A depot is a facility where residents can drop off materials for recycling, disposal, or processing—particularly items not accepted in regular curbside collection. Municipal depots handle household hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, batteries, electronics), large items (furniture, appliances), yard waste, construction debris, and recyclables. Some depots include reuse centres where functional items find new homes instead of becoming waste. Depots complement curbside programs by handling materials requiring special processing or that are too large for regular collection. Operating hours, accepted materials, and fees (if any) vary by municipality. Effective depot systems increase waste diversion from landfills and ensure hazardous materials are properly handled rather than contaminating regular waste streams or being illegally dumped.