Bulky items are too large to fit into bins for collection.
How should you dispose of bulky items?
Ecocentres: Drop off your bulky items at the ecocentre, no charge*. To find out what they will take, locations and hours, go to Ecocentres and waste transfer centre.
* Fees depend on the user, and are set out in by-law no. 61-2006 (available in French only) setting out the fees for goods, services and activities offered by Ville de Gatineau. Access to the ecocentres is free for Gatineau residents. Tagged commercial vehicles or with an “F” plate are deemed small businesses.
Furniture stores and sellers: When you buy a new mattress or appliance, for instance, you can ask the store to take away the item you are replacing.
Curbside and on-request pick-up: Check the options listed on this page.
Not quite sure what to do? Consult DTRITUS to find out how to dispose of your items.
Before putting your bulky items curbside for special collections, check whether you have another option, such as reuse.
Book a pick-up through the link below or through the DTRITUS mobile app if you would like to give your recoverable bulky items a second life. An organization mandated by Gatineau will pick up your bulky items on the scheduled day.
What is a recoverable bulky item? Any bulky item that is in good condition and can be reused or with components that can be recycled.
If you unable to book online or if you do not have access to the DTRITUS app, call 311 to place your request.
On collection day, place your bulky items outside, next to your building. If poor weather could damage them, place them inside, at the main entrance. However, in this case, you must be home all day to ensure your items can be picked up as arranged.
The organization is free to refuse any item that it deems to be in poor condition.
Two people should be able to carry the item without the help of mechanical equipment.
The collection of construction residues has been replaced by a collection of wood and metal bulky items that are too big to fit into a bin. Please check the adjusted list of accepted materials below.
Wood and metal bulky items are sent to a sorting centre for construction, renovation and demolition residues, where they are sorted and valorized.
Branches and tree trunks larger than 12 mm in diameter, but no larger than 10 cm
Metal items (e.g. above-ground metal pool panels without the liner, metal shed panels, ironing boards, barbecues without tanks, filing cabinets, chairs, microwave ovens)
Bulky metal items too large or solid for the compactor truck (e.g. exercise equipment, metal bathtubs, air conditioners, appliances, rims, pool pumps, doors, coolers, hot water tanks, heat pumps)
Bulky waste
Compostables
Construction residues other than wood (e.g. ceramics, gypsum, asphalt shingles, vinyl siding, flooring, insulating wool, insulating boards, concrete, bricks, interlocking stones)
Maximum volume: Units with curbside collection are entitled to 1 m3 per collection. For buildings with containerized collection, the limit is 5 m3, regardless of the number of units in the building.
The items must be clearly visible, not wrapped up, and arranged in an orderly and safe pile.
Small wood and metal pieces can be placed in an open container (cardboard box, garbage can). Random bits and pieces and garbage bags are not accepted.
Nails must be folded down or removed for the safety of the garbage collectors and sorters.
Branches must be tied into bundles with rope.
Two people should be able to carry the items without the help of mechanical equipment, and the items must be no more than 1.5 metres in length and weigh no more than 50 kg.
Wood pieces and branches must be no more than 10 cm in diameter.
Wood pieces must be disassembled (e.g. stairs, walls, fences, patios).
Any item that could injure someone or damage the facilities or equipment during handling or processing may be refused (e.g. sharp items).
Items must be left curbside, not near containers, whether you live in a house or a multi-unit residential building.
Items must be put out no earlier than 7 p.m. the day before or no later than 7 a.m. on collection day. Collection is between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. If your items have not been collected, submit a request between 6 p.m. on the day of your collection and 6 p.m. the following day. If your collection is on a Friday, you have until noon on Saturday to make your request.
Bulky waste is anything that is going to landfill that is too big to fit into a household bin (gray bin). This is a last-resort solution for items that cannot be reused or recycled.
Bulky metal items (e.g.: exercise equipment, vacuum cleaners, metal bathtubs, barbecues, air conditioners, appliances, rims, metal furniture, metal parts and pieces, pool pumps, doors, coolers, hot water tanks, heat pumps)
Maximum volume: Units with curbside collection are entitled to 1 m3 per collection. For buildings with containerized collection, the limit is 5 m3, regardless of the number of units in the building.
The bulky waste must be clearly visible, not wrapped up, and arranged in an orderly and safe pile.
Random bits and pieces and garbage bags are not accepted.
Two people should be able to carry the items without the help of mechanical equipment, and the items must be no more than 1.5 metres in length and weigh no more than 50 kg.
Carpets must be rolled up and tied up.
Any item that could injure someone or damage the facilities or equipment during handling or processing may be refused (e.g. sharp items).
Items must be left curbside, not near containers, whether you live in a house or a multi-unit residential building.
Items must be put out no earlier than 7 p.m. the day before or no later than 7 a.m. on collection day. Collection is between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. If your items have not been collected, submit a request between 6 p.m. on the day of your collection and 6 p.m. the following day. If your collection is on a Friday, you have until noon on Saturday to make your request.
The special collection of natural Christmas trees takes place during the first two full weeks of the year, on the same day that your compostables are collected. For example, in 2021, the collection was in the weeks of January 4 and 11.
If any decorations or lights are left on the tree, or if it is wrapped in plastic, it won't be collected. In the case of multi-unit residential buildings with containerized collection, the trees must be left curbside on the same day that curbside collection from residences takes place in their sector.
Why the different collections?
The goal is to valorize as many materials as possible and to reduce the volumes going to landfill. Natural Christmas trees, wood and metal items can be recycled or valorized, just like reusable or recyclable bulky items. Bulky waste goes to landfill. This is why it is important to have different collections and to follow the instructions on how and what to leave out for each collection.
DTRITUS
About Gatineau
Recognized for its quality of life, Gatineau is a city of 291,000 inhabitants. It is located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, and extends east and west of the Gatineau River.
