Stratford Garbage Collection Helper: Pickup Day, Waste Calendar, Bag Tags and Recycling Changes
This Stratford garbage collection guide is built for the real resident moment: you need to know what goes out, what time it must be at the curb, whether your garbage needs a tag, what changed with recycling in 2026, and where to take large items, white goods, yard waste or hazardous materials.
Quick Answer: How to Check the Stratford Garbage Schedule
For Stratford garbage collection, check the current Garbage and Recycling Collection Schedule and Map or use the Recycle Coach app through the City of Stratford. Garbage and green bin items must normally be at the curb before 8 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Recycling changed in 2026 and curbside recycling pickup starts at 7 a.m.
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Use the official schedule or Recycle Coach
The City says garbage and recycling collection schedules, recyclable items and in-app reminders are available through Recycle Coach. Printed or electronic schedule/map copies can also be requested from Public Works.
Every garbage item needs a tag
Stratford uses a pay-as-you-waste system. Bags, cans and tied bundles placed out for garbage collection need the correct garbage tag unless the official City guidance says otherwise.
Blue cart program started
As of January 1, 2026, Stratford recycling moved into Ontario’s Extended Producer Responsibility system. Households receive 360L wheeled recycling carts, and Emterra handles curbside recycling collection questions.
If you only remember one thing: garbage and green bin should be ready before 8 a.m., recycling should be ready before 7 a.m., and your garbage needs the right tag. The downtown core has special timing, so check that section if you are in the white map area.
What Stratford Residents Usually Need Today
Most residents are trying to solve one of these problems before the truck arrives. Choose the closest path and use the official link when you need the final answer.
I need my pickup day
Use Recycle Coach or ask for the current City schedule and map. Your collection day depends on your address and whether you are in the downtown core.
I need bag tag rules
Garbage bags, cans and tied bundles need tags. If the lid cannot be placed on a garbage can, it is too full to be picked up.
I need 2026 blue cart help
Recycling remains bi-weekly, but pickup starts at 7 a.m. For missed recycling, replacement carts or recycling questions, contact Emterra.
I have a large item or appliance
Large items need a tag and go on your regular garbage day. White goods are collected monthly on the 3rd Monday unless a holiday changes the pickup.
Stratford Collection Schedule and Map: Use Recycle Coach for the Fastest Answer
The City of Stratford points residents to Recycle Coach for garbage and recycling schedules, recyclable items and reminders. The City also says current Garbage and Recycle Collection Schedule and Map copies are available on request from Public Works.
Start with City garbage collection
Open the City’s garbage collection page when you need official rules for collection timing, bag tags, large item tags, white goods and the current schedule/map request path.
Open City garbage collectionUse Recycle Coach
Recycle Coach is the practical choice for residents who want reminders, item lookup help and schedule details without searching through old PDFs or social posts.
Find Recycle Coach from City pageThis map gives Stratford location context only. It is not a live collection-zone map. For your exact pickup day, use Recycle Coach or the official City schedule/map request path.
Downtown Core Collection: Special Stratford Timing
The downtown core is not the same as regular residential curbside collection. If your property is in the white section of the Garbage and Recycling Schedule and Map, follow the downtown core timing.
Tuesday and Friday at 6 a.m.
Downtown core garbage day is every Tuesday and Friday at 6:00 a.m. for properties in the white section of the official schedule and map.
Friday at 6 a.m.
Downtown core green bin collection is every Friday at 6:00 a.m. Set material out according to City instructions and keep regular garbage tagged.
Wednesday at 6 a.m.
Downtown core recycling is every Wednesday at 6:00 a.m. Recycling rules changed in 2026, so use the City recycling page or Recycle Coach for accepted materials.
Do not assume the regular 8 a.m. curbside start applies downtown. If you are in the downtown white map area, the City lists earlier collection times.
Stratford Garbage Bag Tags and Pay-As-You-Waste Rules
Stratford uses a pay-as-you-waste garbage system. That means garbage set out for curbside collection needs a tag, and the way you attach the tag matters.
Bags, cans or tied bundles
The City allows garbage to be placed out in bags, garbage cans or tied bundles. Tags must be used correctly for collection.
$3.90 for one regular tag
Effective January 1, 2026, a regular plastic bag up to 85L and 22 kg / 50 lb requires one $3.90 tag. A rigid container up to 128L and 22 kg / 50 lb also requires one $3.90 tag.
Do not overfill cans
If the lid cannot be placed on the garbage can, the City says it is too full to be picked up. Do not use blue bags for waste.
Half tag for small household bags
A standard plastic grocery store bag with two handles or a small household kitchen bag up to 9 kg / 20 lb uses a half tag cut lengthwise.
More tags may be needed
The City’s 2026 table lists two tags for 129L to 240L rigid containers and three tags for 241L to 360L rigid containers. Use the official table if your container is not a standard bag or can.
Wrap the tag around the neck of a bag or the handle of a can. Stick the tag to itself. Do not stick it flat to the side of the bag, and do not use the tag as a twist tie.
