What hidden fees show up on an Ottawa bin invoice?

Published prices from Ottawa bin companies, seen October 2026, show two pricing models, and the lines that catch people off guard differ between them. Under the bin-fee-plus-weight model, the delivery and pickup run about $200 to $350 for roughly a week, and disposal is billed separately at about $150 to $160 per tonne once the load is weighed. Under the all-in model, the quoted price of about $460 to $540 plus tax for a 14 to 20 yard bin covers a set number of tonnes, and charges appear when the load goes over that included amount.

Beyond the base price, several lines can appear on an invoice that are not always in the headline quote:

• Extra days: about $15 to $35 per day beyond the included rental period.
• Per-item charges: two companies charge per appliance and per mattress.
• Fuel or environmental surcharge: some companies add one; we found no published amount.
• Winter scrape fee: some companies add a charge for frozen loads; we found no published amount.
• Refused or surcharged materials: tires, batteries, paint, propane or pressurised tanks, hazardous and medical waste appear on two or more company refused lists. Ask for the full list in writing before you load anything.

The City's Temporary Construction-related Encroachment permit fees, if the bin sits on the road, boulevard, sidewalk or a public laneway, are separate from any bin company charge. The permit application fee is $101 for 10 working days or less, and the daily rental on the roadway is $0.87 per square metre per day with a $41 minimum. Those are City fees; we found no published bin price that states whether a company includes them or bills them separately, so ask directly.

For the all-in model, confirm in writing exactly how many tonnes are included and what the per-tonne rate is above that. For the weight model, ask for the per-tonne disposal rate and whether the weigh ticket is attached to the invoice. In either case, ask whether a fuel surcharge, environmental fee or winter scrape charge applies to your job, and get the full refused-and-surcharged items list so nothing comes back as an extra line after pickup.

Before the bin arrives, confirm in writing exactly where it will sit, because that one detail determines whether City permit fees enter the picture at all.