Simcoe County waste collection runs as usual on November 11, but drop-off sites close

Next Wednesday, November 11, Remembrance Day, curbside collection of garbage, recycling and organics will run as usual in the municipalities served by the County of Simcoe. If your collection day is Wednesday, put your carts out at the usual time.

What closes on the holiday

County waste drop-off locations (landfills and transfer stations) will be closed on November 11. Regular operations resume on Thursday, November 12. If you were planning to bring old furniture, renovation debris, electronics or extra garbage to one of these sites, pick another day.

Who is served by county collection

County of Simcoe collection serves towns such as Innisfil, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Midland, Penetanguishene, New Tecumseth, Essa, Springwater and others. Barrie and Orillia run their own service, with rules and schedules set by each city, so residents there should check barrie.ca and orillia.ca.

Useful collection reminders

• Put carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day.
• Leave at least half a metre between carts and keep them away from cars and mailboxes.
• Since January 1, 2026, recycling is no longer the County's responsibility and is handled by Emterra. Report recycling collection issues to the company at 1-888-597-1541.
• If your garbage cart is full, each extra bag needs a garbage tag, with a limit per collection. Tag retailers are listed at simcoe.ca/waste.
• Extra recycling can go in clear bags or a blue box, no tag needed. Flatten and bundle cardboard.
• Once snow arrives, don't place carts on snowbanks or on the road, so they don't block the plow.

What to bring to drop-off sites

County drop-off sites accept items that don't go in regular collection, such as furniture, mattresses, construction materials, electronics and household hazardous waste (paint, batteries, strong cleaning products). New tipping fees took effect in January 2026, so check the rates and hours of each site at simcoe.ca before you go.

What Remembrance Day is

November 11 honours Canadian military members who served and died in wars and peacekeeping missions. At 11 a.m., many people observe two minutes of silence, and it's common to wear a red poppy on your clothing in the weeks before. In Ontario, Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday for most workers and schools, so many services run normally. Some public services do close or change hours, such as the County's drop-off sites.

Tip for newcomers

Download the app or turn on collection reminders on the County of Simcoe website. You'll get notices about holiday schedule changes, snow delays and the right day for each type of waste, avoiding fines or forgotten carts at the curb.

Source: BarrieToday.