We provide garbage and recycling services for residents in Saugeen Shores. Click the "When's my garbage day?" image below to view our garbage collection map.
Learn more about bag tags, recycling collection, and our landfill. The Town is pleased to be running a film plastics recycling pilot project and we encourage you to learn more by clicking 'Recycling programs' and then 'Film plastics recycling' in the menu below.
The 2023 Blue Box Collection Schedule is now available! Click HERE
Garbage collection
We contract our garbage collection service to Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling. For concerns about garbage collection, or for more information, visit their website or call 519-797-5557.
Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling will pick up garbage on all statutory holidays, except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Please continue to place your garbage curbside by the normal 7:00 a.m. time on all remaining holidays. If you miss this time, drivers won't return to pick up missed garbage.
Household garbage requirements
All household garbage must be:
At your curb by 7:00 a.m.
Bagged and placed in acceptable garbage containers that are protected from rodents, animals, insects and birds
No heavier than 11 kg (or 25 lbs) per bag/container
Clearly visible to drivers and pedestrians, and not hidden behind a vehicle, snow bank or other obstruction
If you use a large garbage collection box at your property, you must follow our garbage box requirements. Garbage boxes must clearly indicate whether there is garbage inside the box or not. This can include a mailbox flag or a yes/no sign which must be visible from the road.
Recycling programs (cardboard, film plastics, and more)
View our recycling information to learn what you can recycle, how to recycle and Saugeen Shores' blue box schedule.
We are committed to diverting waste to proper collection locations in order to minimize the waste's impacts to the environment.
Cardboard recycling
You can recycle flattened cardboard boxes at the following cardboard recycling depots:
Port Elgin Sewage Treatment Plant (Lehnen Street)
Public Works Garage (Concession 6 at Guyers Drive)
Southampton Landfill (Concession 14)
Film plastics recycling
You can drop off your film plastics at two locations in Saugeen Shores. Accepted materials will be recycled by a company in Ontario into plastic resin pellets to be used in manufacturing.
The success of this project depends on you! To recycle your film plastic, you must ensure all materials are:
Clean – remove all food residue
Dry – if you rinse it, let it dry
Empty – remove paper, stickers and receipts
Identified by #2 HDPE or #4 LDPE recycling symbol
Drop-off locations
Place filled bags in the small round opening in the yellow bin at one of the following locations:
Do not leave plastics outside the collection bins.
Accepted items
Only plastics identified by #2 HDPE (high-density polyethylene) or #4 LDPE (low-density polyethylene) are accepted. These are:
Grocery and retail bags
Newspaper and flyer bags
Dry cleaning bags
Electronic equipment bags
Food and produce bags
Bread bags
Fresh vegetable and produce bags
Frozen vegetable bags
Bulk goods bags
Milk outer bags
Product packaging and wrap
Water softener and salt bags (remove rigid plastic handles)
Toilet paper, napkin and paper towel over wrap
Diaper and feminine hygiene product outer bags
Bottled water and soda case over wrap
Soil, mulch, etc. garden product bags (clean, dry and empty)
Not accepted
Unclean items with food or dirt residue
Packaging in contact with meat
Packaging in contact with dairy
Biodegradable or compostable plastics
Crinkly, non-stretch wrap, packaging and bottle seals
Zipper lock and resealable bags
Agricultural bale, boat and shrink wrap
Beverage rings
Stretch cling wrap
Chip, cookie, chocolate and snack bar wrappers
Bubble wrap
Styrofoam recycling
Styrofoam can now be dropped off for recycling in Southampton. Saugeen Shores is taking part in a pilot project with Second Wind Recycling for Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) recycling. This project will start on December 28, 2020 and will last for a minimum of one year. EPS recycling will be based out of the Southampton Landfill site at 126 Concession 14.
Accepted items:
Items that can be collected must be clean, dry, free of tape and must be marked with the #6 recycling symbol. Accepted items include:
White packaging from electronics and appliances (such as TV’s, computers, microwaves, etc.)
Not accepted:
Meat trays
Pool noodles
Take-out containers, bowls and cups
Packing peanuts
Insulation panels
Polyethylene Foam
Drop-off location:
Southampton Landfill, 126 Concession 14
Fluorescent bulb recycling
You can drop off expired fluorescent bulbs and tubes at the Southampton Landfill. These items are taken to a facility that discards mercury and other hazardous chemicals properly.
Propane tank recycling
You can drop off your empty propane tanks at the Southampton Landfill, where they are recycled properly.
Battery recycling
You can drop off household batteries at the Southampton Landfill, municipal office or at the Public Libraries in Port Elgin and Southampton. The batteries are then taken to a disposal facility.
Mattress and box spring recycling
You can drop off your mattresses and box springs at the Southampton Landfill, with a fee of $27.98 per mattress.
Tire recycling
You can bring off-rim and clean tires to the Southampton Landfill at no cost.
Recycling of cooling units
We will accept Freon units, air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, water coolers and dehumidifiers at the Saugeen Shores Landfill, only if they have been certified and tagged as "Freon Free."
Recycling of fire extinguishers
We accept recycling of fire extinguishers which contain mercury at the Southampton Landfill.
Green cones are available for purchase from the Town using our online form.
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