Toronto might finally do something about constantly-overflowing trash bins

After nearly two decades of complaints regarding jammed doors, foul odours, and trash spilling onto sidewalks, Toronto's litter bins might be headed for a major reset as the city's contract with the private company that manages them comes to an end. 

Back in 2007, Toronto signed onto a 20-year agreement with Astral Media for the manufacturing, supply, installation, and maintenance of 25,000 furniture elements, including litter bins and transit shelters. 

With the contract now set to expire in 2027, Mayor Olivia Chow says the city has an opportunity to take over after years of privatization and ensure that the litter bins are managed properly. 

"The City can now step in to ensure our litter bins are well designed, well-maintained, well-placed, responsive to community needs and end the persistent problem of broken and overflowing litter bins that make our main streets less livable," wrote Chow, along with Coun. Paula Fletcher in a letter to council's executive committee. 

Chow and Fletcher go on to propose that all aspects of the litter bins come "wholly under the control of the City," with feedback submitted by the public through a survey and complaints collected through 311. 

"Currently, the city's litter operations run 20 hours every day with more than 50,000 collections per week. Astral staff said they were committed to completing inspections of 11,000 bins on a weekly basis at least," the joint letter continues. 

"Over the life of the current contract there have been five different designs for the litter bins with varying levels of functionality as well as issues regarding maintenance and installation." 

A motion set for a March 10 executive committee vote would direct city staff to explore a separate approach for managing the problematic litter bins once the 20-year agreement expires. A portion of street furniture pieces covered by the contract also carry advertising, while the city's solid waste management team handles trash collection from the bins. 

Mayor Chow proposes that future contracts be split into two parts, one covering the bins themselves and another covering other street furniture. 

The Astral contract should be thrown in the garbage where it belongs. The bins break & overflow, the info (ad) signs clutter our sidewalks & they’re poorly maintained. This should come back in-house to provide better service, accountability & a cleaner, more beautiful Toronto. pic.twitter.com/u8Auhp9R9R

— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) March 2, 2026

The proposal has drawn support from Councillor Josh Matlow, who posted on X that the current contract should be "thrown in the garbage where it belongs," pointing to the constantly broken and overflowing bins. 

Chow asked that a recommendation come as early as this summer, to ensure that litter bins are well-placed and well-maintained during the FIFA World Cup tournament games set to be hosted in Toronto this June and July.