into pieces and placed in blue bags

8.2 Plastic Bags

Place loose in blue bags (don’t knot)
Or take to grocery stores for plastic bag recycling
Tied bags jam sorting equipment at recycling facilities

8.3 Cardboard & Pizza Boxes

Flatten cardboard boxes
Greasy pizza boxes: If heavily soiled, put in garbage. If only lightly greasy, recyclable
Remove all plastic and non-cardboard elements

8.4 Glass Bottles and Jars

Rinse thoroughly
Remove metal lids
Place in blue bags
Clean glass is safer for sorting facility workers

9. RESIDENT TIPS FOR WASTE REDUCTION

9.1 Reduce

Buy less packaging
Choose products with minimal packaging
Avoid single-use items
Buy in bulk

9.2 Reuse

Donate clothing, furniture, and goods
Use reusable bags, containers, and water bottles
Repair items instead of replacing
Sell unwanted items online

9.3 Compost at Home

Many Royalwood residents maintain home compost bins
Reduces waste and creates nutrient-rich soil
Space-saving options include tumbler bins and vermicomposting

10. COMMON QUESTIONS

Q: When is my collection day? A: Royalwood’s collection day is Tuesday. Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 AM.

Q: What if I miss collection day? A: Collection continues the following Tuesday. Call 311 if your cart isn’t emptied.

Q: Can I buy additional carts? A: Yes. Contact the City at 311 to purchase extra garbage or recycling carts.

Q: What if my cart is damaged? A: Call 311 to request replacement. Replacement carts are provided at no charge.

Q: Can I recycle pizza boxes? A: Only if lightly soiled. Heavily greased boxes go in garbage. Tear out plastic windows before recycling.

Q: Where do I dispose of light bulbs? A: CFL and fluorescent bulbs go to hazardous waste depot. Standard incandescent bulbs go in garbage.

Q: What about recycled materials contamination? A: Keep non-recyclables out of blue bags. Contamination slows processing and can shut down sorting lines.

11. HELPFUL RESOURCES

Topic	Resource	Link
Collection Schedule	City of Winnipeg	winnipeg.ca/waste
What’s Accepted	Waste Sorting Tool	winnipeg.ca/waste
Report Issues	311 Service	311 or 204-986-2171
Hazardous Waste	4R Winnipeg Depots	winnipeg.ca/4Rwinnipeg
E-Waste Recycling	4R Winnipeg Depots	winnipeg.ca/4Rwinnipeg
Composting Tips	City Guide	winnipeg.ca/waste

12. CONTACT & SUPPORT

Questions about collection? Call 311 (24/7)

Report missed collection, damaged carts, or service issues:

Call 311
Online: Submit service request through winnipeg.ca/311

Last Updated: April 2026