On November 18, City Council adopted a Waste Master Plan, and approved initial plan recommendations, including optimization of collection routes to improve efficiency and reduce instances of delays in collection. Consult our FAQ for answers to some common questions.

What is changing?

Starting January 6, 2025 some residents may see their collection day and zone change as the City optimizes collection routes.

At the same time, we are moving Yard Waste Collection to occur every other week based on zones, from April to December. Yard waste will occur in both zones, every week, in the month of November. Please consult our Waste Collection Schedule page at www.sarnia.ca/CollectionSchedule for more information on 2025 waste collection schedules.

We are also switching from curbside collection of Christmas trees, to offering a drop off option in 2025. Trees can be dropped off for free at Transco Recycling, 387 McGregor Sd Rd. during the month of January. Please visit www.transcorecycling.com or call 519-332-4045 for more information including hours of operation. There is no curbside tree collection.

There is no change to brush or large item collection.

How do I know if my collection day or zone is changing? How can I find my new collection day or zone?

We have launched an online tool for you to check your collection day and zone for the year ahead. Visit www.sarnia.ca/CollectionDays and input your address into the search bar. The map tool will provide you with your 2025 collection day and zone.

We are preparing to provide information via mail.

Based on the changes it looks like I will not have recycling collected for three weeks. Is this correct?

We are implementing extra collections to prevent a three-week gap in delivery. There are areas where the change in zone would have caused a three-week gap in delivery of recycling collection. In these areas there will be an additional collection of recycling, eliminating a service gap by providing back-to-back recycling collection across two weeks. Specifically:

  • The area bounded by Indian Road, Brigden Road, Confederation Street/Confederation Line and the City boundary will have recycling collected on the weeks of Dec. 30, 2024 and Jan. 6, 2025
  • The area bounded by Brigden Road, Mandaumin Road, Lake Huron, and Confederation Line will have recycling collection on the weeks of Jan. 6 and 13, 2025

Can I use the Recycle Coach to find my collection day and zone?

The app only displays the current zones and routes, so we won’t be updating it until just before January 6, 2025. Until that update occurs the app displays your current day / zone and will not display your new day / zone if it is changing.

When can I expect the annual waste collection calendar in the mail?

Canada Post is currently experiencing a service disruption due to a strike, and we are exploring cost-effective alternatives in the hopes of having calendars mailed out in December. In the meantime, you can find a copy of the 2025 Waste Collection Calendar, including information on 2025 collection weeks, at www.sarnia.ca/CollectionSchedule

Is recycling impacted?

The revised zones and collection days will apply to recycling collection. Recycling collection is not delivered by the City and is provided locally by Circular Materials Ontario. The changes in days and zones will, however, also apply to recycling collection, with details related to recycling collection included in the City’s collection schedule.

Why is the City changing collection days and zones?

Over the years as the City has changed, traditional routes have become unbalanced, with some collection days including significantly more stops than others. This has resulted in slower or delayed collections for certain areas of the City. The change redistributes collection routes and zones evenly, limiting instances of delay and improving efficiency.

Why is the City changing Christmas tree collection?

We want to expand the window during which residents can dispose of their tree. Curbside collection has historically been under utilized with only about 1,000 of an approximate 27,000 homes utilizing tree collection. This resulted in a high cost per tree collected. Costs are fixed based on crews driving all routes in the City to collect trees. Switching to a drop off method saves on costs, while still providing an option for residents.

What if I can’t get my tree to the drop off location?

Residents can place their tree at the curb, during the first brush collection week from April 21 to 25.

Are there other changes being implemented?

No other changes to waste collection are being implemented at this time. While City Council has adopted a new Waste Master Plan, which includes recommendations for the delivery of curbside collection of organics, no decisions have been finalized related to this service. Decisions related to garbage and organics collection service levels and schedules will be reviewed by Council in 2025 and 2026.