Stratford Recycling Collection in 2026
On January 1, 2026, Ontario moved to a new Extended Producer Responsibility recycling system. In Stratford, households receive 360L wheeled recycling carts under the new system, and Emterra is the curbside recycling collection contractor.
Recycling starts at 7 a.m.
The bi-weekly pickup schedule remains the same, but recycling pickup starts at 7 a.m. Have recycling at the curbside ready for collection by that time.
More items in the harmonized list
The 2026 list includes more accepted items such as coffee cups, cartons, Tetrapaks, Styrofoam and aerosols. Use Circular Materials or Recycle Coach for the current accepted-material list.
Alcohol containers are not blue cart items
The City notes that alcohol containers are no longer accepted in the blue cart program through EPR. Check with your local retailer or return location for those containers.
For recycling missed collection, replacement carts, special accommodation requests or recycling questions, the City directs residents to Emterra at 1-888-597-1541 or customercareont@emterra.ca.
Stratford Green Bin Collection
Stratford’s green bin program diverts kitchen waste and other organic materials from the landfill. Green bin materials are collected weekly on your regular waste collection day, and the City says material should be at the curb before 8 a.m.
🟢 Accepted examples
Food scraps such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, breads, cereals, rice, paper towels, napkins, paper cups and plates, houseplants and cut flowers are listed by the City as acceptable examples.
⚠️ Not accepted examples
Do not put hot beverage cups, diapers, baby wipes, coffee pods, compostable cutlery, dryer lint, leaf and yard waste, milk bags, medical waste or pet waste in the green bin.
🧾 Green bin tips
The City allows newspaper or certified compostable bags as liners. Green bins must be under 23 kg / 50 lb when placed at the curb.
The City suggests using a paper or cardboard egg carton or similar compostable container at the bottom of the green bin in winter to help prevent the bag from freezing to the bin.
Large Items and White Goods in Stratford
Large items and appliances do not follow the same rules as regular garbage bags. Stratford has separate tag and pickup guidance for large items and white goods.
$14 tag per item
A large item is any item larger or heavier than the City’s bundle size, such as a couch or desk. Large items need a tag and are collected on your regular garbage day.
Monthly pickup
The City collects large appliances or white goods on a monthly schedule. Pickup is on the 3rd Monday of each month, unless that day is a holiday, then pickup moves to the following Tuesday.
$45 with Freon, $25 without Freon
If the appliance contains or may have contained Freon, the White Goods Sticker is $45. If it does not contain Freon, the sticker is $25. White goods are not accepted at the landfill site.
Large item tags and White Goods Stickers can be purchased through City Hall and the City Hall Annex during regular business hours. Check the City page before you set anything out.
Leaf and Yard Waste Collection in Stratford
The City offers residential curbside collection for seasonal yard waste such as leaves, hedge trimmings, tree prunings, weeds and yard plants. Yard waste does not include kitchen food waste or grass clippings.
City-wide on your normal collection day
2026 yard waste weeks include January 5-9, April 27-May 1, May 25-29, June 22-26, July 20-24, August 24-28, September 21-25, October 19-23, October 26-30, November 2-6, November 9-13, November 16-20 and November 23-27.
Ready by 8 a.m.
During leaf and yard waste collection weeks, trucks begin collecting at 8 a.m. on your scheduled garbage day. The truck may make two rounds: one for bags/cans and one for brush bundles.
Use kraft bags or labelled containers
Small yard waste materials should be placed in reusable containers with a yard waste label or in kraft paper bags. Plastic bags are no longer accepted for leaf and yard waste collection.
Reusable containers must be maximum 128L, maximum 22 kg, and have handles on both sides. Brush bundles must be tied, up to 4 feet long, with branches less than 4 inches in diameter. The City lists a 20-unit limit, and extra material can be taken to the landfill compost pile.
Household Hazardous Waste, Batteries and Special Disposal
Household hazardous waste must not be put in the garbage, drains or storm sewers. Stratford holds household hazardous waste collection days at the City landfill site at 777 Romeo Street South.
May 30 and September 12
The City lists 2026 household hazardous waste collection days on May 30, 2026 and September 12, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the landfill site.
Paints, fuels, cleaners and batteries
Accepted examples include paints, varnish, solvents, caulking, glue, fuels, antifreeze, brake fluid, used motor oil and filters, household batteries, automotive batteries, cleaners, fluorescent bulbs and propane tanks.
Battery recycling is available outside event days
The City lists battery recycling locations including City Hall, City Hall Annex, the landfill site, Public Library, Public Works Yard and Fire Hall #1.
Keep hazardous products tightly sealed in their original containers. Never mix hazardous materials. Place them in the trunk of your vehicle when taking them to the collection site.
Stratford Landfill Site and Drop-Off Map
The City of Stratford landfill site is at 777 Romeo Street South. Use the official landfill page before visiting because accepted materials, tipping fees, compost, battery recycling, recycling depot rules and hours can change.
Bag, can and loose-load fees apply
The 2026 City garbage page lists landfill drop-off fees including $5.10 per bag or can for up to five bags/cans per vehicle, and $94.94 per tonne for loose loads or more than five bags/cans, with a $25 minimum fee.
