TORONTO, April 29, 2026 – As lease turnovers and moving activity around May 1 approach, the City of Toronto reminded residents on April 29 that moving-related waste such as mattresses, furniture, appliances, and electronics cannot simply be left on the curb, in laneways, outside apartment garbage rooms, or beside public garbage bins. If these items are placed in the wrong location, put out on the wrong day, or treated as illegal dumping, residents may face non-collection, cleanup charges, fines, and rental disputes. For international students, tenants, and small Chinese landlords in shared housing in Scarborough and North York, the practical step before moving is to confirm how bulky items must be handled. Under city rules, large items should be placed beside garbage bins on the property’s scheduled collection day, and residents can also use 311 to ask questions or report illegal dumping.
One of the most common problems during moving season is that tenants move out on the day their lease ends and place mattresses, sofas, tables, or chairs directly outside the building or in a back lane, assuming that “someone will pick them up.” But if it is not the scheduled collection day, or if the items are not placed in the correct location, garbage crews may not take them away. For landlords, large items left behind by former tenants can also lead to neighbour complaints and extra cleanup pressure.
Under the city’s current rules, homes that receive curbside collection from the city may place large furniture and metal items beside their garbage bins on collection day for pickup. Apartment buildings and condominiums, however, are usually handled through property management, and residents cannot simply move mattresses, furniture, or multiple garbage bags to the roadside on their own.
Electronic waste also cannot be mixed with regular garbage. Items such as televisions, computers, monitors, cell phones, and cables must be handled under e-waste rules and cannot simply go into the black bin or blue bin. If residents are unsure which category an item falls into, they can use the city’s waste lookup tool or call 311 to confirm.
A more typical real-life situation is that a tenant moves out on May 1 and places an old mattress and a small cabinet by the curb, only for the address’s actual collection day to be several days later. If the items sit outside for too long, they may block access, trigger complaints to the landlord, and eventually lead to deposit or compensation disputes.
It is important to note that the rules are not exactly the same for every type of housing. Detached houses, shared rentals, apartment buildings, and condominiums may all follow different disposal arrangements. Accepted items and opening hours at transfer stations can also change. Before moving, tenants should confirm the collection day, the correct placement location, and which items are not allowed. Landlords should also explain the rules in advance by text or email and keep a record of the communication.
If a resident is not comfortable using English-language websites or calling 311, they can ask family members, property management, or community organizations to help check the rules. During moving week, it is not safe to rely only on past experience when throwing out furniture. This is especially true for mattresses, televisions, computers, and large numbers of garbage bags. It is better to confirm the rules before taking things outside, in order to avoid non-collection, fines, and neighbourhood disputes. (LJI by Yuanyuan)
