Durham’s recycling program is now managed by Circular Materials, the administrator of the common collection system and a national not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario. Click here to visit Circular Materials’ website.

Circular Materials 

The Region of Durham provides garbage, green bin, and yard waste collection services in Ajax. The Region also collects bulky and metal items, electronic waste, porcelain, and batteries.

If you have questions or concerns about your waste collection, please call the Region of Durham at 311 (within Regional limits) or 1-800-372-1102 or visit the Region’s Waste Management website.

For any recycling collection inquiries, please contact Circular Materials’ local recycling contractor Miller Waste Systems. They can be contacted for:

  • New and replacement blue boxes
  • Missed collections
  • Other recycling questions

Miller Waste Systems

Email: area8@millerwaste.ca

Phone: 1-888-852-4723

Durham Region services at the Town of Ajax

The Town of Ajax is pleased to offer the following Durham Region services as a convenience to our residents.

Table 1: Durham Region waste services offered to residents by the Town of Ajax

 

Garbage Bag Tags ($2.50)*

Green Bins ($19)

Waste Collection Calendar 

Town Hall
65 Harwood Ave. S.

 Yes

 Yes

 No

Operations Centre
800 Salem Rd. N.

 Yes

 Yes

 No

Ajax Community Centre
75 Centennial Rd.

 Yes

 Yes

 No

McLean Community Centre
95 Magill Dr.

 Yes

 Yes

 No

Audley Recreation Centre 
1955 Audley Rd. N.

 Yes

 Yes

 No
Adopt-a-Park, Trail or Road program

Did you know that Ajax has over 450 km of roads, 600 hectares of parkland and over 70 km of trails?

Individuals, community groups and businesses are invited to initiate a one-time litter pick, or adopt a space in Ajax, on an ongoing basis. It may be your local park or playground, a section of the waterfront, or a favorite creek area. If you prefer, you can contact Operations & Environmental Services, and we'll suggest an area for you.

For more information download the Official Adopt-a-Park, Trail or Road Program Brochure.

 Why Adopt?

You and your group will help the environment by removing garbage from trails, parks, school grounds and roadways. Adopting a space is a great activity for embedding a corporate or community event, plus it allows you to give back to the community, feel a sense of accomplishment and get to spend some time in your local space.

Program Requirements

  • Commit to clean their adopted area twice a year for a minimum of 2 years.
  • Follow all health and safety guidelines outlined in the safety video
  • Appoint a representative to act on behalf of the group
  • Notify the Town 48 hours prior to a clean-up event.

Participants Receive:

  • A sign at the adopted area
  • A certificate of appreciation
  • Bags, gloves and safety equipment* to allow you to maintain the area.

*Adopt a road only.
 Interested in hosting a one off cleanup event?
The Town also supports individuals and groups who would like to organize a onetime cleanup event.

To help you get started we have prepared a set of Community Cleanup Event Guidelines to help you plan and run your event.

The Town will also provide you with a FREE cleanup kit supplying you with you of bags and gloves for your volunteers, as well as garbage collection after the event. We require approximately 48 hours notice to prepare you kit. For more information please contact: sustainableajax@ajax.ca 
Health and Safety 
 Whether organizing or just taking part in a litter cleanup it is important to stay safe, please read and share the Community Cleanup Event Guidelines before starting out. 
Safety guidelines for Adopt-a-Park, Trail or Road Program volunteers

For more information please contact us at operations@ajax.ca or 905-683-2951
Green Bins
Green bins are available for purchase at several Town of Ajax facilities. We only sell new bins. Exchanges for cracked and broken green bins can be done through Durham Region located at 4600 Garrard Rd in Whitby.
Bottled Water Campaign

On June 4, 2009, Ajax Town Council approved a public education campaign titled "Tap into it!" to  encourage residents and staff to adopt the principle and philosophy of choosing tap water over bottled water. The Town has already taken the first step in removing bottled water from its public meetings, Town operated concessions, and vending machines. Over the coming months, the Town will phase out the sale of bottled water at special events, and remaining concessions as current lease agreements expire.

How the Town of Ajax is supporting this initiative

  • Town meetings are now bottled water free.
  • Bottled water is no longer sold from vending machines and concessions at the Ajax Community Centre and Sportsplex.
  • Water fountains at community centres are being fitted with bottle filler attachments.
  • New parks and facilities will include the provision for access to municipal water.
  • Facility users and special event patrons will be encouraged to bring reusable containers.
  • The sale of bottled water at special events will be phased out by 2010.

What you can do to help

  • Let your family and friends know about the Town's "Tap into it!" campaign.
  • Fill a reusable container for use at your desk, in the gym, and on the go.
  • Keep meetings and special events bottled water free.
  • Be a role model for others by choosing tap water over bottled water.

