As we all know, garbage is the most important thing to be cleaned in the house if we want to keep the house clean. Some of the countries have special departments for cleanliness. Similarly in Canada we have seen that this job has a good package (salary) for the person who works as a garbage collector. So what are you waiting for? Just read the following and start working.

Details in Short

1. Working as a garbage collector or picker

Tasks include picking up trash, recyclables, or yard waste, loading it onto a truck, and working outside in any weather.

Average Salary:

Hourly: between C$17.50 and C$22
Annually: between C$56,000 and C$64,000.
Working Hours: 35 to 40 hours per week on average.
British Columbia, Québec, Nova Scotia, and Ontario are the top hiring locations.
Employers include private waste companies (such as GFL, Miller Waste, and Waste Connections) and city municipalities.
Basic physical fitness is required; loader positions typically don’t call for specialized licenses, though driver positions might.
Job Outlook: In most provinces, demand is good to moderate.

2. Garbage Picker Tool (Grabber)

Top Sturdy Brands:

Unger Nifty Nabber (sturdy, durable grip)
U-Line (strong, magnetic tip)
Cost-effective options include the Amazon SLAH foldable grabber, Walmart’s Octpeak & YOUTHINK, and Dollarama or cheap stores for occasional use.
Depending on quality, prices range from C$10 to C$40.

Working hours

In Canada, garbage pickers and collectors typically work the following hours:

35–40 hours a week, full-time (standard municipal schedule).
Start Time: Usually early in the morning, between 5:00 and 7:00.
During peak times (holidays, special pickups), overtime may be possible.

Changes:

Primarily day shifts.
Some commercial routes in large cities have infrequent night shifts.

Seasonal Differences:

Winter: less daylight, but the same number of hours.
Summer: longer days can occur because of more waste.

💡 Except for special contracts or event cleanup, the majority of loaders and pickers work Monday through Friday and take the weekends off.

Holidays in a week

In Canada, garbage pickers and collectors typically have the following number of holidays per week:

Typical: Two days off each week, usually on Saturday and Sunday for municipal work.

Exclusions:

Depending on route schedules, some private waste companies offer midweek days off instead.
Collection may be moved to the following day if a statutory holiday falls on a pickup day; therefore, you might work on a Saturday that week rather than taking the day off.
💡To put it briefly, most people have a 5-day workweek with two days off, but the days can be switched during holiday weeks.

How to Apply

1. Select the Type of Employer

Stable compensation and benefits are provided by municipal governments, such as the City of Toronto and the City of Vancouver.

GFL Environmental, Miller Waste Systems, Waste Connections Canada, and Emterra Group are a few examples of private waste companies.

2. Application Location

Government Employment:

Look under “Careers” or “Jobs” on the official website of your city. For instance, City of Toronto Jobs

Private Businesses:

Job boards:

3. How to Apply

When creating a resume, emphasize outdoor work, safety training, physical fitness, and any applicable driver’s licenses (DZ for truck roles).
Search & Apply Online: Use the company website or job posting to submit your application.
Attend the interview; questions about physical work capacity, safety, and teamwork are frequently asked.
Fulfill Requirements: Certain positions call for
Background investigation
Alcohol/drug test
Fitness for medicine

Salary

All roles across Canada:

Low: C$18.00 per hour
The median is C$27.00 per hour.
High: C$33.00 per hour

Highlights by Province:

British Columbia: C$23.00 to C$35.00 per hour (median C$30.05)
Alberta: C$21.25 to C$32.00 per hour (median C$29.00)
Ontario: C$17.20 to C$32.00 per hour (median C$25.50)
Quebec: C$20.00 to C$31.76 per hour (median C$27.99)
Saskatchewan: C$18.00 to C$36.48 per hour (median C$25.50)
Driver Positions with a DZ License: Greater Compensation

For jobs involving garbage truck driving:

Overall, Ontario: C$22.00 to C$33.80/hour (median C$28.00)
Toronto area: C$22.00 to C$31.00 per hour (median C$28.00)
Estimates of Annual Salary (Glassdoor, Employee-Reported)
The average salary for a garbage picker is approximately C$63,629 annually.
Range: C$71,881 (high) to C$56,325 (low)

Real-World Illustrations

A city waste collection operator in Ottawa was quoted at about C$58,186 per year, mostly for positions requiring a driver’s license.
“Overtime, baby”—someReddit users point out that significant overtime can increase yearly compensation.
According to users, driver jobs in Toronto pay about C$30 per hour, including overtime and benefits.
“Pay is almost $30 per hour plus benefits and pensions.”

Table of Summary Wages by Role and Location

Position/Region Average Hourly Wage Estimated General Occupation per Year C$18–C$33 (median ~C$27) Between C$56K and C$67K
Driver with a DZ license: C$22–C$33+ (Toronto/Ontario) or ~$58K to $72K+ (including overtime)
The Glassdoor average is C$63,629, with a range of C$56K to C$72K.
Impact Over Time varies frequently, adding C$5K to C$15K.
Pay varies greatly by region, type of employer, and if you work as a loader or a driver.

Garbage Collector in Canada Full Time