Garbage collection schedule and routes

View our Garbage Collection Maps to find out when you should have your garbage ready for pickup at your curb. You can also pick up a copy of our Saugeen Shores Calendar at our municipal office.

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
• Free of hazardous waste or construction waste
• Free of manure, ashes, hay, straw, grass clippings and leaves.
• Affixed with a bag tag
• 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.

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:

• Southampton Landfill, 126 Concession 14
• Public Works Garage, 339 Concession 6

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

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 $20.00 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 Southampton Landfill, only if they have been certified and tagged as "Freon Free."

Recycling of fire extinguishers, thermostats, barometers and smoke detectors

We accept items that contain mercury at the Southampton Landfill, such as:

• Fire extinguishers
• Thermostats
• Barometers
• Smoke detectors

Electronic waste

View our procedures on recycling electronic waste.

 How to buy

1. Pre-pay for composter or Green Cone by visiting the Municipal Office, 600 Tomlinson Drive, Port Elgin.

2. Arrange a time to pick up composter/Green Cone.

3. Go to Southampton Works Yard, 429 Peel Street, Southampton at indicated time.

4. Check in with staff to pick up composter/Green Cone.

5. For the Green Cone, follow installation and usage instructions (below).

 Green Cone Solar Digester Manual

View or download an electronic copy of the Green Cone manual, with information on assembly, installation, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting. Print copies are available at the Municipal Office, 600 Tomlinson Drive, Port Elgin.