Junk removal in Ottawa costs about $130 to $250 for a single item pickup, $300 to $450 for a quarter to half truckload, and $450 to $900 for a full truckload in 2026. Most local companies price by the volume your material occupies in a standard 15-cubic-yard truck rather than by weight or by the hour, and nearly all charge a minimum of roughly $120–$160 even for one small item. A whole-house or estate cleanout typically runs $1,200 to $3,500 depending on how many loads it takes. If you're generating debris steadily over a renovation, a 10–20 yard bin rental is usually cheaper at $400 to $750 f...
Full-service junk removal companies in Ottawa quote by fraction of truck. Using a typical 15-cubic-yard truck as the reference, a minimum or single-item pickup — one couch, one appliance, one mattress — runs $130–$250. An eighth of a truck is roughly $180–$260, a quarter load $250–$380, a half load $350–$550, three-quarters $450–$700, and a full 15-yard load $550–$900. Those prices include the labour to carry everything out, so a basement or third-floor walk-up costs more than a curbside pile — expect a $50–$150 stair or long-carry surcharge in older Centretown and Sandy Hill walk-ups. Same-day service typically adds 10–20%. Prices generally include HST in some companies' advertised rates and exclude it in others, so always confirm. Rural pickups outside the Greenbelt — Manotick, Carp, Greely, Osgoode — often carry a $30–$75 travel fee.
Typical Ottawa 2026 single-item rates: mattress or box spring $110–$180, sofa $130–$220, fridge or freezer $150–$250 (refrigerant handling included), hot tub removal $400–$900, piano $350–$700, and a shed teardown and haul-away $500–$1,200.
The economics flip depending on how you generate the junk. Full-service removal makes sense when you have a defined pile, want it gone today, and don't want to lift anything — you're paying for labour as much as disposal. Bin rental makes sense during a multi-day project. In Ottawa for 2026, a 10-yard bin runs roughly $400–$550 for a one-week rental with about one to two tonnes included, a 14–15 yard bin $480–$650, and a 20-yard bin $600–$800. Overweight charges typically run $95–$140 per additional tonne, which matters enormously with dense material — a 10-yard bin of drywall, plaster, or shingles will blow past its tonnage allowance long before it looks full. Concrete, brick, and soil usually require a dedicated heavy-material bin with a much lower volume cap. Also check whether a City of Ottawa right-of-way permit is needed if the bin sits on the street rather than your driveway; it is, and it's an extra step people frequently forget.
Not all junk prices the same. Renovation debris is dense, so a half-truck of demolished drywall and old flooring may cost as much as a full truck of furniture because the company pays tipping fees by weight at the landfill. Expect surcharges on specific items: fridges, freezers, and air conditioners carry a $25–$60 refrigerant handling fee; tires are $10–$25 each; paint, solvents, and other household hazardous waste are usually refused outright by junk haulers and must go to a City of Ottawa Household Hazardous Waste depot event, which is free for residents. Electronics are typically accepted but sometimes carry a small fee, though Ontario has free e-waste drop-off options. Asbestos-containing material — a real concern in Ottawa homes built before 1990, especially in old vermiculite attic insulation, popcorn ceilings, and pipe wrap — cannot be handled by a general junk removal company at all and requires a licensed abatement contractor at far higher cost.
A useful rule of thumb: budget 3–6% of a renovation's total cost for waste removal. A $40,000 basement or kitchen reno commonly generates $1,200–$2,400 in bins and hauling, and it's a line item that surprises homeowners who assumed the contractor's quote covered it. Confirm in writing whether disposal is included.
Before paying for hauling, check what the City of Ottawa already offers. Residents can self-haul waste to the Trail Road Waste Facility for a per-tonne tipping fee with a minimum charge, which for a small trailer load is often a fraction of a junk removal quote if you have a vehicle and the time. The City also runs an annual or seasonal bulky item collection and accepts many large items at the curb on regular garbage day within set limits, so an old mattress or a couple of chairs may not need a hauler at all. Household Hazardous Waste depot events accept paint, solvents, batteries, and chemicals free of charge for Ottawa residents. For usable goods, Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa ReStore accepts donations of cabinets, doors, appliances, and building materials and will often pick up larger donations at no cost — a genuinely good option when you're gutting a kitchen. Metal appliances and scrap can also be picked up free by local scrap collectors.
Most Ottawa companies will give a rough phone estimate from photos and a firm price on arrival once they see the volume, so send clear photos of the entire pile from a few angles and mention anything heavy, oversized, or hazardous. Be specific about access: which floor, whether there are stairs, how far the carry is to the truck, and whether the driveway can fit a truck or bin. Ask three questions before booking — is the quote all-in including labour, fuel, tipping fees, and HST; are there surcharges for appliances, stairs, or heavy material; and what happens if the load turns out larger than estimated. Get at least two or three quotes for anything beyond a single item, since pricing between local operators varies widely for identical loads. Confirm the company is insured, especially if items are coming out of a finished interior where a dropped fridge can damage flooring or a stair railing.
In 2026, expect $130–$250 for a single item, $250–$380 for a quarter truckload, $350–$550 for a half load, and $550–$900 for a full 15-cubic-yard truck. Most companies apply a minimum charge of roughly $120–$160, and prices include the labour to carry items out.
For multi-day projects, usually yes. A 10-yard bin runs about $400–$550 for a week with one to two tonnes included, and a 20-yard bin about $600–$800. Watch overweight fees of $95–$140 per extra tonne with dense material like drywall, plaster, or shingles, and check whether a City permit is needed if the bin sits on the street.
A single mattress or box spring pickup typically costs $110–$180 in Ottawa, though the company's minimum charge may apply. If you have several items, adding them to one pickup is far more cost-effective than separate trips.
Renovation debris is dense, so a half-truckload of drywall, tile, and old flooring often costs $400–$700 because tipping fees are weight-based. As a planning rule, budget 3–6% of your total renovation cost for waste removal, and confirm in writing whether your contractor's quote already includes disposal.
The City of Ottawa accepts many bulky items at the curb on regular collection day within set limits, and Household Hazardous Waste depot events take paint, solvents, and batteries free for residents. Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa ReStore accepts usable building materials and appliances as donations, often with free pickup for larger loads.
No. Paint, solvents, and other household hazardous waste must go to a City of Ottawa HHW depot. Asbestos-containing materials — common in pre-1990 Ottawa homes in vermiculite insulation, popcorn ceilings, and pipe wrap — require a licensed abatement contractor and cannot be handled by a general junk hauler.