Does swapping a full bin for an empty one cost extra in Ottawa?

Bin companies in Ottawa do not publish a standard swap fee, so the answer depends entirely on what the company quotes you in writing before you book.

A swap, sometimes called an exchange, involves the company picking up your full bin and dropping off an empty one in its place. That visit is a separate delivery and pickup, and the cost can be structured in more than one way. Some companies may treat it as a second rental period with its own delivery and pickup charge; others may quote a flat swap fee. We found no published swap price from two or more Ottawa bin companies, so there is no range to give you here. Ask for the swap price in writing before you book the first bin.

A few things affect what a swap costs and whether it makes sense for your job:

• The weight in the full bin: under the bin-fee-plus-weight model, disposal is billed per tonne when the bin is picked up, so a swap triggers that charge on the first bin before the second rental begins. Under an all-in model, check whether the included tonnes apply per bin or per job.
• Extra days: if the swap happens later than the quoted rental period, extra-day charges on the first bin may apply before the swap fee even starts. Published extra-day rates from Ottawa bin companies run about $15 to $35 (published Ottawa bin company prices, October 2026).
• Refused or surcharged items: if the full bin contains anything the company does not accept, the swap pickup may be refused or a surcharge added. Ask for the company's refused-items list in writing.
• Placement: if the bin sits on the road, boulevard or sidewalk, the City's TCE permit covers that encroachment, and a swap does not reset the permit clock. Ask the company who is responsible for the permit and whether a swap requires any notice to the City.

Give each company you contact the same information: the bin size, the number of days for each bin, what goes in, and that you expect a swap. Ask for a written quote that breaks out the first rental, the swap visit, the second rental, and disposal for each bin separately.

Ask what happens to your deposit or pre-authorisation if you cancel before the swap takes place, and get the answer in writing before you book.