A Waste Master Plan has been prepared to ensure that our waste services are aligned with industry best practices and compliant with regulatory changes. The master plan, and initial recommendations were approved by Council in November 2024.
The master plan recommends several changes to be implemented starting 2025 including optimization of collection routes, bi-weekly yard waste collection, and directing Christmas Trees to a drop off site rather than curbside collection. These changes will improve service reliability, simplify the collection schedule for residents, and provide some cost savings.
Larger changes like implementation of a green bin organic waste collection program and shifting garbage collection to bi-weekly in bins are also recommended. These changes will be subject to Council approval before implemented.
Plan Recommendations
The master plan includes several recommendations, all of which require Council approval before moving forward.
Consult the table below to learn more about the implementation schedule and see what recommendations have been approved, and which still require Council review / approval.
| Recommendation | Implementation Timeline | Council Approval |
| Optimization of collection routes | 2025 | Approved by Council, Nov. 18, 2024 |
| Bi-weekly yard waste collection (April to December) | 2025 | Approved by Council, Nov. 18, 2024 |
| Eliminate Christmas tree collection and accept drop off instead | 2025 | Approved by Council, Nov. 18, 2024 |
| Review landfill cost with Lambton County | 2025 | Requires approval |
| Determine whether to continue recycling collection of non-eligible sources post transition | 2025 | Requires approval |
| Review business case for waste depot/transfer station | 2025 | Requires approval |
| Develop strategy to enhance City facilities (eg. arenas) and public space (eg. parks) collection options | 2026 | Requires approval |
| Implement curbside green bin food and organic waste collection and processing | 2027 | Requires approval |
| Implement wheeled cart garbage collection | 2027 | Requires approval |
| Modify bulk item collection to on demand and fee service/free drop off | 2027 | Requires approval |
| Add multi-residential organic collection | 2028 | Requires approval |
Why a Waste Master Plan?
Simply put, we are required to make some changes, not only to meet legislative requirements, but to offset the impacts of waste and landfills on the environment. At the same time, we want to ensure any changes are affordable for our residents. The Provincial government requires us to introduce organics collection as a means to improve diversion rates. To introduce the new program we need to have a plan to ensure we continue to deliver services affordably for our residents.
Diversion rates
Diversion rates are a measurement of how well our community is at separating different types of waste and preventing waste that could be sent elsewhere from ending up in landfill.
We’ve consistently had a diversion rate of 36 per cent, short of other similar municipalities. The provincial municipal average diversion rate is 49.1 per cent.
Landfill capacity across Ontario is dwindling, and when capacity is reached disposal costs may increase as waste must be sent to more remote locations, or new landfills must be developed.
Organic collection
The Province of Ontario has mandated(External link) that the City introduce organics collection to increase its diversion rates. Commonly called a green bin program, the City has developed a draft implementation plan for the program.
Diverting organic waste from landfill will help extend landfill capacity, increase diversion rates, and reduce the environmental impact of solid waste.
The program will come at a cost, however, it will alleviate the volume of traditional solid waste we need to collect.
We’re looking at how to most efficiently deliver the program, in addition to other waste collection in a way that our residents can afford.
Learn more
You can read the full plan, and related staff report in the Nov. 18, 2024 Council Agenda Package