Town of Bridgewater
Find everything you need to ensure your waste is set out properly, collected reliably, and diverted effectively from landfill. If you have questions, review the waste sorting brochures, your 2025 Town of Bridgewater Waste Collection Calendar, email info@southshorewaste.ca or call (902) 543-2991.
Collection Issues
If you’ve missed collection or are experiencing any collection issues, call the Waste Hotline at 1 (855) 530-3324. Collection changes and cancellations due to weather and road conditions are aired on CKBW (98.1 FM), posted on the home page of this website and on the South Shore Waste Solutions’ Facebook Page. Call (902) 543-2991 to listen to a message concerning cancellations and waste site closures.
Collection Day
Find your collection day on the Town waste collection route map included with the calendar.
Alternating Blue and Green Week collections take place on your collection day shown on the map. Blue week collection includes recyclables, paper and cardboard. Green week collection includes organics, garbage and two bulky landfill items.
Wood and metal items are collected during a special collection every fall, not bi-weekly. Waste must be curbside by 8:00 am, not earlier than 8:00 pm the day prior to collection, and within 10 feet of the curb. Ensure snow banks are removed from collection areas and boxes so the waste collector can grab bags, green carts and bulky items easily on collection days.
Collection Guide
Maximum is 100kgs (222 lbs) of recyclables per collection, including containers, paper and cardboard.
- 6 garbage bags (5 clear bags and 1 black, white or green bag allowed for personal garbage)
- Bags no larger than 75 cm x 120 cm (30 x 47 inches)
- Maximum weight per bag is 25 kgs (55 lbs)
- Bags must be tied securely
- 2 bulky landfill items may be collected very collection at a max size of 1.8 m (6 ft) and 100 kgs (220 lbs)
- Transparent blue plastic bag
- Bags no larger than 75 cm x 120 cm (30 x 47 inches) and no smaller than 25 cm x 40 cm (10 x 16 inches)
- Maximum weight per bag is 25 kgs (55 lbs)
- Bags must be tied securely
- Recyclables must be clean
- Lids on except for glass bottles and containers (lids off). Lids go in bag.
- Do not mix containers and cans with paper items
- Transparent blue plastic bag
- Keep the bag dry
- Bag dimensions no larger than 75 cm x 120 cm and no smaller than 25 cm x 40 cm
- Maximum weight per bag is 25 kgs (55lbs)
- Bags must be tied securely
- Flatten, bundle, tie and place it out with your bags of recyclables and paper
- Keep it dry
- 2 green carts, must be purchased from the Town
- Paper green cart liners are accepted; plastic-type compostable bags are not accepted
- Paper leaf bags must be used for bagged leaves and yard waste or placed in your green cart; plastic leaf bags are not accepted.
- Cool wood ashes from your stove for 4 weeks before putting in your cart. Wet them down and check for hot spots. Hot ashes can cause fires.
- Warm Weather Weekly Green Cart Collection: From July – September, green carts are collected weekly, on your regular collection day. Bagged leaves and yard waste are not collected during Blue Weeks when weekly green cart collection takes place.
Items that are sharp or broken such as plates, glasses, knives, sawblades and glass items must be placed in a sealed container or box and labelled “broken glass” or “sharp”. Place this beside your garbage bags.
Residents and businesses can drop off electronics free of charge at South Shore Waste Solutions.
Electronic items are also collected during a special fall pickup. Three electronic items can be collected per household. Please ensure items are not smashed when they are placed at the curbside.
Fridges, freezers, dehumidifiers, conditioners and water coolers cannot be placed curbside unless they’re professionally drained and stickered. Drop these items off at South Shore Waste Solutions, 908 Mullock Road, Whynott’s Settlement, free of charge. For more information and a full list of accepted items visit Recycle My Electronics or call (902) 543-2991.
Residents and businesses can drop off wood and metal products at South Shore Waste Solutions year-round.
Metal can be dropped off free of charge; there is a tipping fee for wood; minimum charges may apply.
Wood and metal are also collected during a special fall pickup.
The combined wood and metal collection limit for the Town of Bridgewater is 2 cubic meters (2.6 cubic yards) (2 meters (6.5 feet) x 1 metre (3.2 feet) x 1 metre (3.2 feet)) or 100kgs (220 lbs).
Individual items cannot exceed 50kgs (110 lbs) or 1.8 m (6 ft). Remove all spikes and brackets over 15 cm (6 in) from wooden pieces. Place wood and metal in separate piles.
Leaf and yard waste is collected year round on your normal collection day during Green Week. A maximum of 5 bags or bundles of branches can be collected if your green cart is curbside and 6 bags or bundles if your cart isn’t curbside. Additional leaf and yard waste can be dropped off at South Shore Waste Solutions for an associated fee.
Each bag may weigh up to 25 kgs (55 lbs).
Branches and limbs up to 1 metre (3 feet) long, and individual pieces no bigger than 5cm (2 inches) in diameter can be collected. Branches must be tied and bundled, weighing up to 25 kgs (55 lbs) per bundle.
Paper bags must be used for leaf and yard waste. Plastic bags are not permitted. Paper leaf and yard waste bags grind easily and break down quickly when they are processed. Plastic bags and plastic-type biodegradable bags get stuck in grinding equipment and cause contamination in the compost. Paper bags are available at most hardware, department and grocery stores. Leaf and yard waste can also be collected directly in your green cart.
An additional spring and fall yard waste collection day will take place during your regular collection day; see schedule for dates. A maximum of 2 cubic meters (70 cubic feet) (2 m x 1 m x 1 m) (6.5 feet x 3.2 feet x 3.2 feet) will be collected on these dates.
Items Not Collected Curbside
Brush- Brush larger than 5cm (2 inches) in diameter and longer than 1m (3 feet) in length cannot be collected curbside. Property owners wishing to get rid of brush from an existing, cleared lot for the purpose of reducing wildfire risk may drop off the brush free of charge to South Shore Waste Solutions as part of the town’s FireSmart Brush program. Find out more on our Frequently Asked Questions Page.
Electronics – These are collected during one special pickup day in the fall. These items can also be delivered year-round to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
Lightbulbs – Can be delivered year-round to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
Batteries – Can be delivered year-round to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
Household Hazardous Waste – Residential household hazardous waste can be delivered year-round to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
Sharps – Sharps cannot be placed in garbage or blue bags. They can be delivered to a local pharmacy free of charge using a sharps bucket provided by the pharmacy. Sharps cannot be placed in garbage or blue bags.
Tires – Up to four tires can be delivered to local retailers free of charge. Tires must be taken off rims.
Asphalt Shingles – Can be delivered to South Shore Waste Solutions or a regulated construction and demolition waste landfill. Fees apply.
Fridges, Freezers, Water Coolers and Air Conditioners – Can only be collected curbside if professionally drained and stickered first due to CFC gases contained inside the appliances. These items can be delivered to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
