Waste Management
Oxford County manages a leading Waste Management program, consistently reaching top rankings for waste diversion in its class among Ontario municipalities. We provide curbside waste collection from roughly 53,000 households across the County and its eight area municipalities.
New organics (green bin) program
The Organics (green bin) program is a new curbside collection service for food scraps and other organic waste that will help divert material from landfill. The program launches in January 2026 for Woodstock and South-West Oxford, with the remaining municipalities joining in May 2027. Learn More.
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What's new
Changes to garbage and recycling collection, and the launch of a green program for organic waste, begin in 2026. Watch for updates at www.speakup.oxfordcounty.ca/new-waste-collection
Residents living in South-West Oxford and Woodstock will start receiving their new green bins for organic waste collection, such as food scraps, starting in October.
Bins will be dropped near your front door if you live in a detached or semi-detached home that is currently on a curbside garbage collection route. You’ll receive one 45-litre green bin to set out your organic waste at the curb, and one 7-litre kitchen container for collecting kitchen scraps.
Green bin organics collection will not be available to apartment buildings with six or more units until later in 2026. Residents living above businesses are eligible to receive a green bin, but need to call Oxford County to make arrangements for drop off at 1-800-755-0394 , ext. 3159.
Please note: South-West Oxford and Woodstock start green bin collection in January 2026. All other Oxford municipalities will start green bin collection in May 2027.
October is Circular Economy Month in Canada! A circular economy promotes minimizing waste and maximizing the reuse of resources. A circular economy benefits the environment, well-being and biodiversity, which are key goals in the Oxford County 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. Each week in October highlights a different aspect of the circular economy: its definition, environmental benefits, social and economic impacts, and waste reduction.
Learn more about how Oxford County is helping to promote Circular Economy Month and Waste Reduction Week by reading the October is Circular Economy Month update in the Newsroom.
All Canada Post mail delivery has been paused due to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) national strike. This impacts online purchases of garbage bag tags and water backflow tags.
Garbage bag tags
Bag tags continue to be available during the postal strike at municipal offices and authorized retail locations across Oxford County, such as convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations. However, online purchases will not be processed during the strike. For a list of current vendors selling Oxford County bag tags, visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/bagtags. Vendors who sell bag tags can continue to order tags for courier delivery by calling the County at 519-539-9800 ext. 3915 or by email at customerservice@oxfordcounty.ca.
Water backflow tags
Online water backflow tag purchases will not be processed during the strike, and current online orders may be delayed. Backflow tags can be purchased in person at the Oxford County Administration Building at 21 Reeve Street in Woodstock or by calling 519-539-9800 ext. 3915.
The first issue outlines several key changes coming in 2026, including the rollout of green bin collection and a shift to six-day waste collection in South-West Oxford and Woodstock. It also highlights the transition to a new province-wide blue box program for all Oxford County residents, and introduces a County-led curbside recycling program for businesses and institutions not included in the new provincial system.
Residents are encouraged to share their feedback on the newsletter for a chance to win 30 bag tags. To enter, simply scan the QR code found in your copy of the newsletter.
When responsibility for providing recycling services shifts to Circular Materials under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act on January 1, 2026, many small businesses, commercial and institutional properties, and not-for-profit/public sector organizations that are part of the current municipal program will not be eligible for recycling pick-up under the new provincial program.
Oxford County Council is implementing a curbside recycling collection program for this sector. Businesses and other organizations are invited to complete an online registration form to confirm their interest in this service. There is no user fee for approved participants to take part in this program, which would begin the week of January 5, 2026, in all eight area municipalities. More
Garbage bag tag fees in Oxford County will increase from $2.00 a bag to $3.00 effective January 1, 2026. Bag tags have not increased in price since 2014. Since 2021, population growth, fuel and other inflationary costs, and new regulatory requirements have increased waste collection costs at a higher rate than income generated by bag tag fees.
Oxford County uses a “user pay” system in which all residents pay according to how much waste they produce. This means the County’s garbage collection and disposal costs are 100% funded from bag tags, with budget surpluses or deficits moving into a waste management reserve fund each year. If the curbside garbage collection program were to be funded entirely through taxation, it would increase Oxford County’s general tax levy by almost $5.0 million (5.5% increase).
Oxford County’s waste management programs and facilities continue to operate in compliance with regulatory requirements. The County achieved an overall landfill waste diversion rate for residential and ICI (Industrial, Commercial and Institutional) waste of approximately 45% in 2023. The County’s municipal landfill has an estimated remaining service life of approximately 27 to 32 years.
Customer Service
Let us know about your Waste Management service issue: your feedback helps us serve you better. If your concern is an emergency, please call 1-800-755-0394.