How does waste and recycling collection work (green, blue and brown bins)?

Template page: waste and recycling collection is organized by your municipality (or borough). The bins offered, the accepted materials and the schedule therefore depend on where you live, and your municipality's rules always take precedence over this page. RECYC-QUÉBEC says that, to find out whether your municipality offers organic materials collection (brown bin), you must ask it. Verified examples: in Montréal, containers, packaging and printed paper go in the green or blue bin and food residues in the brown bin; in Québec City, the blue bin takes containers, packaging and printed paper, and food residues go in purple bags.

Key facts

Who decides?

Your municipality or borough: bins, accepted materials and schedule vary. Its rules take precedence over this page.

Brown bin (RECYC-QUÉBEC)

Residents of more than 800 municipalities have access to organic materials collection. To find out whether yours offers it, ask it.

Verified example: Montréal

Containers, packaging and printed paper in the green or blue bin (mixed together). Food residues in the brown bin. Schedule in Info-collectes.

Verified example: Québec City

Containers, packaging and printed paper in the blue bin. Food residues in purple bags. Since January 1, 2026, surplus next to a full blue bin is no longer collected, with some exceptions.

Collection problem

In Montréal and Québec City, 311.

Steps

1. Go to your municipality's (or borough's) website: it sets the bins, the accepted materials and the schedule. If it differs from this page, its rules are the ones that count.
2. Find your collection schedule with your municipality's tool. Examples: Info-collectes in Montréal (if your address's schedule does not show up, call 311) and Info-Collecte in Québec City.
3. For the recycling bin (blue, or green or blue in Montréal), ask yourself whether the item is a container, packaging or printed paper. Empty and lightly rinse containers before putting them in.
4. For food residues, check whether your municipality offers organic materials collection (brown bin) and which materials it accepts. In Montréal, if brown bin collection passes on your street, you must take part. In Québec City, food residue collection is done with purple bags.
5. Put your bin out according to your municipality's rules. In Québec City, for example, you must fill the bin fully: no surplus is allowed next to the bin.
6. If a bin is missing, damaged or was not collected, report it to your municipality. In Montréal and Québec City, you can call 311.
7. For items that do not go in the bins (for example containers of household hazardous waste in Québec City), ask about your municipality's ecocentre.