Check EPR rules first
The recycling depot at the landfill continues for recycling included in the new EPR program. Businesses and non-eligible sources should verify current rules before using the depot.
New Stratford Resident Checklist
If you just moved to Stratford, set up your waste routine once and you will avoid most missed pickup, wrong-tag and recycling confusion.
Set your collection routine
- Open the City garbage collection page.
- Use Recycle Coach for your address schedule and reminders.
- Check whether your property is in the downtown core white map area.
- Buy garbage tags before your first garbage day.
- Check the green bin and recycling pages before sorting confusing items.
Plan special disposal
- Use a large item tag for couches, desks and similar bulky items.
- Use a White Goods Sticker for large appliances.
- Take hazardous materials only through approved event or drop-off routes.
- Use kraft bags or labelled containers for leaf and yard waste.
- Check landfill fees before loading a vehicle.
Related Ontario Garbage Schedule Guides
Use these internal guides for nearby or similar Ontario pickup systems. For Stratford decisions, use the City of Stratford and Recycle Coach links on this page as the final source.
Toronto Garbage Schedule
Useful comparison for larger-city pickup calendars, recycling rules, green bin tips and missed pickup steps.
Open Toronto guideOttawa Garbage Schedule
Compare another Ontario curbside system with calendar lookup, organics, recycling and garbage-day guidance.
Open Ottawa guideBrowse more Canada pickup guides
Find more Canada garbage collection schedule pages by city, region and resident intent.
Browse Canada guidesOfficial Stratford Garbage Collection Links
Use official sources for final decisions because schedules, tag fees, recycling rules, landfill fees, event dates and contractor contacts can change.
Stratford Garbage Collection FAQ
How do I check my Stratford garbage collection day?
Use the City of Stratford garbage collection page and Recycle Coach app for the current schedule, map and reminders. Printed or electronic copies of the current Garbage and Recycle Collection Schedule and Map can also be requested from Public Works.
What time should garbage be at the curb in Stratford?
For regular garbage collection, trucks begin collecting at 8 a.m. on your scheduled garbage day, so have items at the curb before then. Downtown core properties in the white map section have earlier 6 a.m. timing.
Does every Stratford garbage bag need a tag?
Yes, garbage placed out for collection needs the correct tag under Stratford’s pay-as-you-waste system. The City lists bags, cans and tied bundles as accepted garbage set-out types when tagged correctly.
How much is a Stratford garbage tag in 2026?
The City’s 2026 table lists a regular tag at $3.90 for a standard plastic bag up to 85L and 22 kg / 50 lb. Larger containers may need more tags.
When is recycling collected in Stratford in 2026?
The City says the bi-weekly recycling schedule remains the same, but recycling pickup starts at 7 a.m. Have recycling at the curbside ready for collection at that time.
Who do I contact for missed recycling collection in Stratford?
For recycling missed collection, replacement carts, special accommodation requests and recycling questions, the City directs residents to Emterra at 1-888-597-1541 or customercareont@emterra.ca.
When is green bin collected in Stratford?
Green bin materials are collected weekly on your regular waste collection day. The City says green bin materials should be at the curb before 8 a.m.
Can I use plastic bags in my Stratford green bin?
No regular plastic bags. The City says you can use recycled newspaper or certified compostable bags to line your green bin.
How do large item pickups work in Stratford?
Large items such as couches or desks need a large item tag and are collected on your regular garbage day. The City lists the large item tag at $14 per item.
When are white goods collected in Stratford?
White goods are collected monthly on the 3rd Monday of each month, unless that day is a holiday, in which case pickup moves to the following Tuesday. A White Goods Sticker is required.
When are Stratford hazardous waste days in 2026?
The City lists household hazardous waste collection days for May 30, 2026 and September 12, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the landfill site, 777 Romeo Street South.
Editorial and Source Verification Note
This independent Stratford garbage collection guide was prepared for garbage-collection.org using official City of Stratford garbage collection, green bin, recycling collection, leaf and yard waste, hazardous waste and landfill information. It is designed as a resident shortcut, not a replacement for the City’s live schedule, map, Recycle Coach app, landfill rules or contractor notices.
Before setting out waste, buying tags, reporting missed recycling, setting out a large item, visiting the landfill or handling hazardous materials, confirm the latest details through the City of Stratford, Recycle Coach, Emterra, Circular Materials or the official landfill page.
Final Resident Summary: Bookmark This Before Stratford Collection Morning
For Stratford garbage collection, use Recycle Coach or the official City schedule/map first. Have regular garbage and green bin materials at the curb before 8 a.m., and have recycling ready before 7 a.m. if it is your recycling day.
Remember that Stratford uses garbage tags. Standard bags and cans require the correct tag, larger containers may need more tags, and large items require their own tag. Downtown core collection has special 6 a.m. timing for the white map area.
If you have a couch, desk, appliance, yard waste, batteries, paint, oil, chemicals or other special material, do not guess. Use the official Stratford large item, white goods, yard waste, hazardous waste or landfill guidance before placing anything out.