Garbage and Recycling at Your Building

Richmond Hill offers free garbage, recycling, furniture and appliance collection services to participating apartment and condominium buildings.

The GoingUp program also allows residents in buildings to participate in the same organic waste program as residents living in houses. Richmond Hill offers this service to existing buildings, if they are interested. The GoingUp program is mandatory for new buildings.

Some City houses in Richmond Hill receive similar waste collection services where material is collected in bulk, instead of at the curb.

Information for Residents

Buildings usually have areas of the property set aside for waste disposal and collection. Contact your superintendent or property manager for information about where to dispose of your garbage, recycling, organics, furniture and appliances.

Please see below for access to helpful information for residents about the garbage and recycling services in their building.

How do I know what goes where?

Learn about where to properly dispose of your waste by:

Please check with your property manager to see if your building participates in the GoingUp program for organic waste collection.

My Waste app changes

The My Waste app has been discontinued and replaced with the Recycle Coach app. To get the same great information and services regarding Richmond Hill’s waste collection programs and schedule, please download the Recycle Coach app from the App Store or get it on Google Play. 
Garbage and recycling
  • All recyclables must be rinsed and loose.
  • Large pieces of cardboard or other large items cannot be placed in chutes.
  • Plastic film and styrofoam are not recyclable.
  • If you require an in-unit recycling container, please contact your property manager.

For more information about the recycling system, including recycling contamination and how to avoid it, please visit York Region's website.

GoingUp Program (Organics)
  • Place your organics in compostable bags (look for the compostable logo).
  • If you require an in-unit organics container, please contact your property manager.

Electronic waste and household hazardous waste

Please check with your property manager to see if your building participates in programs for electronic waste and household hazardous waste disposal. If not, you can visit one of York Region's waste depots. 

Household battery recycling

Used household batteries are accepted in the collection boxes at Richmond Hill’s main Municipal Offices (225 East Beaver Creek Road), the Operations Centre (1200 Elgin Mills Road East) and all community centres and libraries. They can also be taken to York Region Waste Depots. For safety reasons, please tape the ends of primary lithium, button cell, rechargeable and 6 and 9 volt batteries.

Waste Bylaw
The Waste By-law regulates and maintains a system for the collection and disposal of household waste in the City of Richmond Hill.

Information for Building Management

GoingUp program

If you are a representative from a building interested in the GoingUp program please contact Access Richmond Hill via email at access@richmondhill.ca or call 905-771-8800.

Participating buildings in the GoingUp program receive in-unit organic containers for residents, educational resources and organic collection carts. The building is then added to a weekly organics collection route.

Appliance collection 

Free appliance collection occurs monthly.

To arrange this service, contact Access Richmond Hill at 905-771-8800 or use the free online booking tool.

Please do not place material out for collection before 6 p.m., the day before your collection day or after 7 a.m. on the day of collection.

Furniture collection

Free furniture collection occurs bi-weekly.

To arrange this service, contact Access Richmond Hill at 905-771-8800.

Please do not place material out for collection before 6 p.m. the day before your collection day or after 7 a.m. on the day of collection.

In-unit organic and recycling containers

Richmond Hill provides in-unit recycling containers to all buildings receiving municipal collection and in-unit organic containers to buildings participating in the GoingUp program. Contact Access Richmond Hill at 905-771-8800 for more information. 

Textile collection bins

The City of Richmond Hill does not provide textile collection services. However, by adding a collection bin at your building in partnership with a charity or local business, you can make textile drop-off more convenient for residents while increasing your building’s waste diversion. Collection bins can be obtained by contacting the organizations listed below.

COVID-19 update: Due to the developing circumstances surrounding COVID-19, some organizations are not accepting textile donations at this time. Please visit their respective websites or contact them for more information. 

Registered charities For-profit organizations
Diabetes Canada
 Envirotex Recycling Inc.
The Kidney Foundation of Canada  
The Salvation Army  

If your organization would like to be included in this list, please contact greeningthehill@richmondhill.ca.

DISCLAIMER: The City of Richmond Hill (“City”) maintains the directory of organizations for information purposes only. Details of the programs and services may change without notice. Buildings are encouraged to visit organization websites and to call ahead to confirm bin specifications, the level of service provided, what materials are accepted and fees (if applicable).  It is the responsibility of the building to establish a service agreement with the organization. Users are advised that the City does not endorse the organizations or services provided and is not responsible in any way for any injury to persons or property, or any damages or losses of any kind whatsoever, in connection with the use of any clothing donation bins or collection services.

Printable resources (literature/signage)