For most Ottawa garages, sort everything into keep, donate, sell, and dispose piles, keep paint, propane, oil, and batteries out of the bin, and rent a 12-yard bin (a 16-yard if the garage is packed). Our bins include 1 tonne of weight, carry no fuel or environmental surcharges, and are delivered Monday to Saturday.
A garage fills up slowly: leftover paint from a project two summers ago, a shelf that broke, sports gear nobody uses, moving boxes that never got opened. We have been renting bins across Ottawa since 2020, and garage cleanouts are one of the most common jobs we see. This guide covers how to plan the work, what can and can’t go in a bin, how a bin compares with the alternatives, what size to rent, and what it costs.
How to Plan a Garage Cleanout in Ottawa (Step by Step)
Start by deciding what you want the garage to do once it is empty: park a car, hold a workbench, or store a smaller, better organized set of belongings. That decision tells you what earns a spot on the shelves and what leaves. Then pick a work window. The 3-day rental is the most popular choice for cleanouts: the bin arrives Friday, you work through the weekend, and we pick it up Monday. Line up helpers for that window, because sorting takes longer than loading. If the garage is one part of a larger property clear-out, our estate cleanout bin rental guide shows how to plan the disposal room by room.
Sort Everything Into Keep, Donate, Sell, and Dispose Piles
Work one section at a time (one wall, then the floor, then the overhead storage) and build four piles: keep, donate, sell, and dispose. Be realistic about what you will use again. A tool or box that has sat untouched for years rarely earns its shelf back. If you cannot decide, set aside one small undecided area and review it once at the end so those items do not drift back into the clutter.
Use this order so the work builds on itself:
- Move the items you use regularly to a protected spot, such as inside the house.
- Set aside clean, working items that someone else could use.
- Photograph anything you plan to sell and set a firm listing deadline.
- Put broken, non-hazardous junk in the dispose pile.
Keep the piles physically separate. Donations stacked next to junk end up in the bin by accident, and you will sort them twice.
Donate, Recycle, or Dispose: Where Garage Junk Goes in Ottawa
Not everything leaving your garage belongs in a bin. Usable furniture and building materials can go to places like Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which accepts furniture and renovation materials, and anything in good shape may sell online for more than it would cost to haul. Other materials can go to recycling or municipal programs, and the City’s Waste Explorer tool shows where each type of item is accepted. Check acceptance before you load the car.
| What you have | Where it goes | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Clean, usable furniture, tools, building materials | Donate or sell | Sorting these out first lowers the weight in your bin |
| Old electronics (TVs, computers, monitors) | Retailer take-back, or Trail Road Landfill at no charge | Electronics are not accepted in our bins; use the City’s Waste Explorer to find a drop-off |
| Paint, motor oil, batteries | Participating retailers or a City hazardous waste event | Not accepted in our bins (see below) |
| Broken, non-hazardous junk | Your rental bin | Furniture, shelving, scrap wood, and general debris |
Separating items by destination also keeps hazardous materials out of ordinary waste, which matters for safety as much as for your bin.
What Can and Can’t Go in a Garage Cleanout Bin
Our 12, 16, 20, and 30-yard bins take household junk, furniture, and renovation or construction debris. They do not take concrete, soil, or asphalt. If your garage holds leftover concrete, pavers, or soil, those go in our dedicated 5-yard and 10-yard heavy-material bins instead, because they are too heavy for a general bin. Check the lists below before the bin arrives so nothing causes a problem at pickup.
Items You Can Throw Out (Furniture, Shelving, Scrap Wood, Old Gear)
Worn furniture, broken shelving, scrap wood, old sports and hobby gear, cardboard, and bagged junk all go in at no charge beyond your rental. A few items carry a per-unit fee: appliances ($50 each), mattresses and box springs ($50 each), and tires ($20 each). If you are unsure about a particular item, call us before you load it. That is a faster conversation than a surcharge at pickup.
Load heavy pieces low and spread them across the floor of the bin, and break down shelving and furniture where it is safe to do so. Material cannot extend above the top rail, which is a transport requirement under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, so flatten boxes and stack flat items first.
Hazardous Garage Items to Keep Out (Paint, Propane, Oil, Batteries)
We do not accept liquid paint, propane tanks, motor oil, transmission or hydraulic oil, antifreeze, batteries, fuel or other flammable liquids, or pesticides and herbicides. Fully dried paint cans are fine; anything with liquid paint is not. The City of Ottawa’s current hazardous-waste instructions explain where each item goes: paint and batteries can often be returned to participating retailers through the City’s Waste Explorer, while propane cylinders and gasoline go to the City’s household hazardous waste events.
Keep these items upright, sealed, and away from heat or flame until you drop them off. If a container is leaking, swollen, corroded, or unlabeled, do not pour it into another container and do not put it in the bin. Call the City at 3-1-1 for handling guidance.
Garage Cleanout Options: Bin Rental vs. Junk Removal vs. City Pickup
Bin rental. We deliver the bin, you load it at your own pace, and we collect it. This suits a garage that needs a day or more of sorting and lifting, and you pay for the bin and disposal rather than a crew’s time.
