Landfill & Recycling

Johnson Tarbutt Joint Landfill

Location:

3860 Government Rd, Desbarats, ON P0R 1E0
Between Puddingstone Road and the railway tracks.

 Landfill Hours
Saturdays : 9 am – 5 pm

Wednesdays : 12 pm -7 pm (summer)

12 pm – 5 pm (winter)

Share Shed Hours

Saturdays : 9 am – 5 pm

Wednesdays : 12 pm – 5 pm

RECYCLING PROGRAM

New for January 1, 2026

What you can recycle

Glass bottles, jars, foam packaging and flexible plastics are now accepted in the Township’s recycling program. This update is part of province-wide changes through Circular Materials Ontario to modernize recycling and improve convenience for residents.

 

 

Be recycle ready

  • Give containers a quick rinse before putting in your recycling
  • Place materials clean, dry and loose in your recycling
  • Flatten and bundle cardboard to save space
  • Lids and labels can remain on containers
  • Sort your materials before arriving at the Landfill for a quicker drop off
  • Hazardous materials like batteries and medical sharps do not belong in your recycling. Safely recycle them at a designated drop off location

 

Where to Recycle

Recycling is available at the Joint Landfill Site located at 3860 Government Road, Desbarats.

On-Site Etiquette and Safety

  • Please use a clear garbage bags for co-mingle recycling items (foam packaging, glass, plastics, etc.,)
  • If the sea containers appear full, ask the Landfill Assistant for direction.
  • Do not leave materials on the ground inside or outside the landfill.
  • Do not discard recyclables into the household or non household bins.
  • Please use caution while at the landfill.

Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) can be taken to the Sault Ste. Marie Hazardous Waste Site at 402 Fifth Line East, Sault Ste. Marie.    The hours of operation of the Household Hazardous Waste site can be viewed here

Please ensure you tell the attendant that you are from the Township of Tarbutt.

Click here to find out whats Acceptable vs Unacceptable.

Tipping Fees (Effective February 1st, 2026)

Landfill Tipping Fees 
  
Household Garbage (deposit in small green bins)No Charge
Scrap Metal in designated bin (no propane tanks)No Charge
Batteries (<5kg) and Electronics in designated containersNo Charge
Unpainted wood, yard waste, brush must placed in burn pileNo Charge
  
Non-Household Waste(construction materials, furniture, painted wood, non recyclables)
Single Trailer$15
Half Ton Truck$30
Dual Axle Trailer$75
Single Axle Truck (one ton)$75
Double Axle Truck$150
Triple Axle Truck$250
  
Boats – wooden8.00 per foot (to back cell)
Boats – aluminmum8.00 per foot (to scrap metal)
Boats – fibreglass15.00 per foot (set aside at back cell)
  
Call Out Fee (attendant is required to attend during off hours, to be arranged in advance with Township OfficeMinimum 3 hours pay, plus expenses. Tipping fees to the tracked and invoiced.
  
Contaminated Non-Hazardous Waste Fees subject to changeMust be approved in advance by Clerk with TCLP
1 to 25 Loads$200 per load
26 to 50 Loads$150 per load
51 to 75 Loads$100 per load
More than 75 Loads$75 per load
1 Load is taken to be a dump truck. Belly dumps to be taken as 2 Loads

Battery Recycling

Please recycle batteries using the dedicated battery recycling station. 

The Battery Recycling at the Joint Landfill has been relocated from the front of the office to a the side of share-shed sorting sea- container.

Please use caution and place damaged lithium-ion batteries in the dedicated safety container. Please talk to a landfill attendant about recycling damaged  lithium-ion batteries.

The Don'ts

Many items are labeled with the familiar recyling symbol, however, this does not mean that it is recycleable in OUR program!!

If you turn your plastic containers upside down, you will usually find the plastic identified by a number inside the recycling symbol and /or the letters PETE or HDPE underneath it.

Some exceptions to the #2 plastic that we CANNOT accept are: Motor oil bottles, pesticide and herbicide containers.

Please do not recycle...

  • Window pane glass, ceramics or china
  • Light bulbs
  • Coat hangers (plastic or metal)