We're excited! The City of Thunder Bay is transitioning to a new automated cart-based system for garbage collection. This new program improves curbside waste collection services, at the same time as reducing program operating costs.
As an initial phase-in, the City introduced the new wheeled garbage carts to approximately 25% of residential households in 2025. The remainder will receive their garbage carts in May, 2026, with usage beginning the week of June 1.
How does an automated cart collection system work?
In automated cart collection systems, a truck with a mechanical arm picks up, empties, and returns carts to the curb. The driver stays in the truck's cab and uses a camera to operate the system, with no manual lifting required.
Your garbage collection cart will be compatible with the automated truck.
Position your garbage cart at the side of the road or in your driveway, 3 feet from your recycling cart, cars, and any other objects. This gives the arm on the truck room to pick up the cart.
Frequently asked questions
| When will my cart arrive? |
| Garbage cart delivery will begin May 4, 2026, and continue for a few weeks. An information sheet will be attached to the cart - please peel off and read. |
| Will apartments or multi-residential housing receive garbage carts? How many? |
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Residential housing with five units or less will receive garbage carts. Residential housing with six or more units will transition during a subsequent phase of the roll-out. The City has established a units-to-carts ratio that works for several-unit apartments. These apartments may receive combinations of 240-litre and 360-litre carts. Capacity should be sufficient, and tenants should share. This avoids space issues with large numbers of carts. |
| I've received my cart. What do I do next? |
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If you receive a garbage cart in May 2026, you'll need to wait until the week of June 1 to start using it for garbage collection set-out. Store your garbage cart on your property (e.g., garage, beside/behind your house) until the week of June 1. Do not store your cart on the road or sidewalk. |
| How much garbage will my cart hold? |
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The standard garbage carts provided to residents will have a 240L capacity, and hold approximately three bags. Do not overload your cart. You need to be able to close the lid fully. The mechanical arm on the truck picks up the cart and turns it completely upside-down during collection, and any materials jammed tightly into the cart may not fall out when tipped. Carts do not need to be full to be put out for collection. Tip: Some residents find it easier to lift smaller, lighter bags into the cart more frequently rather than dealing with one heavy bag. |
| Do I need to put garbage in bags before placing it in the cart? |
| Yes, residents should bag their garbage before placing in the cart. Any bag that closes is adequate - green garbage bags, grocery bags, old blue bags are fine. This helps ensure that loose items do not escape when the cart is tipped into the collection truck, and reduces potential litter. |
| Will there be any changes to what I can put in my garbage? |
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No, the items we collect will not change. Please place only garbage in your garbage cart, and place recyclables in your GFL recycling cart. Remember not to put out:
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| Is the waste collection schedule changing? |
| No, there are no changes to your schedule. You may check your schedule on our Garbage and Recycling webpage. |
| How do I set out my garbage cart for collection? |
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So that the arms on the truck can reach and collect your garbage cart, it needs to be positioned on level ground at the end of your driveway or at the side of the road, with the arrows on the lid facing the road. Please space your garbage cart and your recycling cart three feet/one metre apart. The cart's lid must be fully closed. If you have an additional tagged bag of garbage for collection, place it on the ground next to the cart, not on top of the cart. Remember that carts placed behind vehicles, or too close to other objects, cannot be accessed by the collection truck. |
| What happens if my cart breaks? |
| If your cart breaks (examples: lid or wheel detaches) in the course of normal use, call City Dispatch at 807-625-2195 and the City will repair or replace. |
| Can I get or buy an additional City garbage cart? |
| No, the City provides one garbage cart per residential household. |
| Can I still purchase and use garbage tags for an additional item? |
Yes! You can still purchase tags, and you may affix a tag to one additional bag of garbage and set it beside your garbage cart for collection.
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| I have a basement apartment - will it get a garbage cart? |
| Legal basement apartments can receive garbage carts. If the apartment is not a legal apartment, it is not eligible to receive a garbage cart. |
| Do I take my garbage cart with me when I move? |
| No. Garbage carts are City property and are keyed to specific addresses - leave your cart at the residence. |
| What should I do with my old garbage can(s)? |
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If your cans are in good condition, repurpose them to store other items. If you do not need them, watch for announcements in June of a free garbage can drop-off / pickup period at the Landfill. |
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Why is the City transitioning to an automated cart collection system? |
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The City of Thunder Bay’s waste collection system has been a manual system, with garbage picked up by hand in bags or garbage cans. Automated cart-based collection or ‘auto-cart’ is considered a best practice in the solid waste management industry, leading to improvements in collection efficiency, worker safety and satisfaction, reductions in injuries and climate change impacts. Thunder Bay's automated garbage cart program will also make it easier for residents to get garbage to the curb (eliminating heavy lifting and dragging), and will protect garbage from weather and animals. The adoption of an automated collection system for garbage is an action item in the City's 2014 Solid Waste Management Strategy, and approved by City Council for implementation. |
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Unable to roll cart to curb? Application for garbage cart set-out service |
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This confidential application is for residents who are physically unable to roll their cart to the curb. The resident or a delegate must complete and return the Application for Garbage Cart Set-Out Service. |
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