Junk removal. Full-service junk removal sends a crew who loads everything in one visit. It suits a single-day pile when you cannot or do not want to lift, but you pay for labour as well as disposal: a significant load in Ottawa typically runs $300 to $600 or more.
City pickup. City pickup works for a few eligible bulky items put out on your collection day. It follows specific collection rules and schedules, so clearing a whole garage this way can stretch across many collection days.
If you can do the lifting and the job runs past a single day, a bin usually wins on value. If you want a crew to carry everything out in one visit, junk removal is worth the premium.
What Size Bin Do You Need for a Garage Cleanout?
Count only what is leaving. Items you are keeping, donating, or selling do not take bin space. We rent general-debris bins from 12 to 30 yards, and our guide to Ottawa container rentals compares each size. For garages, three sizes cover most jobs:
| Bin | Dimensions | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-yard | 6.5 ft wide x 4 ft tall x 12 ft long | About 75 garbage bags, or 5 pickup truck loads | A typical single-car garage |
| 16-yard | 7 ft wide x 5 ft tall x 12 ft long | About 95 garbage bags, or 6 pickup truck loads | A packed single garage, or a two-car garage with moderate clutter |
| 20-yard | 8 ft wide x 5.5 ft tall x 12 ft long | About 120 garbage bags, or 7 pickup truck loads | A large two-car garage, or a garage plus a shed or basement |
Weight matters as much as volume. Each bin includes 1 tonne, and the 12, 16, and 20-yard bins have a 5-tonne maximum. Old weights, tool chests, lumber, and masonry add up quickly, so tell us about heavy items when you book. If you are between two sizes, ask us: stepping up from a 12-yard to a 16-yard adds about $10 to the rental, which is far less than a second delivery.
Access matters too. Plan for a level driveway spot long enough for a 12-foot bin and the truck that delivers it, clear of overhead wires and low branches, with a short path to carry items out.
Not sure which size fits your garage? Tell us what’s in it and we’ll recommend a bin. Call 613-894-2467.
How Much Does a Garage Cleanout Cost in Ottawa?
With a bin, you pay for the bin and disposal, not a crew’s time, which is why a bin you load yourself usually costs less than full-service removal for a garage-sized job. Our bin rental pricing varies by bin size and rental length, and every rental includes 1 tonne of weight before overage applies. Current rates for the two sizes most garages need, before tax:
| Bin | 24 hours | 3 days | 7 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-yard | $429 | $449 | $479 | $579 |
| 16-yard | $439 | $459 | $489 | $589 |
Beyond the rental rate, only a few things add cost: weight over the included tonne (billed by the kilogram), the per-unit fees for appliances, mattresses, and tires listed above, an extra-day fee if you keep the bin longer, and a $60 winter scrape fee when it applies. We do not add fuel or environmental surcharges, so the rate you see is the base cost.
How to Book a Garage Cleanout Bin (Delivery, Driveway Placement, Pickup)
Use our request form and tell us what you are clearing, where in Ottawa, and when you need the bin. We confirm the size, delivery date, and details within one business day. For same-day requests, call 613-894-2467, because availability depends on that day’s routes. We deliver Monday through Saturday, and we serve Ottawa and nearby communities, including Manotick, Orleans, Barrhaven, Kanata, and Nepean.
Before delivery day, move vehicles, planters, and toys out of the placement area. We put boards under the bin’s contact points to protect paved surfaces, so tell us if you have a newer asphalt driveway. If you will not be home, leave clear written placement instructions; if our driver cannot place the bin safely, an extra trip charge may apply. A bin placed on a public street needs a City of Ottawa Right-of-Way Permit before delivery, and getting it is the customer’s responsibility. We will not place a bin on a public street without confirmed permit documentation.
When loading, fill to the rim and keep everything below the top rail. If the job turns out bigger than expected, call us: a bin swap or second delivery is better than an overloaded bin our driver cannot collect. When the bin is full, call for pickup. If the work runs long, ask for an extension and extra days are billed per day.
Ready to clear your garage? Request your garage cleanout bin online and we’ll confirm delivery details within one business day. Every rental includes 1 tonne of weight, with no fuel or environmental surcharges.
Garage Cleanout FAQs
How long does a garage cleanout take?
A tidy single garage with a few helpers can be cleared in a day. A garage packed for years usually takes a weekend, and sorting takes longer than loading. That is why the 3-day rental is the most popular choice for cleanouts: the bin arrives Friday, you work through the weekend, and we collect it Monday.
Can I put paint, propane tanks, or batteries in a garage cleanout bin?
No. We do not accept liquid paint, propane tanks, or batteries in any bin. Fully dried paint cans are allowed. Paint and batteries can usually go back to participating retailers, and propane cylinders go to a City of Ottawa household hazardous waste event.
Do I need a permit to place a bin on my driveway or street in Ottawa?
A bin that sits entirely on your own driveway typically needs no permit. A bin on a public street or right-of-way needs a City of Ottawa Right-of-Way Permit before delivery, and the permit is the customer’s responsibility. We will not deliver to a public street without confirmed permit documentation.
A garage cleanout goes fastest when the sorting is finished before the bin arrives. Have a question before you book? Call 613-894-2467 or contact us and we’ll help you choose the right bin for your garage.