The City of Kingston Public Works declared a Significant Weather Event on January 26, 2026, after heavy snow and ice made travel hazardous and threatened municipal service timelines. The City warned that garbage and green‑bin (organics) collection may be delayed or postponed as crews prioritize safety and primary maintenance routes.
“Automated waste containers and green bins cannot be collected if covered in ice,” the City of Kingston Public Works said, noting that collectors will not dig out carts that are frozen to the curb. If a bin is skipped because it is frozen or the lid is iced shut, residents are asked to bring the bin back onto their property and wait for the next regularly scheduled collection day.
This storm is an early test of the post‑depot system following the permanent closure of the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC) at the end of 2025. Responsibility for residential recycling collection has moved to Circular Materials Ontario (CMO) under Ontario’s extended producer responsibility rules; collection in Kingston is being carried out by contractor Emterra Environmental on behalf of CMO. Residents should check Circular Materials or Emterra for recycling‑specific service updates during the storm.
Kingstonist and City notices confirm the KARC drop‑off depot at 196 Lappans Lane is no longer open to the public. The City’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program typically operates from April through November, so hazardous waste services are not available in January; residents are advised to store items such as paint and chemicals safely in a cool, dry place until HHW services resume in spring.
The City says it will post updates on its website and social media when the Significant Weather Event declaration is lifted and normal services resume. In the meantime, residents are asked to follow the City’s winter waste set‑out guidance — including keeping bins visible and accessible and clearing snow and ice around bins when it is safe to do so — to help collection crews once conditions improve.
