Signing Up for Municipal Water, Garbage, and Recycling Services in Canada

In Canada, municipal services like water, garbage collection, and recycling are managed by your local city or town government — not by the federal or provincial government. When you move into a new home, you may need to register for these services, understand how billing works, and learn the rules for waste sorting. Getting this right from the start will help you avoid fines, missed pickups, and confusion about your utility bills.

This guide covers how municipal services work across Canada, with specific details for major cities. While the exact processes vary by municipality, the general principles apply everywhere.

Water and Sewer Services

If You Are Renting an Apartment

In most cases, if you rent an apartment in a multi-unit building, water is included in your rent. Your landlord pays the municipal water bill and factors it into your monthly rent. You typically do not need to set up a separate water account. Check your lease agreement — it should specify which utilities are included.

See also: Renting an Apartment in Canada

If You Are Renting a House or Townhouse

When renting a house or townhouse, you may be responsible for water and sewer charges. This depends on your lease agreement. If you are responsible:

1. Contact your municipality's utilities department — Most cities have a utilities or water services division. For example, in Toronto, contact Toronto Water at 311. In Calgary, contact ENMAX and the City of Calgary Water Services. In Ottawa, contact the City of Ottawa at 311.
2. Open an account — You will need your name, new address, move-in date, and sometimes your landlord's information. Some municipalities require a deposit of $100 to $300 for new accounts with no Canadian credit history.
3. Understand billing — Water bills are issued monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly depending on the municipality. Average household water costs range from $40 to $120 per month depending on the city and usage.

Water Costs by Major City (2026 Estimates)

• Toronto: Average $80 to $110/month for a single-family home (water and sewer combined)
• Vancouver: Flat rate of approximately $600 to $800/year for a single-family home, billed through property taxes. Metered homes pay based on usage.
• Calgary: Average $70 to $100/month (water and wastewater)
• Montreal: Water is included in municipal taxes for most residents — no separate bill
• Ottawa: Average $85 to $115/month for a household

Garbage Collection

Garbage collection in Canada is managed by your municipality. In most cities, you do not need to sign up separately — service begins automatically when you move in. However, there are rules you need to follow.

Collection Schedule

Most municipalities collect garbage weekly or biweekly. Your collection day depends on your address. To find your schedule:

• Toronto: Use the Toronto waste collection schedule tool at toronto.ca
• Other cities: Search your city name plus "waste collection schedule" or call 311 (available in most Canadian municipalities)

Garbage Limits and Tags

Many municipalities limit the number of garbage bags or bins you can put out per collection. For example:

• Toronto: Households with small bins (under 75 litres) are limited to collecting garbage biweekly. Extra items require garbage tags ($4.71 each as of 2026).
• Ottawa: Residents receive 6 free garbage tags per year. Each additional tag costs $3.00.
• Vancouver: Garbage is collected every two weeks. Extra bags require stickers ($2.50 each).

What Goes in the Garbage

Only items that cannot be recycled, composted, or taken to a hazardous waste depot should go in the garbage. Common garbage items include:

• Non-recyclable plastics (chip bags, candy wrappers)
• Broken ceramics and pottery
• Disposable diapers
• Pet waste (in a tied bag)
• Styrofoam (in most municipalities — check locally)

Recycling

Canada has extensive recycling programs, and sorting your recyclables correctly is important. Most municipalities use a blue bin or blue bag system for recyclables.

Commonly Accepted Recyclables

• Paper and cardboard: Newspapers, flattened boxes, office paper, magazines
• Plastics: Bottles, containers, and tubs (usually marked with recycling symbols #1 through #7, but check locally)
• Metals: Aluminum cans, tin cans, clean aluminum foil
• Glass: Bottles and jars (in Ontario, check if your municipality accepts glass curbside; some do not)
• Cartons: Milk cartons, juice boxes, tetra paks

Common Recycling Mistakes

• Plastic bags — Do NOT put loose plastic bags in your blue bin. Return them to a grocery store for recycling.
• Dirty containers — Rinse food containers before recycling. A container with food residue contaminates other recyclables.
• Coffee cups — Most paper coffee cups are NOT recyclable due to their plastic lining. However, the lids usually are recyclable.
• Batteries and electronics — Never put these in recycling or garbage. Take them to a designated drop-off location.

Green Bin / Organics / Composting

Most Canadian cities have a green bin program for organic waste (food scraps and yard waste). This waste is composted rather than sent to landfill.

What Goes in the Green Bin

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Meat, bones, and fish (including shellfish)
• Dairy products
• Bread, pasta, rice, and grains
• Coffee grounds and tea bags
• Eggshells
• Paper towels and tissues
• Yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, small branches)

Line your green bin with newspaper, a certified compostable bag, or a paper bag. Regular plastic bags are NOT accepted in green bins.

Setting Up All Your Utilities at Once

When you move into a new home in Canada, you typically need to set up several utilities beyond water and waste:

1. Electricity — Contact your local electricity provider (e.g., Toronto Hydro, BC Hydro, Hydro-Québec, ENMAX in Calgary). Most require an account setup with possible deposits of $50 to $200 for newcomers.
2. Natural gas — If your home uses gas for heating or cooking, set up an account with your provider (e.g., Enbridge in Ontario, FortisBC, ATCO Gas in Alberta). Average monthly costs range from $50 to $150 depending on season and usage.
3. Internet — Major providers include Bell, Rogers, Telus, Shaw, and budget options like TekSavvy and Oxio. Plans start at $40 to $60/month for basic service.

Many municipalities consolidate water, sewer, and stormwater charges on a single bill. In some cities like Winnipeg, garbage collection costs are included in your property tax (paid by homeowners) or factored into rent.

Understanding Your Municipal Tax Bill

In Canada, property taxes fund many municipal services including garbage collection, road maintenance, public libraries, fire departments, and parks. If you own property, you pay property taxes directly to your municipality. If you rent, your landlord pays property taxes and factors this cost into your rent. Understanding how municipal finances work helps you understand why certain services are structured the way they are. For a broader overview of how municipal governments work in Canada, the Government of Canada provides a helpful primer at canada.ca government structure for newcomers. Municipal property taxes vary significantly by city — for example, a $500,000 home might pay approximately $3,000 per year in property taxes in Toronto but around $3,800 in Ottawa and $4,500 in Winnipeg. These taxes directly fund the municipal services described in this guide.

Tips for Newcomers

• Call 311 — In most Canadian cities, dialing 311 connects you to municipal services. Representatives can help with utility setup, waste collection questions, and much more. Service is available in multiple languages in major cities.
• Download your city's waste app — Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, and many other cities have free apps that send collection day reminders and help you sort waste correctly.
• Ask your landlord — When signing a lease, ask specifically which utilities are included and which you need to set up yourself.

For a complete guide to everything you need to set up when you arrive in Canada, use our settlement checklist. It covers utilities, banking, healthcare, identification, and all the other essentials. Need help with a specific municipal question? Try our AI chat assistant for instant guidance.