How much does dog poop removal cost in London, Ontario?
Poop scooping prices depend on your yard, your dogs and how often you want service. Here is what changes the quote and how to get an accurate one.
Can dog poop go in London's green bin?
Since London brought in the Green Bin, a lot of dog owners have asked the same thing: can the dog poop go in with the food scraps? It is a fair question, and the answer is not the one most people hope for.
Here is what the City of London says, and what to do with the waste instead.
Dog poop does not go in the Green Bin
The City of London lists pet waste as an unacceptable material for the Green Bin, along with recyclables, yard waste and plastic bags. The city also says that bins containing pet waste, plastic bags or similar items may not be collected. You can read the rules on the city's Green Bin page.
So for most London households, the Green Bin is out. Putting a bag of dog waste in there can mean your bin gets skipped on collection day, which is a bigger headache than the poop itself.
Where it does go: your garbage
London's Municipal Waste and Resource Materials Collection By-law counts dog, cat and other pet feces as garbage, as long as it is placed inside a sealed, leak-free bag. Collectors can refuse pet waste that is not properly bagged. The by-law is posted on the city's site: Municipal Waste & Resource Materials Collection By-law WM-12.
In practice, that means:
- Scoop the waste into a bag.
- Seal it so nothing can leak.
- Put it in your garbage, not the Green Bin and not the blue box.
Check the city's curbside garbage page for your collection schedule and any extra bagging advice, since city guidance can change.
What about the south London pet waste pilot?
Local news has reported that the city planned a pilot in two south London neighbourhoods, where participating households would be allowed to put bagged pet waste in the Green Bin. Reports say those households would have to use a compostable, sealable bag. You can read the coverage from CTV News London.
We could not confirm today whether the pilot is running or which streets are included, so check with the City of London before changing what you do. Unless the city has told you that your address is part of a pilot, treat dog waste as garbage.
The problem with waiting for garbage day
The city collects garbage every second week. If you have one or two dogs, you can end up with a lot of bagged waste sitting in a bin or garage for up to two weeks. Warm weather makes that unpleasant, and in winter the bin still has to be hauled to the curb through snow.
Many owners find the real work is not the garbage rules. It is finding the time to walk the yard, scoop, bag and carry it out every few days, week after week, and doing it again after rain, snow melt and long stretches of busy work.
Taking the whole job off your plate
That is the part we do. On a visit we send a text when we are on the way, scoop the yard, bag the waste and close and latch the gate, then send you a photo of the closed gate. That is the whole job, done for you.
If you want the yard kept clear on a steady schedule, our recurring poop scooping is built for that. If your yard has built up and needs a reset first, see our yard sanitation service.
Quick answers
- Can dog poop go in the Green Bin? Not under the city's current rules for most households.
- Can it go in the garbage? Yes, when it is in a sealed, leak-free bag.
- Should I check the city? Yes. Rules and pilots change, and the city is the final word.
If you would rather hand the scooping and bagging to someone else, get a quote and tell us about your yard and your dogs. We will talk through a schedule that fits.
