By volume, judged once someone sees the pile or a few clear photos. Concrete, soil and shingles get priced differently, since weight maxes out the truck long before the space runs out. Ask for the quote on paper. In Ontario, a written estimate protects you: the final price can't go more than a small margin above it unless you sign off on a new one.

Hazardous waste, mostly: paint, solvents, propane cylinders, pesticides and anything that might hold asbestos. That's less of a dead end than it sounds. In most provinces, paint in its original can goes free to a stewardship depot, and municipal hazardous waste sites take much of the rest. Old TVs and computers fall under your province's electronics recycling program, so a decent crew drops them there instead of at the landfill.

It shouldn't. Health Canada says to assume older vermiculite may contain asbestos and to leave it undisturbed. Sitting sealed in an attic, it poses little risk. Scooping it into garbage bags is exactly what puts fibres in the air. If a renovation means it has to go, hire a trained asbestos removal specialist first, then call the hauler for the rest of the attic.

In Toronto, yes, if the bin goes on the road or a public lane. The city wants a street occupation permit before it arrives. Other municipalities set their own rules. Ask the bin company whether it handles the permit or leaves that job to you.

Any crew can carry it, but the refrigerant inside needs proper handling. In Ontario, only a certified technician may remove it or dispose of it. Montreal sends them to its ecocentres, or to GoRecycle, which picks up old fridges, freezers and air conditioners at the door. Before you book, ask the hauler where the unit goes and who drains it.