Blog > What are the garbage, recycling and green bin rules in Markham, Ontario?
What are the garbage, recycling and green bin rules in Markham, Ontario?
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What are the garbage, recycling and green bin rules in Markham, Ontario?
The City of Markham collects blue box recycling and green bin organics weekly, and clear bag garbage every other week. Garbage must be in clear bags. No black, dark, tinted or white bags are accepted. Up to four small opaque privacy bags may be placed inside the clear bags. Everything must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day, or set out after 7:00 p.m. the night before. Yard waste is collected every other week from April through October and weekly from November to mid December, in kraft paper bags or open rigid containers only. Grass clippings are not collected.
Markham Collection Schedule at a Glance
| Stream | Frequency | Container |
|---|---|---|
| Blue box recycling | Weekly | Blue box |
| Green bin organics | Weekly | Green bin, any bag type |
| Garbage | Every other week | Clear bags only, 18 kg limit per bag |
| Bulky items | Every other week, on garbage day | Set at curb |
| Yard waste | Every other week April to October, weekly November to mid December | Kraft paper bags or open rigid containers |
Find your specific collection day by address using the Access Markham app, available for iOS and Android. Paper calendars are available at Markham Recycling Depots.
The Clear Bag Rule
This is the rule that catches every new Markham homeowner, particularly those moving in from Toronto.
Markham garbage must be in clear bags. Black, dark, tinted and white bags are not accepted and will not be collected. Garbage must be bagged, not placed loose in a container.
The city does allow up to four privacy bags per collection. These are small opaque bags placed inside the clear bags, intended for personal items. Use them for what they are meant for and the rest of the household waste goes in clear.
The reason is straightforward. Clear bags let collection crews see whether recyclables and organics have been sorted out, which raises Markham's diversion rate. Michael John Lau, a REALTOR® serving home buyers and home sellers in Markham, Ontario, mentions this to every relocating client, because a missed first collection is an avoidable frustration in week one.
Green Bin: More Flexible Than Most Cities
Markham's green bin program accepts any bag type, including paper, plastic and compostable bags. That is more permissive than many Ontario municipalities.
Pet waste and kitty litter are accepted in the green bin, which is worth knowing for households with animals. Green bin collection is weekly year round, which matters in summer.
Replacement green bins cost $32.00 at Markham Recycling Depots, kitchen catchers are $13.50, and a broken green bin exchange is $5.50. Depots accept debit, credit and cheque, but not cash.
Yard Waste and the Grass Clipping Rule
Yard waste goes out in kraft paper bags or open rigid containers only. Plastic bags of any kind are not accepted, including bags marked biodegradable.
Grass clippings are not collected in Markham. The city's grass cycling policy asks residents to leave clippings on the lawn, where they return nitrogen to the soil. New homeowners with a lawn service should confirm the contractor knows this.
Yard waste runs every other week from April through October, then shifts to weekly from November through mid December for leaf season.
Bulky Items, Appliances and Renovation Debris
Bulky item collection is free and runs every two weeks on the clear bag garbage day. Furniture, mattresses and similar large items go out with the garbage.
Large appliances are different. They require a separate appointment at $18.50 each, booked by calling 905-477-5530.
Renovation debris including drywall and concrete is not accepted curbside. New homeowners planning a renovation should budget for a bin or a haulage service.
Where to Take Everything Else
Markham Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Recycling Depot
Located at 430 Rodick Road, Markham, and operated by York Region. Free, residential only, and proof of residency is required.
- Accepts: household hazardous waste up to 60 litres per day plus 20 compact fluorescent tubes, in original sealed containers. Electronic waste up to 50 kilograms per household per day, with batteries and packaging removed. Cooking oil.
- Does not accept: blue box material, clothing, garbage, commercial hazardous waste, metal or refrigerated appliances, scrap metal, tires, yard waste
- Phone: 1-877-464-9675
Wipe personal data from devices before drop off. Containers are not returned.
City of Markham Recycling Depots
| Depot | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Markham Village | 6041 Highway 7 East | Mon 8 to 4, Wed 8 to 4, Thu 12 to 8, Fri and Sat 8 to 4 |
| Milliken Mills | 7660 Kennedy Road | Fri and Sat 9 to 3 |
| Thornhill | 5 Green Lane | Tue and Thu 12 to 8, Wed and Sat 8 to 4 |
| Unionville | 139A Main Street | Mon 10 to 6, Tue and Thu 12 to 8, Sat 8 to 4 |
Depots accept alkaline batteries, electronics, ink cartridges, scrap metal and textiles. They do not accept lithium ion batteries, hazardous waste, yard material, appliances, tires, garbage, organics, blue box items, cardboard, plastic bags or Styrofoam.
