Waterloo Region Junk Disposal Guide

Where does junk actually go in Waterloo Region, and what does it cost to get rid of it the official way? This is the plain guide: the drop-off sites, the fees, what the curb will and will not take, and the items that need special handling. Everything here is current for Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and the townships. If you would rather skip all of it, we do the lifting, sorting and disposal for one price, see what junk removal costs.

Same-day & next-day

We book a real two-hour arrival window across Kitchener, look at the load, and lock a volume price before we haul anything.

Same-day & next-day pickup
Price locked in writing before we load
No stair, heavy-item or disposal fees
We do the lifting, you point at the pile
Donate & recycle what we can

Kitchener & surrounding area

Book a pickup

Tell us what you’re getting rid of and we’ll come back the same business day with a time and a price.

The two Region drop-off sites

The Region of Waterloo runs two waste management sites where residents can drop off garbage, recycling and most bulky junk:

Waterloo: 925 Erb Street West. This is the only operating landfill in the Region, plus a public drop-off area, a recycling sort centre and an environmental education centre.
Cambridge: 201 Savage Drive. A public drop-off area, a large waste transfer building and a compost pad.

Both are open to residents Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and both are closed on statutory and designated holidays. The sites accept waste generated inside Waterloo Region only; a load from outside the Region is turned away.

What it costs to drop off yourself

There is a $15 minimum charge per load, which covers roughly 125 kg of garbage. Above that, you are billed by weight. The rule that catches people out: a mixed, unsorted load is billed at the highest applicable rate, so separating your materials before you go, clean wood here, metal there, genuine garbage separate, lowers the bill.

Some items carry their own fee on top. A fridge, freezer or air-conditioning unit is charged a $10 per-unit refrigerant (CFC) removal fee, because the refrigerant has to be recovered before the shell is scrapped.

What the curb will not take

Regular collection in Waterloo Region is for your black cart and, since March 2026, extra bags without a bag limit, though each extra bag outside the cart still needs a Region garbage tag, will not be collected without a black cart present, and has to be under 50 lb (23 kg). That covers ordinary household garbage. It does not cover the big stuff:

Bulky items (furniture, mattresses, appliances) are collected once a month for eligible households on a scheduled bulky-item day, capped at 200 lb (90 kg) per item, and you cannot put a garbage tag on them. Miss the day or exceed the cap and the item waits another month or goes to a drop-off site.
Renovation debris, sheds, decks, fencing and hot tubs are not curbside items at all. They go to a drop-off site or a hauler.

This once-a-month, weight-capped, tag-barred reality is the single biggest reason people in Kitchener call a junk removal crew: the timing and the limits do not fit a real cleanout.

Items that need special handling

Electronics (TVs, monitors, computers) are banned from Ontario landfills and go through certified e-waste recyclers instead. See e-waste removal.
Refrigerant appliances (fridges, freezers, AC units) need the refrigerant recovered first, the $10 per-unit fee above. See appliance removal.
Mattresses are accepted but are roughly 80% recyclable when they reach a recycler, which is why they should not just be buried. See mattress removal.
Household hazardous waste (paint, solvents, propane, automotive fluids) is a separate stream and must never go in a general load.
Tires, concrete and clean fill have their own rules and weight-based charges.

For any of these, the Region's waste line is 519-575-4400, and the governing rules are set out in By-Law 17-007.

When to do it yourself, and when to call

For one light item you can lift, with a truck and a free Saturday, a drop-off run costs about the $15 minimum and is the cheapest route. For anything with volume, weight, stairs, refrigerant, or a deadline that does not line up with the once-a-month bulky day, the drop-off fees plus a truck plus your time usually add up to more than one volume price with the lifting and sorting done for you. That is the honest line, and it is why we publish our pricing instead of hiding it.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Waterloo Region landfill?

At 925 Erb Street West in Waterloo, the only operating landfill in the Region, with a second drop-off site at 201 Savage Drive in Cambridge. Both are open to residents Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed holidays.

How much does it cost to dump junk in Waterloo Region?

There is a $15 minimum charge per load, covering about 125 kg, and you are billed by weight above that. Mixed, unsorted loads are billed at the highest rate, and fridges, freezers and AC units carry a $10 per-unit refrigerant fee.

Can I put furniture or a mattress at the curb in Kitchener?

Only on your household's scheduled once-a-month bulky-item collection day, capped at 200 lb per item, and never with a garbage tag. Otherwise it goes to a drop-off site or a hauler.

What can't go in the garbage in Waterloo Region?

Electronics (landfill-banned in Ontario), refrigerant appliances, household hazardous waste like paint and propane, and tires all have separate streams. They cannot go in regular collection.

Do the Region sites take waste from outside Waterloo Region?

No. The sites accept only waste generated inside Waterloo Region.

Reviewed August 2026.

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