2027 Garbage Collection Changes

Beginning in January 2027, Leamington will change garbage collection from weekly to bi-weekly.

Leamington’s current garbage collection contract expires on December 31, 2026. On September 8, 2026, Council approved a new waste collection contract for 2027–2032 that includes bi-weekly garbage collection.

The change follows the introduction of weekly Green Bin collection in Leamington through the regional organics program delivered by the County of Essex through the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA). Green Bin collection will begin in Leamington on November 3, 2026.

To support households managing diapers, incontinence products and certain medical waste, the Municipality will also introduce a Diaper Disposal Pilot Program in January 2027.

This page will be updated as additional information about the 2027 collection schedule and services becomes available.

What is changing?

Beginning in January 2027:

Garbage will be collected every other week, beginning Monday, January 11.
Garbage collection across the Municipality, including urban and rural areas, will take place on Mondays.
Organics will continue to be collected weekly, on Tuesdays, through the regional Green Bin program.
Yard waste will continue to be collected weekly from April through November in the urban area only.
Recycling will continue to be collected every other week through the provincial Blue Box program managed by Circular Materials.
A new Diaper Disposal Pilot Program will provide additional collection for eligible, registered households.

Other than the frequency and day of garbage collection, existing garbage collection limits and weight restrictions will remain the same.

The Municipality will provide additional information about the 2027 collection schedule before the change takes effect.

Diaper Disposal Pilot Program

Beginning January 4, 2027, the Municipality will introduce a Diaper Disposal Pilot Program to support households that regularly dispose of diapers, incontinence products and certain medical waste.

Eligible households that register and are approved for the program will receive bi-weekly curbside collection of these materials on the opposite week of regular garbage collection. This will allow participating households to dispose of these materials weekly, helping reduce odour and storage concerns.

The pilot program is approved for the 2027 calendar year and will be evaluated in December 2027 to determine whether it will continue in 2028.

Who is eligible?

To participate in the program, households must meet the following requirements:

Registration: Households must register with the Municipality and be approved before receiving collection.
Waste diversion participation: Households must participate in both the Green Bin and recycling programs to qualify.
Property eligibility: The program is available to eligible residential properties with six or fewer units.

Collection Requirements

Participating households must follow these requirements:

Diapers and other accepted materials must be placed in clear or translucent bags so collection crews can verify the contents.
Bags containing unapproved materials or contents that cannot be verified will not be collected.
Households that do not set out materials for three consecutive scheduled collections will be removed from the program. They may register again if the service is needed.

What materials are accepted?

The following materials are accepted through the pilot program:

Diapers
Incontinence products
Catheters
Colostomy bags (emptied and rinsed)
Disposable sanitary pads
Dialysis waste, including tubing, filters, disposable towels and sheets
Gastric and nasal tubes (emptied and rinsed)
Intravenous (IV) bags and tubing (emptied and rinsed)
Used medical dressings (not blood-saturated)

Materials not accepted

Hazardous medical waste is not accepted, including blood-soaked medical items, sharps, needles, syringes, lancets and pre-filled pens.

How to register for the Diaper Pilot Program

You must register to participate in the Diaper Disposal Pilot Program. Additional information about the registration process will be provided before the program begins.

Regional Green Bin Program

The Green Bin program is a regional program delivered by the County of Essex through EWSWA to meet provincial requirements for diverting food and organic waste from the landfill.

The Green Bin program is separate from the Municipality of Leamington’s garbage collection service.

For information about the regional Green Bin program, including accepted materials and how the program will work, contact EWSWA at 1-800-563-3377 or visit ewswa.org

Recycling Questions and Support

For questions about missed recycling collections, what can be recycled, or recycling carts, contact:

GFL Environmental
Email: WERecycling@gflenv.com
Phone: 1-844-415-4351

For other recycling-related questions or concerns, contact Circular Materials at 1-877-667-2626 or email: customerservice@circularmaterials.ca

Stay Informed

This page will be updated as additional information becomes available and as we receive common questions from residents.