Garbage and Recycling | Township of Minden Hills

The Township of Minden Hills has four waste disposal sites located throughout the Township for the disposal of your waste and recycling. We do not offer curbside collection, so you'll need to dispose of your waste at one of the waste disposal sites.

Learn more about:

Please contact our Public Works Department if you have any questions about garbage and recycling disposal.

Get a Waste Disposal Card or Waste Site Access Pass

You will need a Waste Disposal Card or Waste Site Access Pass in order to visit one of the waste disposal sites in Minden Hills. Learn how to get a Waste Disposal Card or Waste Site Access Pass.

Cottage kits are also available to make waste disposal easy for your guests. There is a one-time waste disposal pass included in each cottage kit.

Why do I need to show a valid waste disposal card each visit?

Regulations and the Township of Minden Hills By-law requires confirmation that those using the Township Waste Disposal Sites are property owners in the Township of Minden Hills. We must also ensure that the waste that is being deposited at each site, originated within the Township. To ensure we comply with this requirement, Site Attendants check for a valid waste disposal card. You will not be able to enter into Waste Disposal Sites without a valid waste disposal card, or a cottage kit pass.

Load inspections

In order to comply with regulations, the Township of Minden Hills requires that all incoming waste and materials be inspected prior to entering any waste disposal site. This is to prevent prohibited materials coming into our waste disposal sites that would violate the Ministry approval or pose a health and safety risk to staff and site users.

All residents and commercial users of City landfill sites must separate recyclable items from waste. Any waste loads that contain more than 6% recyclable materials will be subject to higher fees.

Sorting your garbage and recycling

If you are unsure where an item goes or if it is recyclable, you can use our Waste Wizard recycling app. You can also download the app to your phone so you have access on the go.

Minden Hills Waste and Recycling Guide

You can now view our 2025 Waste and Recycling Guide. This Guide provides lots of great information on our waste management services including our recycling programs and upcoming events. It also includes recycling and waste reduction tips.

Clear Bags for Garbage

Like many communities in Ontario, the Township of Minden Hills requires residents to use clear garbage bags for disposing of waste. This allows our site attendants to perform a quick check to make sure that your bag doesn't contain hazardous waste or recyclables. This system helps us identify where our residents need help accessing our recycling programs and provide you with information and assistance in diverting waste from landfill.

Garbage

What is Garbage

Tissue paper, paper towel and single-use wipes
Absorbent pads from meat trays
Broken glass, dishes and old plastic food storage containers
Food scraps
Plastic cutlery and dirty disposable plates
Single-use coffee pods (even if they say recyclable)
Drink pouches
Used feminine hygiene products and diapers
Cat litter, puppy pads and poop and scoop bags

What is not Garbage

Hazardous Waste
Blue Box Recyclables
Construction/Demolition Material
Scrap Metal
Batteries and lighting material
Electronics

Waste Disposal Fees

Managing waste is very expensive. There are financial and environmental impacts to landfilling wastes and to removing waste from site to be recycled somewhere else. Charging waste disposal fees helps recover those costs so that the cost is not applied to your property tax. This way, the person who creates the waste pays for the cost to manage it.

Items without Fees

These items can be dropped off at no charge:

Non-Freon Appliances (stoves, washers, dryers, tagged freon appliances)
Blue Box Recycling
Yard waste (accepted at Scotch Line only)
Electronics (TV's, computers, phones, monitors) (accepted at Scotch Line only)
Garbage bags (within waste disposal card allotment, sorted)
Scrap Metal
Propane Tanks (accepted at Scotch Line only)
Batteries
Lighting material (bulbs, tubes) (accepted at Scotch Line only)
Tires (car tires, truck tires) (accepted at Scotch Line only)

Items with Fees

Please visit the User Fees page for current waste disposal fees.

Bear Wise - You are in Bear Country

Minden Hills is bear country and bears love garbage. With careful management of your waste, you can reduce the chance of attracting bears to your property: Do not stockpile garbage. Take it to the landfill frequently. Keep meat scraps and cooked food waste in the freezer until you are ready to take it to the landfill. Store garbage in a bear-resistant container, secure shed or garage. Never put meat, bones, fish or dairy products in a compost bin.

Bear Wise Information

Bears are often attracted to garbage and food on our properties. Find out how to limit bear encounters by following these Bear Wise tips and tools.

Bear Encounters

Not every bear sighting is an emergency situation. Here is who to call if you encounter a bear.

Non-Emergency Encounters

Call the Bear Wise reporting line if a bear:

Roams around or checks garbage cans
Breaks into a shed where garbage or food is stored
Is in a tree
Pulls down a bird feeder or knocks over a barbeque
Moves through a backyard or field but does not linger

This line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 to November 30.

Emergency situation

Call 9-1-1 if a bear is creating immediate danger to personal safety and/or displaying threatening or aggressive behaviour such as:

Stalks people and lingers at the site
Enters or tries to enter a house or cottage
Kills livestock or pets and lingers at the site

For more information on bears and the Bear Wise Program, visit the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) Bear Wise Website