Other Waste Diversion & Disposal Options

Other Waste Diversion & Disposal Options

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The City has help diverting items from landfill. Organizations in the Kingston community, and other governments, also offer programs to make sure items are reused, recycled or properly disposed. Programs listed in the links below may be operated by companies or organizations and not the City. Contact them directly for more information.

Remember: you can also use Giveaway Days to help find new homes for items you no longer want.

Reducing waste = climate action

Change for climate by reducing your waste and by diverting it properly. Garbage sent to landfill contributes to climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions.

Household Hazardous Waste

Never put hazardous waste in the garbage! Go to the Household Hazardous Waste Depot page to find out:

  • what you can drop off at the Depot at 196 Lappan's Lane; and
  • how to dispose of other hazardous items.

Electronics

Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) waste needs to be handled separately from other kinds of waste. Electronics contain valuable and reusable rare earth metals and plastics. The electronics recycling program is run by the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority in Kingston. Find more details on this program.

Where to drop off electronics

The businesses listed below are registered collectors (the City does not operate an electronics recycling location). Please check the list of accepted items before you head out.

  • KIMCO Steel Sales Limited, 1325 John Counter Boulevard, Kingston, Ontario
  • Staples Canada, 616 Gardiners Rd., Kingston, Ontario K7M 3X9
  • Staples Canada, 105 Queen St., Kingston, Ontario K7K 1A5
  • Best Buy Canada, 770 Gardiners Rd., Kingston, Ontario K7M 3X9

Visit the RPRA website for more locations.

What kinds of electronics are accepted?

  • Computers
  • Printers (desktop and floor-standing)
  • Printer cartridges
  • Video gaming devices
  • Telephones, including cellular phones
  • Display devices
  • Radios and stereos, including after-market vehicle stereos
  • Headphones
  • Speakers
  • Cameras, including security cameras
  • Video recorders
  • Drones with audio or visual recording equipment
  • Peripherals and cables used to support the function of information technology, telecommunications and audiovisual equipment, including charging equipment
  • Parts of information technology, telecommunications and audiovisual equipment sold separately, such as hard drives
  • Handheld point-of-sale terminals or devices
  • Musical instruments
  • Audio recording equipment

What electronics are NOT accepted?

  • ITT/AV equipment weighing more than 250 kg
  • Small and large appliances
  • Power tools
  • Motor vehicles
  • Children’s toys
  • Textiles, clothing, furniture or any other upholstered or stuffed articles containing EEE

Textiles and clothing

Textiles – your old clothing, towels and rags – can be used again. Items with life left in them will be resold, old ratty clothing will be turned into rags for sale, and the products that are too far gone will be turned into insulation material.

Where to donate or drop off textiles

The City has clothing/textile donation bins at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre.

These bins, provided by Diabetes Canada and the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy, will accept donations of textiles year-round. 

Renewal Squared operates clothing/textile bins in the following locations:

  • INVISTA Centre
  • Cataraqui Arena
  • Kingston Frontenac Public Library (Gardiners Road)
  • Centre 70 Arena
  • Woodbine Park
  • Kingston Frontenac Public Library (Gore Road)
  • Belle Park
  • Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
  • School Road (Kingston East)
  • 1643 County Road 15
  • Shannon's Corners Baseball Field
  • Leon's Centre parking lot
  • K&P Trail (Sydenham Road parking lot)
  • Rideau Heights Community Centre
  • Jim Beattie Park
  • William R. Hackett Park
  • Kingston Memorial Centre
  • Lake Ontario Park
  • Pierson Park parking lot

A number of community organizations will collect unwanted clothing, towels, sheets, curtains and other textiles from your house. If your organization accepts textiles for recycling and would like to be included in the below list, please email us at contactus@cityofkingston.ca.

Not-for-profit agencies:

For-profit organizations:

  • Talize - 540 Gardiners Rd, Kingston
  • Value Village - 1300 Bath Rd., Kingston

Medication and needles

Medications and needles can pose significant risk to both humans and the environment and must be disposed of correctly.

