Landfill

Private vehicle procedure

If you are only using the recycling, hazardous waste and e-waste areas, you do not have to cross the scales and there is no charge.

Private vehicles first travel through the household recycling, household hazardous waste and e-waste depots before arriving at the kiosk to be weighed at the scale.

If you have other items, stop at the weigh scale kiosk before proceeding onto the main landfill site. In compliance with Ontario Regulations, all vehicles coming to the Landfill Site must be weighed in and out. Vehicles are charged a tipping fee on exit based on the weight of the load they leave at the site.

The next stop is the public drop-off area (transfer station area), where there are bins for metals, tires, bulky items, clean wood and garbage. Residential vehicles including cars, vans and half-ton trucks move from bin to bin, depositing their waste into the appropriate area. Attendants are on hand to provide advice; however, customers must separate their loads before leaving home.

If you have leaf and yard waste, you will proceed to the leaf and yard waste area near the main tipping face, before returning to the weigh scales to be weighed out.

Commercial vehicle procedure

Commercial vehicles, including City waste packers, proceed directly to automated scales upon entering the site. This new traffic flow improves efficiency, reduces wait times for all users, and encourages recycling and proper waste management. Learn how to use the automated scales for registered commercial vehicles (PDF).

Tipping fees

Loads weighing up to 120 kg: $10

Non-hazardous solid waste over 120 kg: $84.09 per tonne

Non-hazardous (approved) contaminated soil - $45.17 per tonne

Revenues from these fees finance the operation of the landfill site. Correct change is appreciated. You may pay by cash, debit, MasterCard or Visa.

View the Non-profit Organizations Waiver of Tipping Fees Application Form (PDF).

Sort your load

Before leaving home, please sort your load so that you can easily deposit non-garbage items into the following areas and appropriate bins at the landfill site:

• Recycling Depot - paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, tetra-packs, milk cartons, aluminum or metal cans, all #1 and #2 plastic containers (e.g. drink bottles, soap bottles, salad and fruit containers). Containers must be rinsed of any liquid or food residue.
• Household Hazardous Waste Depot including electronic waste (e-waste)
• Public Drop-off Area Bins: garbage, metal (anything containing metal), scrap tires, bulky items (like mattresses), etc.
• Leaf and Yard Waste Area

If recyclable or compostable material is brought in with regular garbage, it must be clearly separated from the garbage on the load.

What is and isn't accepted at the landfill

Accepted

• Only garbage generated within the District of Thunder Bay boundaries is accepted at the landfill site
• Any scrap metal can be recycled. Any item with metal in it should be placed in the "Metals" bin. Freezers, air conditioners and refrigerators must display a tag or notice signed by a certified technician indicating that the fluorocarbons known as CFCs, HCFCs or HFCs have been removed. Once cleared at the kiosk, these items can be left in the "Metals" bin at the Public Waste Disposal area.
• Fluorescent tubes can be recycled at the Landfill Site. Deliver them to Household Hazardous Waste Depot during regular landfill hours
• Empty, dry paint cans should be deposited in the metal laydown area. Partial cans of paint and all other household hazardous waste can be deposited at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot.
• There is no longer a surcharge for the disposal of scrap tires. A drop-off bin for tires is located in the Public Drop-off Area. Residents can also visit the Ontario Tire Stewardship website for more information on tire collection locations.
• Management of asbestos waste is subject to specific regulations under Ontario's Environmental Protection Act. The Solid Waste and Recycling Facility currently accepts asbestos provided certain conditions are met. For more information on disposal, contact the Supervisor – Landfill Operations at 625-3392. 

Not Accepted

• Non-tagged freezers, refrigerators or air conditioners

A cleaner, greener facility

The Solid Waste & Recycling facility reflects our community's commitment to sustainable and progressive management of waste and recycling. Enhancements include improved traffic flow and new directional signage, a new administration centre, weigh-scale kiosk and expanded recycling and household hazardous waste areas.

"Green" components of the new site were developed using the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design principles. Features such as solar wall cladding, energy-efficient equipment and water-conserving plumbing  reduce environmental impact.

Landfill gas

The City has partnered with Thunder Bay Hydro to build a power generating station and heat recovery system that uses the methane gas produced from decaying organic materials as fuel. Thunder Bay Hydro Renewable Power Inc. now operates this plant on land leased from the City at the Mapleward Road Waste & Recycling Facility.

The 3.2 megawatt power generation plant draws methane gas to fuel two engine-driven generator sets and is designed to generate enough electricity to power 2,000 houses.

The project annually converts 263 million cubic feet of methane gas that would have otherwise been released into the environment.