Winter Services: The Part That Surprises New Owners
The winter parking ban applies to everyone
All on street parking is prohibited on both sides of every city street during winter maintenance operations. Those operations can begin as soon as snowfall starts and continue up to 24 hours after it ends.
Critically, all existing parking permits and overnight exemptions are suspended during these operations. A monthly permit does not protect a vehicle. The fine is $150 and vehicles may be ticketed or towed. Markham's Winter Maintenance App tracks plowing progress.
The city clears all sidewalks
This is good news and it differs from many municipalities. Markham clears every public sidewalk. Residents are not responsible for the public sidewalk in front of their home. Clearing happens within 24 hours of snowfall once accumulation reaches 5 centimetres, prioritizing arterial roads, then primary, then residential, with priority near schools and bus stops.
Local roads are plowed at 7.5 centimetres, with roughly 16 hours to complete. Residents must not blow or push snow onto the street or a neighbour's property, and should keep house numbers visible and lit.
Windrow removal assistance
Markham runs a Snow Windrow Removal Assistance Program for residents with disabilities or aged 60 and over. All household members must be 60 or older with proof, or a doctor's certificate is required. Crews clear one car width on the right side of the windrow facing the road, triggered at 7.5 centimetres of snowfall and completed within four hours after plowing. Apply through the city form or by calling 905.477.5530.
Homes with rear lanes and homes on private roadways, including condominiums, are excluded from the program.
What Condominium and Townhouse Owners Need to Know
This is the single largest surprise for buyers moving from a freehold home into a condominium townhouse or apartment.
Condominium corporations and private road townhouse complexes are excluded from City road and lane plowing and from the windrow program. The corporation contracts its own snow removal, and service levels vary widely between complexes.
Waste collection often works the same way. Many condominium and multi residential buildings receive private bulk collection arranged by the corporation rather than City curbside service, which means set out times, container rules and bulky item pickup are set by the corporation's contractor. City schedules and the Access Markham app may not apply.
Buyers should ask the condominium corporation directly, before closing, who plows and who collects. Freehold townhouses on public roads receive standard City curbside collection and are eligible for windrow assistance.
Holidays, Christmas Trees and Missed Collections
- Statutory holidays: a holiday falling Tuesday through Friday pushes collection one day later for the rest of that week. Friday routes shift to Saturday.
- Christmas trees: collected January 6 to 16. Set out by 7 a.m. on your collection day, not on a snowbank, with plastic bags, decorations, tinsel and the stand removed.
- Missed collection: report through the Access Markham app or by contacting 905-477-5530 or customerservice@markham.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Markham require clear garbage bags?
Yes. Markham accepts clear bags only for garbage. Black, dark, tinted and white bags are not collected. Up to four small opaque privacy bags may be placed inside the clear bags.
How often is garbage collected in Markham?
Every other week. Blue box recycling and green bin organics are collected weekly.
What time do I put out my bins in Markham?
By 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, or after 7:00 p.m. the night before. The city recommends morning set out in winter.
Does Markham collect grass clippings?
No. Markham follows a grass cycling policy and asks residents to leave clippings on the lawn. Yard waste must go out in kraft paper bags or open rigid containers, never in plastic bags.
Do I have to shovel the sidewalk in front of my Markham house?
No. The City of Markham clears all public sidewalks, typically within 24 hours of snowfall once accumulation reaches 5 centimetres. Homeowners are responsible for their own driveway and walkway.
How do I find my collection day in Markham?
Use the Access Markham app, available for iOS and Android, and search by your address. Paper calendars are available at Markham Recycling Depots.
Thinking about a move within Markham?
Michael John Lau prepares clients for what living in a community actually involves, not just what it costs.
Disclaimer. Michael John Lau is a licensed REALTOR® serving buyers and sellers in Markham, Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. Collection schedules, fees and program rules are current to September 2026 and are subject to change. Residents are encouraged to confirm current schedules and requirements directly with the City of Markham and York Region.