What this page is (and isn't)
This is an evergreen guide for Durham Region residents checking waste collection schedules, waste facility hours, and municipal service closures on holidays and observance days. It explains how to use official calendars and notices — it's not a live replacement for Region or city schedules.
Sources of record: The Region of Durham manages curbside waste collection in six municipalities and operates Regional facilities and offices. Cities of Oshawa and Whitby run their own garbage and green bin programs. Daily Durham publishes dated stories when Region or cities issue material closure notices, always citing the official source.
Who collects what (Region vs cities)
According to the Region's Canada Day 2026 waste notice:
- Region of Durham provides curbside waste collection in Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog and Uxbridge.
- Oshawa and Whitby garbage and green bin are municipal programs.
- Ontario recycling program is managed by Circular Materials.
Always check the relevant authority for your address. When in doubt, use the Region collection calendar or your city's waste page.
Where to check official updates first
Before planning around a holiday or checking waste day, use these official sources:
- Region of Durham Collection Calendar — address lookup for Region-served municipalities
- Region: Garbage, green bin & other collection hub
- Region: Waste management facilities — depot hours and fees
- Region: Service Disruptions — ongoing closures and changes
- City of Oshawa: Garbage / recycling hub
- City of Oshawa: Holiday collection
- Circular Materials — recycling program context
Contact pointers
Region of Durham: Dial 311 within Durham; toll-free 1-800-372-1102. For current hours and emails, see the official waste pages above.
Types of notices residents see
Durham Region and cities publish several types of holiday and waste notices. Here's what they mean, with real examples from recent Daily Durham coverage and official sources:
Region “what's closed” observance day
What it means: Offices, clinics, some programs closed; some services continue.
Example:
Waste facility closure
What it means: Depots / waste management facilities closed that day.
Example:
Curbside collection continues
What it means:Explicit “no impact to waste collection” on some observance days.
Example (Region-served areas):Region's September 30, 2026 notice stated collection continued in Region-served municipalities (Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge) — attribute specific dates and do not generalise across years without a fresh citation.
Whitby exception: Town of Whitby runs its own waste program. For September 30, 2026, Whitby's official notice stated waste services continued but residents should put garbage, green bin, and blue boxes out one day after their regular pickup day (bump-a-day). Daily Durham coverage: Whitby events and service changes.
Curbside day shift for statutory holidays
What it means: Collection moves a day; week shifts forward.
Example: Canada Day 2026 Region waste notice (example of shift pattern)
City holiday operating hours
What it means: Local counters, facilities, events.
Examples:
- Pickering September 30 hours (City source)
- Whitby events and service changes (Town source)
- Oshawa events (City source)
Sorting / set-out reminders
What it means: What belongs in yard waste, etc.
Example:
Thanksgiving 2026 (Monday, October 12)
For Thanksgiving Day 2026, the Region and municipalities have issued the following notices:
Region of Durham facilities and services
According to the Region's October 5 notice, on Monday, October 12:
- All Regional facilities and front counters will be closed, including Regional Headquarters in Whitby, Provincial Offences Courts and offices, Ontario Works offices (Ajax, Oshawa, Uxbridge), Family Services Durham locations, the Region's eight Directly Operated Early Learning and Child Care centres, and Health Department clinics (oral health, sexual health, breastfeeding, immunization).
- Adult Day Programs at Hillsdale Estates (Oshawa) and Lakeview Manor (Beaverton) will be closed.
- Water sample drop-off and pickup will be unavailable Friday, October 9 and Monday, October 12 at Regional Headquarters (Whitby), Health Department Port Perry Office, Uxbridge Municipal Office, and Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex (Bowmanville). Regular drop-off and pickup resumes Tuesday, October 13 at 8:30 a.m.
- Durham Regional Transit (DRT) will run weekend service. The Specialised Services/On Demand Call Centre will be open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The DRT Customer Service Call Centre and the Ajax customer service desk will be closed.
- Primary Care Outreach Program continues 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Durham Region Outreach homelessness support remains available.
Note: The Region's notice does not address curbside waste collection for Thanksgiving. Residents in Region-served municipalities (Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge) should check the Region collection calendar for their address.
City of Oshawa
Oshawa's holiday collection page states there is no collection on Thanksgiving. Collections that fall on the holiday will be picked up the next day, and collection will occur one day later for the remainder of the week.
Town of Whitby
No Thanksgiving-specific waste notice was found on the Town of Whitby website as of this update. Whitby residents should check whitby.ca for current guidance, as the Town operates its own waste programme.
How Daily Durham covers waste & holiday closures
Daily Durham publishes Region-wide posts under /news/durham-region/… and city posts under each municipality slug when Region or city notices affect residents — facility closures, curbside shifts, holiday hours. Every story cites the Region or city source URL. This guide is the evergreen parent; dated stories are the children.
If you spot a service change not covered yet, you can tip the team or subscribe to our free weekday newsletter.
Latest related coverage
Recent Daily Durham stories about waste and holiday service closures:
- Durham Region facilities close Oct 12 for Thanksgiving; DRT on weekend service
- Durham Region details September 30 service closures
- Durham waste facilities will be closed September 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- City of Pickering holiday operating hours for September 30
- Whitby shares events and service changes for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Oshawa events mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Oshawa clarifies what belongs in yard waste collection
Frequently asked questions
Where do I check my Durham waste collection day?
Use the Region online collection calendar (and Waste app mentioned on Region pages). Oshawa and Whitby residents use their city's tools and pages.
Who collects my garbage — the Region or my city?
Region for Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge. Oshawa and Whitby run their own garbage and green bin (per Region notices). Recycling: Circular Materials.
Are waste facilities open on holidays / September 30-type days?
Check Region facility notices. The Region's September 30, 2026 notice said waste management facilities were closed — this is an example of how closures are announced. Do not assume a perpetual calendar; re-check each year.
What happens to waste collection on Thanksgiving?
For Thanksgiving 2026 (Monday, October 12):
- Region-served municipalities (Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge): The Region's October 5 notice did not address curbside collection changes. Check the Region collection calendar for your address.
- Oshawa: No collection on Thanksgiving. Collections that fall on the holiday will be picked up the next day, with collection one day later for the remainder of the week (City source).
- Whitby: Check whitby.ca for current guidance, as the Town operates its own waste programme.
Does curbside collection run on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
Only what cited notices say for that year. For September 30, 2026:
- Region-served municipalities (Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge): The Region's notice stated curbside collection continued as scheduled.
- Whitby (runs its own programme): Waste services continued, but residents were instructed to put garbage, green bin, and blue boxes out one day after their regular pickup day (bump-a-day). Source: Town of Whitby.
- Oshawa (runs its own programme): Check Oshawa's holiday collection page for current guidance.
Re-check each year. Waste management facilities were closed September 30 (Region notice).
What about city hall / recreation counters on holidays?
Check each municipality's holiday hours notice (Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa examples above). This guide links patterns, not a forever spreadsheet.
Is this Daily Durham page a live “what's closed today” board?
No. This is a how-to guide and curated links. For live lists, use Region Service Disruptions or city notices.
Where is past Daily Durham coverage?
Curated links on this hub, plus /news and city hubs.
Trust and accuracy
Every operational fact about Durham waste collection and holiday closures — schedules, depot hours, closure dates — is attributed to the Region of Durham or the relevant municipality as the source of record. If you spot an error in any Daily Durham story, please use our corrections policy to let us know.
For more about how Daily Durham reports and verifies stories, see our editorial standards.