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Waste exemptions

Single-family homes and apartments with six or fewer units are allowed two bags or cans of garbage every other week. If your household generates more waste than the limit allows, you may be eligible for an exemption.

Exemption requirements

All exemptions must meet these requirements:

A house with a door

Live in a single-family home or apartment building with six or fewer units

A garbage bin and a garbage bag

Currently receive curbside collection from Niagara Region

Mobius loop

Fully participate in the Green Bin and recycling program each week

Available exemptions

Single-family homes

Available to eligible households with children under the age of four, in diapers, that cannot contain the diaper waste within the regular curbside limit of two containers collected every other week; or are unable to wait for their next garbage collection week.

If approved, the bag allowance and collection frequency depends on the number of eligible children in diapers.

  • One child — one transparent bag of diapers on the opposite week of your regular garbage collection week
  • Two children — one transparent bag of diapers weekly
  • Three or more children — two transparent bags of diapers weekly

Cloth diapers

Cloth diapers can be purchased from a variety of retail locations. There are also service providers who will pick up and wash your children's soiled cloth diapers. For more information, visit Green Baby Cloth Diaper Service.

Apply for residential diaper exemption online

Daycares

Available to eligible daycares operating out of a residential property that cannot contain diaper waste within the regular curbside garbage limit of two bags / cans collected every other week or cannot wait for their next garbage collection week.

Additional requirements

  • Provide documentation that the daycare is provincially licensed, or show that income is generated through child care

Apply for daycare exemption online

Residential

Available to eligible households requiring additional collection of non-hazardous waste generated as a result of a medical condition; and cannot contain the waste within the regular curbside limit of two containers collected every other week; or are unable to wait for their next garbage collection week.

Additional requirements

  • Have a medical condition that results in the generation of additional non-hazardous and unavoidable waste
  • Provide a physician or certified health care practitioner's signature verifying the medical condition

If approved, one or two additional garbage containers, with tags, can be placed at the curb for collection each week.

Approved waste exemptions for medical reasons must be renewed by the applicant annually with validation from a physician or certified health practitioner every seven years.

Download the medical waste exemption application (PDF)

Contact the Waste Info-Line for a renewal application form.

Group homes

Available to group homes, homes for adults with disabilities, and homes for assisted living, that generate addition non-hazardous waste as a result of a medical condition, and cannot contain the waste within the regular curbside limit of two containers collected every other week; or are unable to wait for their next garbage collection week.

Additional requirements

  • Have eligible residents with verifiable medical conditions that result in generating additional non-hazardous and unavoidable waste
  • Provide documentation of provincial funding, or proof that the home is operating at the specified property address

If approved, up to two additional containers with tags, can be placed at the curb for collection each week. Waste exemptions for group homes because of medical reasons must be renewed on an annual basis.

Apply for group home medical waste exemption online

Set-out service is available to residents who are physically unable to carry their garbage, Green Bin and recycling boxes to the curb for collection. This service does not apply to the collection of large household items, yard waste, brush or any other curbside service.

To be eligible for this service, the resident must meet the following requirements:

  • Live in a single family home or in an apartment with six or fewer units
  • Currently receive curbside collection from Niagara Region
  • Fully participate in the Green Bin and recycling program each week
  • Not have an able person that is physically capable of moving the garbage, Green Bin and recycling boxes to the curb
  • Provide a physician or certified health care provider's signature verifying the occupant is incapable of moving the material to the curb

Application

To determine service eligibility, email garbage exemptions or call 905-356-4141 or toll-free at 1-800-594-5542.

Service can only be approved after a completed application is received and assessed, and verification from a certified health care provider has been provided.