Where NOT to put medications or needles

Never flush medications or needles down the toilet, never put them in your garbage or recycling – and do not bring them to the Household Hazardous Waste Depot.

Where to drop off medications and needles

Most drug stores in Kingston will accept both medications and needles. A full list of locations where you can drop off these materials can be found at https://healthsteward.ca/.

The collection and disposal of these materials is handled by the Ontario Medication Return Program (OMRP) and the Ontario Sharps Collection Program (OSCP).

Information on these programs can be found at www.healthsteward.ca.

What to do if you find a needle in a public place

Never touch a needle found in a public place!

If you find a needle in a public place contact the KFL&A Public Health by phone at 613-548-5860. 

Large items, construction and demolition waste, tires and excess garbage

Have something to throw out that's too big, too heavy or just too much to put at the curb? Here are some options for you.

  • Giveaway Days – Put items you no longer want out at the curb on Giveaway Day for someone who might like them. Sign-up for collection reminders to be reminded when one is coming up.
  • Donation – Consider donating unwanted items to a local charity. Contact them directly for drop-off details.

Where to drop off large items and large amounts of garbage to go to landfill

The City does not pick up large items from residents at the curb and KARC does not accept them for drop off.

You must use a private transfer stations for waste disposal or large, overweight and large volumes of garbage. Fees will apply. Please contact the privately-run services listed below to confirm hours of operation.

  • Waste Management of Canada, 62 St. Remy Place, 613-549-7401
  • Waste Connections of Canada, 1266 McAdoos Lane, 613-548-4428
  • Kimco Steel Sales, 1325 John Counter Blvd., 613-544-1822
  • Environmental 360 Solutions, 1709 Westbrook Rd., 613-384-8555

Have a private service pick up your items for disposal

If you are unable to bring your own materials to one of the waste transfer stations listed above, a quick search for waste or junk removal on the web or Yellow Pages will provide a number of private options that can assist in removing waste from your property. Fees will apply.

Tires

The recycling of tires in Ontario is handled by the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA). To find a disposal location please visit the RPRA website

Scrap Metal

Metal and mostly-metal items are valued on the recycling market. It is important to divert them through the appropriate streams to ensure recycling of the metals.

Drop off

Small to medium-sized items: Items like, flatware, small metal shelves, microwaves, toasters, portable barbeques, damaged bicycles and similar small-sized items are accepted at various locations – including KARC.

Large-sized scrap metal: Items like, stoves, ornamental light posts, washers, dryers, aluminum siding, etc. can be dropped off at a number of locations for free (check the web or Yellow Pages), including Kimco Steel Sales.

Pick up

A number of private scrap metal collectors operate in Kingston and – depending on what you have – may pick up your items for free. Search the web or the Yellow Pages to find one.

Appliances containing refrigerant

Freezers, fridges and other appliances containing refrigerant: Fridges freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers (as well as other appliances) contain refrigerants. These refrigerants require special disposal.

Appliances that contain refrigerants will need to be disposed of at a location with staff trained on proper collection and disposal methods for refrigerants. One such location is Kimco Steel Sales.

Giveaway Days

Giveaway Days are when you put items you no longer want out at the curb for someone who might like them. The City declares Giveaway Days a few times a year - sign-up for collection reminders to be reminded when one is coming up.

2024 Giveaway Days

  • Saturday, April 20
  • Saturday, June 15
  • Saturday, Aug. 17
  • Saturday, Oct. 12

What to put out

Only set out appropriate items that you know someone else might want.

  • Appropriate items: books, CDs, DVDs, furniture and small appliances, electronics, construction materials (including drywall, lumber, hardware), kitchen gadgets, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans.
  • Inappropriate items: the Consumer Product Safety Bureau of Health Canada advises that these items should NOT be given away (or picked up): baby walkers, cribs, car seats, strollers, playpens, bath seats, mattresses, blinds and toys.

Bring any uncollected items back inside at 6 p.m. on Giveaway Day. The City will NOT collect unwanted Giveaway Day items left at the curb and these may be subject to fines from Bylaw Enforcement. Consider donating unwanted items to a local charity.

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