Montreal ecocentre and construction debris disposal guide: map, limits, and accepted materials

Renovating a patio, tearing out old concrete, or moving soil for a new garden bed? You'll need a plan for all that debris. Montreal homeowners can either use curbside construction debris pickup (with strict limits) or drop materials off at one of the city's ecocentres. This guide covers what goes where, how much you can bring, and what the rules look like in practice.

What counts as an ecocentre?

An ecocentre is a city-operated drop-off site where Montreal residents bring items that don't belong in regular garbage, recycling, or compost bins. That includes construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) materials like concrete, brick, wood, drywall, and metal. The city currently operates seven locations across the island: Acadie, La Petite-Patrie, Cote-des-Neiges, Riviere-des-Prairies, Saint-Michel, LaSalle, and Saint-Laurent. You can view the full ecocentre map and hours on montreal.ca.

What CRD materials do ecocentres accept?

According to the City of Montreal's ecocentre page, accepted construction debris includes:

• Aggregates of brick, stone, asphalt, and concrete
• Asphalt shingles
• Solid wood and lumber
• Pressed and laminated wood
• Ceramics and tiles
• Electric wiring
• Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
• Gypsum board (drywall)

Ecocentres also accept household hazardous waste, old appliances, electronics, mattresses, and reusable clothing. For a full breakdown, check the accepted items list.

Volume and visit limits

For residential construction debris, the rules at most ecocentres work like this:

• Free allowance: Up to 12 cubic metres of CRD materials per year at no charge
• Beyond the free limit: $31 per additional cubic metre
• Visit cap: Maximum 15 visits per year for construction materials (LaSalle and Saint-Laurent ecocentres allow unlimited visits)
• Public scale use: $15.50 per use if needed

For context, 12 cubic metres is roughly the volume of a standard 20-foot shipping container filled to the brim. Most small residential landscaping projects fall well within that limit.

What you need to bring with you

You'll need two pieces of identification when you arrive:

1. Photo ID: driver's licence, passport, health insurance card, or citizenship card
2. Proof of address: a utility bill under 3 months old, a tax statement, or an insurance certificate under 1 year old

The city requires that you declare the materials you're bringing. Employees won't help with unloading, so come prepared.

Materials that aren't accepted

Some materials require specialized disposal and will be turned away:

• Asbestos-containing materials (must go to an engineered landfill site)
• Contaminated soil (requires specialized handling)
• Biomedical waste
• Explosives or ammunition
• Electric vehicle batteries
• Compressed gas cylinders (except propane, which counts as household hazardous waste)

Vehicle length limits also vary by location, ranging from 6.8 to 11 metres depending on the ecocentre. Check the specific location's page before loading up a trailer.

Curbside pickup as an alternative

If you'd rather not haul debris yourself, Montreal offers year-round curbside CRD pickup. The rules are tighter:

• Weight per container: Maximum 25 kg (55 lbs)
• Volume per address: Typically 2 to 5 cubic metres, depending on your borough
• Bundle rules: Wood must be tied in bundles no longer than 1 metre, no wider than 50 cm in diameter, and under 25 kg
• Banned containers: All plastic bags, including hardware store "construction" bags
• Approved containers: Cardboard boxes (up to 1.5 m) or garbage cans with lids and handles (up to 150 litres)

Remove all nails, screws, and sharp metal parts before setting materials at the curb. Check your pickup schedule through Info-Collectes on the city website.

Larger quantities

If your project generates more debris than curbside limits allow, you have options beyond ecocentres. Some boroughs let residents drop off debris at the municipal garage yard free of charge, up to twice per year per address. Beyond those free visits, fees start at $25 for the first cubic metre and $11.80 for each additional cubic metre, according to the City of Montreal.

For volumes exceeding what the city handles, you'll need a private contractor or a roll-off bin rental.

Tips for landscaping debris specifically

Landscaping projects tend to generate a mix of soil, rocks, concrete chunks, and old paving materials. A few things to keep in mind:

• Clean soil (not contaminated) can go to an ecocentre as part of your CRD allowance
• Rocks and stone count as aggregates
• Concrete and brick are accepted, and many recycling facilities also take them
• Sod and green waste follow different rules and may go to composting facilities during summer months
• Sort before you go. The city recommends sorting items before arriving at an ecocentre. It speeds up your visit and gets materials to the right recycler

Plan ahead before your next project

Before you start digging or demolishing, figure out your disposal plan. Knowing the rules saves time, avoids fines for illegal dumping, and keeps recyclable materials out of the landfill.

Need help planning a landscaping project in Montreal? Call us at 514-900-3867 for a free estimate by phone or photo. We handle the heavy lifting, including proper disposal of old materials.

Sources:

• Ecocentre service for agglomeration residents - Ville de Montreal
• Bulky items and construction debris collections - Ville de Montreal
• Items accepted as CRD materials - Ville de Montreal
• Ecocentres overview - Ville de Montreal