Facts about tap water

  • Tap water is accessible and more sustainable than bottled water.
  • In Durham Region, your tap water is safe to drink. It continuously upholds the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards set by the Ministry of the Environment.

Facts about bottled water

  • The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has endorsed a resolution urging all municipalities to phase out the sale of bottled water, and over 50 municipalities in Ontario have implemented restrictions on bottled water.
  • Bottled water is more costly than tap water. Environment Canada states that 1,000 litres of tap water costs $1.26, while the same amount of bottled water costs $1,500.
  • It takes about three litres of water to manufacture a one litre plastic bottle.
  • A significant amount of energy is used to create, ship and recycle plastic bottles.
  • An estimated 650 million used plastic bottles enter landfills each year.

Reports
Garbage bag tags
Residents are required to tag each bag of garbage over the four bag limit on their designated waste collection day.
New Residents to Ajax

New residents to Ajax are encouraged to participate in the residential curbside waste diversion programs available to them.

In order to assist you, the Region of Durham will provide you one curbside Green Bin, one kitchen container, some sample liner bags, will be delivered to the front porch of your home.

Please allow up to 15 business days for delivery.

To order your kit please fill out:

Durham Region new resident diversion kit form

For more information contact the Region of Durham at 1-800-372-1102 waste@durham.ca.
Single Use Plastics

Town of Ajax was the first municipality in the Region of Durham to implement a Corporate Ban on Single-Use Plastics.

This ban will phase out unnecessary single-use plastics for all meetings, festivals and events by 2023.

Learn more about the Corporate Ban on Single Use Plastics.

The 5Rs and Waste Diversion

Understanding the 5Rs hierarchy will help to divert all forms of waste including food, textiles, plastics and more from the landfill!

  1. Rethink – The first step to waste diversion is to rethink your daily choices. This will eliminate unnecessary purchases, limit necessary purchases, and help you switch to more eco-friendly alternatives.
  2. Reduce – Limit the waste you produce in your daily life. Limiting the waste you produce will prevent waste from entering a landfill.
  3. Reuse – Switch from using disposable or single-use items to items that are reusable. You can also investigate opportunities to repurpose or repair an item.
  4. Recycle – If you follow the first 3Rs and still need to get rid of an item, make sure to recycle these items through the proper methods.
  5. Recover – As a last step, waste can be utilized to recover any resources possible. For example, some household electronics can be processed to recover electrical components or extract precious metals.

Waste collection calendars

Waste collection calendars can be viewed online or picked up at some of our facilities.

 

 In-Ground Pet Waste Containers

There are currently 14 in-ground pet waste recycling containers installed in parks and trails across Ajax’s three wards.

These containers collect pet waste below the ground surface. The waste is then diverted to an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility to be converted into clean energy.

By disposing their pet’s waste into these containers, pet-owners actively:

  • Increase waste diversion rates

  • Keep the air smelling fresh

  • Prioritize public health and safety

  • Decrease service level needs in parks

  • Keep the community clean

  • Contribute towards a greener future

Learn more about In-Ground Pet Waste Containers

Locations

Ward 1

  • Hermitage Park Leash-Free Dog Park – 42/44 Pollard Crescent

  • Duffins Trail (A) – 2 Elizabeth Street

  • Duffins Trail (B) – 5 Grigglestone Lane

  • McLean Community Centre Leash-Free Dog Park – 95 Magill Drive

  • Greenwood Con. Area Leash-Free Dog Park

    • Parking at Church St./5th Concession

Ward 2

  • Audley Off-Leash Dog Park – Audley Recreation Centre, 2001 Audley Road; West of baseball fields

  • Joe Dickson Park Leash-Free Dog Park – 40 Turnerbury Avenue

  • Westgate Pavilion (Carruthers Creek Trail) – 51 Westgate Avenue at Pickett Street

  • Porte Trail at Porte Road North Parkette – Porte Road/Beer Crescent/1 Enderly Street

Ward 3

  • Waterfront Trail (5-9) at Rotary Park – 177 Lake Driveway West

  • Veteran’s Point – 33 Lake Driveway West

  • Paradise Park – 3044 Lakeview Boulevard

  • Carruthers Marsh Pavilion – 55 Ashbury Boulevard

  • Lions Park Leash-Free Dog Park – 430 Westney Road South

Future Installations

  • Exeter Park (124 Exeter Rd) (to be completed in 2024 as part of a Retrofit Capital Project)

  • Meadows North Neighborhood Park (between Bellinger Drive and Searell Avenue)

Map

In-Ground Pet Waste Container Locations Map