Renovation Debris: What Goes Where

Renovation projects produce more debris than people expect. A bathroom gut alone fills more space than most homeowners think — and Guelph curbside collection isn't built for it. Here's a practical breakdown of what to do with the typical materials that come out of a residential renovation: drywall, lumber, tile, fixtures, flooring, cabinets, and the things that fall off the back of trucks.

Drywall (the volume hog)

Drywall is the #1 thing that surprises people. A single bathroom gut produces 8–12 sheets of drywall waste; a full kitchen reno can produce 20–30 sheets. Stacked, it doesn't look like much. Crumbled into a bin, it takes up significant space.

Disposal: drywall is fine in a standard bin. Comes out of a typical reno in pieces 1–4 feet across. Don't break it down further unless you're filling a small bin and need to compact.

Wet drywall: if it got water-damaged, it doubles in weight. Heavy bins get hit with tonnage surcharges. Try to dry it before binning if practical.

Lumber (treated and untreated)

Renovation lumber comes from framing offcuts, removed studs, deck boards, fence panels, and old subflooring.

Disposal: all goes in a standard bin. Treated lumber (pressure-treated, painted, stained) goes to the same disposal stream as untreated. Don't try to separate.

Salvage potential: long, clean lumber pieces (8 ft+, no nails, no rot) can sometimes be salvaged. Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Guelph takes good lumber. Worth a 10-minute call before binning.

Old painted lumber: if it has visible lead paint (homes pre-1978 risk), don't sand or break it apart. Goes in the bin intact.

Tile (the weight wildcard)

Tile is where weight catches people off guard. Ceramic and porcelain tile is dense — a bin full of tile demolition weighs 3× a bin full of household junk.

Small quantities (one bathroom): fine in a standard bin. Within the included weight allowance.

Large quantities (whole-house tile demolition): mention this when booking. We may quote it like concrete (per tonne over the included weight). Doesn't mean it's expensive — just that we want to give you the full price upfront.

Backerboard and grout: fine in the bin. Goes with the tile.

Cabinets and fixtures

Old kitchen cabinets: standard bin. Wood cabinets are voluminous but light — they take up space without adding weight.

Old vanities and bathroom cabinets: same.

Toilets: fine in the bin. Drain them first (less mess in transport).

Bathtubs and showers: standard bin. Cast iron tubs are heavy — mention them when booking. Fibreglass tubs are light.

Sinks (kitchen, bath): fine. Stainless steel is recyclable but the volume is small enough that bin disposal makes sense.

Salvage option: Habitat ReStore in Guelph takes working cabinets, fixtures, and appliances. If your old kitchen is decent, donate before binning.

Flooring

Carpet and underlayment

Roll it up tight, tie it, and toss it in. Carpet from a whole house can fit in a 10-yard. Wet carpet doubles in weight — dry it if you can.

Vinyl and laminate

Standard bin. Light and easy to load.

Hardwood

Standard bin. If it's clean and reusable, Habitat ReStore sometimes takes it. Otherwise just bin it.

Engineered hardwood

Same as above. Standard bin.

Tile (already covered)

See tile section. Heavy quantities mentioned at booking.

Linoleum and old vinyl tile (pre-1980)

⚠️ May contain asbestos. Old 9″x9″ floor tiles and the black mastic adhesive under them can contain asbestos. If your home is pre-1980 and you're tearing up old flooring, consider an asbestos test before disposal. Confirmed asbestos goes through a licensed abatement contractor — not a regular bin.

Insulation

Fibreglass batts: fine in bin. Light. Wear gloves and a mask when handling.

Spray foam: if cured (hardened) — fine. Wet spray foam is sticky and not allowed.

Cellulose (blown-in): fine in bag form. Loose cellulose blows around and shouldn't go in an open bin.

Vermiculite (older homes): ⚠️ may contain asbestos if installed pre-1990. Test before disturbing.

Old appliances

Washers, dryers, dishwashers: standard bin.

Stoves and ovens (electric or gas): standard bin. For gas, disconnect the line before tearing out (have a plumber do this if you're not sure).

Microwaves and small appliances: standard bin.

Refrigerators and freezers: ⚠️ only if the freon has been removed. Most haulers (us included) won't transport intact units with refrigerant. Either have a licensed appliance recycler remove the refrigerant first, or use a service that includes that step. Some retailers (Lowe's, Best Buy) take old fridges when delivering new ones.

Air conditioners and heat pumps: same as refrigerators — refrigerant must be recovered first.

The "no" list (things not allowed in the bin)

• Asbestos-containing materials — popcorn ceilings (pre-1990), old vinyl tile, vermiculite insulation, some old plaster. Test if uncertain.
• Liquid paint, stains, varnishes, solvents — Ontario HHW depot only.
• Aerosol cans (full or partial) — HHW.
• Propane tanks — return programs.
• Old fluorescent bulbs — recycling drop-off.
• Mercury-containing thermostats — special collection.
• Construction silicone, caulk, adhesives — if liquid, no. If hardened in tubes, OK.
• Tires — Ontario tire stewardship programs.

Full list of what's accepted vs. banned →

Bin sizing for typical reno scopes

Ready to clear the renovation?

Call 226.243.5199 or book online. Tell us the project scope and we'll size the bin and schedule delivery in one call.