FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions


Certain businesses and organizations can request permission to use a black bag. Requests must be sent in a letter to CNWM that details the nature of the business and the types of waste produced. Examples of businesses granted permission include: funeral homes, slaughter houses, hospitals, medical facilities, dental offices and animal hospitals. Black bags are also accepted from international waste sources (such as from ships or planes). Haulers are notified by the customer and/or by CNWM that this permission has been granted.

All CNWM sites are monitored. At the scales, a picture is taken to identify each vehicle and its load. The scale house attendant radios out information to the drop off areas, where compliance is also monitored. Security surveillance for all sites is live at all times and reviewed periodically throughout the day by staff.

If a non-compliant load is delivered, a landfill or transfer station attendant will email a picture of the load and the corresponding load number, time, date and weight to the hauler.

Non-compliant waste is waste that is not properly sorted and disposed of at the regional landfill and /or transfer station. Examples are:

  • Recyclable material (identified under Sort It Businesses) in a clear bag going to the landfill
  • Non-recyclable items put in blue bags for recycling
  • Clean cardboard going to landfill
  • Black/green garbage bags that do not have a permit for disposal
  • Any mixture of clear/blue bags and or cardboard going to the landfill or recycling facility

The Sort It program is mandatory. Our priority is to work with the ICI sector to provide information and education on a continual basis. Businesses that do not properly sort their waste may have their waste rejected for pick-up by their collector.

Waste that is brought to a CNWM site that is non-compliant will incur an additional fee (see Fee Schedule). If the waste collector identifies the business that was non-compliant, CNWM will invoice that business. If the waste collector cannot or will not identify the business, the collector will be charged the fee.

No. Only household hazardous waste is accepted at CNWM sites. Businesses must contact a waste collector for proper disposal of hazardous materials.

To safely dispose of/recycle electronics, businesses should visit recycleMYelectronics.ca or call the Electronic Products Recycling Association for information, toll-free at 1-888-567-4535.

Businesses may drop off (or contract a private waste collector) to take their sorted recyclables and regular garbage to a CNWM site. See Sort It Businesses for details.

Several other kinds of waste can also be disposed of at these sites. See Commercial Services for what is and isn’t accepted from businesses in Central.

Visit the regional landfill or any transfer station with a piece of photo ID to replace your card. There is a $2 replacement charge.

Yes, every household needs a card to drop off any material at the landfill or a transfer station. There is no charge for the card for residents, and you can get one by visiting any CNWM site with a piece of photo ID. See CNWM Card to learn more.

Sort It Central is a mandatory program. Our priority is to work with everyone to ensure recyclable waste stays out of the landfill. Through public education, we’re working to ensure everyone understands how the program works and how to do their part to protect the environment.

Households that do not properly sort their waste for the program may find their waste is not collected. A sticker will be placed on rejected material to identify the issue. Once the issue is remedied by the resident, the waste will be collected during the next weekly collection period. Waste that is brought to a CNWM site for drop off that has not been properly sorted (for example, garbage that also contains recyclables) will incur an additional fee. See the Fee Schedule.