Curbside Pickup vs Junk Removal in London, Ontario: What the City Takes

Before you book a junk removal service, it helps to know what London’s curbside pickup will already take. The City collects a lot for free. Some items, though, can’t go to the curb at all. Here’s a plain guide to curbside pickup in London, Ontario, based on the City of London’s curbside garbage rules, and when a junk removal service is the easier choice.

What regular curbside pickup in London, Ontario takes

• Up to three containers per collection day. One container is a garbage can (which can hold several bags) or a single bag.
• Each container must weigh under 20 kg.
• Extra bags need a garbage tag, which the City lists at $2.00 each.

Bulky items: furniture and mattresses

The City also collects bulky items like couches, mattresses and bookshelves, meaning items over 1 metre wide and 1.5 metres tall. The main rules:

• You need to request a pickup for bulky items.
• There’s a 4-item limit per household per booking for each collection day.
• Items should go out in one piece. Don’t take furniture apart.
• Remove glass from large furniture.
• Items with bed bugs must be wrapped and sealed in plastic.

What curbside pickup won’t take

According to the City, these items are not collected at the curb:

• Appliances and electronics
• Construction and renovation materials such as drywall, fence boards, concrete, bricks and asphalt
• Scrap metal such as propane tanks, barbecues and bicycle frames
• Paint, stains and corrosive or flammable materials
• Vehicle parts, batteries and tires

Some of these can go to a City EnviroDepot or the W12A Landfill, but you’ll need a vehicle big enough to get them there.

Where to take what curbside pickup won’t collect

The City runs EnviroDepots and the W12A Landfill for items that can’t go out with curbside pickup. Check the City’s website for current locations, hours and fees before you load the car. Hazardous items like paint, propane and batteries have their own drop-off rules, so keep them separate from general junk.

When a junk removal service makes more sense than curbside pickup

• You have more than four bulky items, like a full basement, garage or estate cleanout.
• It’s something the curb won’t take, like a fridge, washer, TV, old BBQ or renovation debris.
• You can’t lift it or move it to the curb, like a sofa in a basement or a hot tub in the backyard.
• You’re on a deadline, like a move-out date, a closing or a rental turnover.
• You don’t have a truck to get items to an EnviroDepot.

Tips before you book either option

1. Sort items into keep, donate, recycle and dispose.
2. Check your collection day and bulky-item rules on the City’s website.
3. Take photos of large items. It makes getting a junk removal quote faster.
4. Keep paint, propane and chemicals separate. They need special disposal.

Quick answers

Can I put a mattress out with curbside pickup? Yes, as a bulky item. Book the pickup, and if it has bed bugs, wrap and seal it in plastic first.

Will the City take an old fridge or TV? No. Appliances and electronics aren’t collected at the curb, so use a City drop-off location or a junk removal service.

What if I have more than four bulky items? The limit is four per booking for each collection day. For larger cleanouts, a junk removal service is usually faster.

How Triple Home Service handles junk removal

When curbside pickup in London, Ontario isn’t enough, our junk removal service can help. We remove furniture, mattresses, appliances, household junk and renovation debris, and same-day pickup is available. We donate usable items to local London charities and recycle as much as possible. Moving out? Pair it with our moving service, or read our 4-week moving checklist.