The number of large household items to be collected by the City of Peterborough in June has increased by over 2,000 per cent from the normal monthly average following a recent decision by city council to waive the usual collection fee for this year as part of the city’s new Clean Streets Peterborough program.
According to a media release from the city on Thursday (June 18), city residents have registered more than 2,150 items for collection for the June pickup, compared to the monthly average of 98 items in 2025. Registration for the June pickup closed on Tuesday.
“We’re pleased to see so many residents taking advantage of the free large item pickup program,” said councillors Don Vassiliadis and Keith Riel, co-chairs of municipal operations, in a joint statement. “The strong participation demonstrates that providing free collection of large items makes it easier for residents to properly dispose of large household items. The response highlights the positive impact this new service is already having through the Clean Streets Peterborough initiative.”
This is the first free large item pickup since the city formally launched the Clean Streets Peterborough program following council’s approval of the initiative on June 1.
Combining waste management changes, public education, enforcement, and community outreach, the program aims to tackle illegal dumping, overflowing public bins, improper waste set-outs, and garbage accumulation in parks and public spaces across the city.
The program’s measures include eliminating the city’s large article collection fee of $60 for the first item and $30 for each additional item for the remainder of 2026, doubling residential garbage bag limit from four bags every two weeks to eight bags every two weeks until the end of 2027, and reducing the cost for replacing a green bin from $88.49 to $35.40.
While the collection of registered items is scheduled to begin on Monday (June 22), the collection is expected to take at least two weeks to complete due to the high number of items.
Residents should only place registered large items at the curb if the city has provided them with a confirmed booking, and should leave them at the curb until they have been collected. There is no need to report a missed pickup during the scheduled collection week, as crews will continue working through all registered pickups until collection is complete.
The city’s public works department will collect the items in three separate streams: bulky items (such as couches, chairs, tables, and desks), metal items (such as barbecues, appliances, and stoves), and mattresses and box springs.
There are three remaining large item pickups this year, on the weeks of July 27, August 24, and September 28.
Items to be collected must be registered in advance with the city by the Tuesday prior to the collection week.
To book a future pickup, view a list of accepted items, or learn more about the program, visit peterborough.ca/pickup, call 705-742-7777, or go to Service Peterborough at City Hall.
