1. Montreal's three bins
Three bins in Montreal:
- Green or blue bin: recycling (paper, glass, plastic, metal) — green bins are gradually being replaced by blue ones
- Brown bin: compost (organic matter)
- Black/gray bin: household garbage
The exact colour and shape can vary by borough, but the three-stream logic stays the same across the island.
2. The green bin: what to recycle
In the green or blue bin:
- Paper and cardboard (rinsed and flattened)
- Glass: bottles, jars
- Plastic: all numbered containers and packaging (look under the container), except protective polystyrene foam that breaks into beads
- Metal: rinsed tins and aluminum foil; drink cans go to the deposit-return system
Empty and rinse food containers: a dirty yogurt cup can contaminate the other materials in the bin.
3. The brown bin: composting
In the brown bin:
- Food scraps, fruits, vegetables
- Meat and bones
- Coffee with filter, tea bags
- Soiled papers (paper towels, napkins)
- Yard waste: only in 5 boroughs (Lachine, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Saint-Laurent); elsewhere it has its own collection
Brown-bin collection takes place once a week, all year long, and that's what saves you from odours in summer: a bin set out each week smells far less than a garbage bag waiting in the sun, especially where household waste is only picked up every two weeks.
4. Pickup days
Each borough has its own pickup days.
- Find yours in Info-Collectes (enter your address)
- Put bins out at the time shown for your address in Info-Collectes — in Lachine, for example, between 7 p.m. the day before and 7 a.m. on collection day
If you miss a pickup, the next one can be several days later — print the annual calendar and stick it on the fridge.
5. The bins at a glance
Here is a summary of Montreal's three collection streams. The exact colours and containers vary by borough, but the sorting logic stays the same.
Exact frequencies are set by each borough and can vary. Always check the official schedule for your address in Info-Collectes. Hazardous household waste is never picked up at home: you drop it off yourself at an ecocentre or a drop-off point.
| Bin | Colour | Contents | Typical frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recycling | Green or blue | Paper, cardboard, glass, numbered plastics, metal | Weekly |
| Compost | Brown | Food scraps, soiled papers (yard waste in 5 boroughs) | Weekly |
| Garbage | Black / gray | Everything else, not recyclable and not compostable | Weekly or every two weeks, depending on the borough |
| Hazardous waste | — | Ecocentre or specialized drop-off point | Voluntary drop-off |
6. The ecocentres
Ecocentre:
- 7 ecocentres in Montreal
- Free for residents of the agglomeration, with limits: construction debris and upholstered bulky items are free up to 12 cubic metres a year, then $31 per cubic metre
- Accept, among others: furniture, appliances, paint, electronics, construction materials (full list)
Bring identification and a proof of address: for example your driver's licence and a Hydro-Québec bill no more than 3 months old. This proves you live in the agglomeration and unlocks free access.
7. Hazardous waste
Never put in the garbage:
- Batteries, compact fluorescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes (mercury)
- Medication (bring to a pharmacy)
- Paints, oils, chemical products
Bring them to the ecocentre or to specialized collection points. Pharmacies take back expired medication, and used batteries can also go to Appel à Recycler drop-off points or to those of some boroughs.
8. Frequently asked questions
Four questions come up often: pickup timing, missed pickups, moving cardboard, and bulky items.
What time do I put my bins out?
The drop-off time is set by each borough: Montréal shows it for your address in Info-Collectes. In Lachine, for example, it's between 7 p.m. the day before and 7 a.m. on collection day. Trucks start their routes early — once they've passed, they don't come back, even if you put the bin out shortly after.
Stick to the allowed window too: putting your bins out at the wrong time can get you fined.
I missed pickup. What do I do with my waste in the meantime?
Keep the full bag in your bin, lid closed, until the next collection. For organic waste in summer, double-bag it or transfer it to the freezer until the next brown-bin pickup.
Don't leave bags on the ground: open bags attract raccoons, squirrels and seagulls, and putting waste out outside the drop-off time can get you fined.
I just moved and I have mountains of cardboard. Does it all go in the green bin?
Yes, but flatten every box first. A green bin overflowing with un-flattened boxes is often skipped by the driver — the truck's mechanical arm needs the lid closed.
If you have more cardboard than the bin can hold, the surplus goes free to an ecocentre. Don't leave a tower of boxes beside the bin: it usually stays there until the next collection.
What do I do with an old couch or mattress?
Two options. First: bring it yourself to the ecocentre — free up to 12 cubic metres a year for upholstered bulky items, with proof of address. Second: the bulky-items collection is offered all year long at the curb.
Your address's collection day is shown in Info-Collectes. Don't leave the couch on the curb outside that day: to avoid a fine, you must follow the collection schedule and guidelines.
9. See also
To go further on daily life in Montreal:
- Read Finding housing in Montreal to check what's included in your lease before signing.
- Consult Your first 48 hours in Montreal to organize your first steps in the right order.
- Plan your trips with Using the metro and bus in Montreal (STM) to reach the nearest ecocentre easily.
10. Official sources
For official information:
For any one-off question, 311 remains the City of Montreal's direct line.
Author's Note: taking a few minutes to understand the rules saves you fines and mistakes. Print the calendar and stick it on your fridge — that's the one move that prevents every forgotten pickup.
