What's Changing with the New Waste Collection Contract

Waste Collection Changes

Starting Oct. 19, changes are coming to curbside waste collection. Box it, bin it and sort it to reduce our environmental impact.

Niagara's residential diversion rate (the percentage of waste not going to landfill) has levelled off to around 56 per cent, and we continue to send about 44 per cent of our waste to landfills. To reduce the amount of recyclables and organic waste going into our landfills, we're making changes.

The new waste collection contract includes changes that will:

  • Help increase diversion
  • Preserve landfill space for waste that can’t be recycled or composted
  • Save natural resources
  • Reduce our impact on climate change

Residents who use their Blue Box, Grey Box and Green Bin should be able to stay within the two garbage bag / can limit every-other-week. Waste audit results show that 64 per cent of what Niagara residents place in the garbage can be recycled or composted.

To further promote our diversion programs, Niagara Region’s Waste Management By-law doesn't allow recyclable and organic material in the garbage.

We all need to do our share to reduce recyclable and organic waste being sent to landfills.

Garbage Limits

You can still put out the same amount of garbage. For example, if you currently have a limit of one garbage bag / can per week, you will be able to put out two garbage bags / cans every-other-week.

Only the frequency of garbage collection changes for residents and those businesses located outside designated business areas, not the limit.

See acceptable garbage container sizes.

Garbage Tags

Single family homes and apartments with six units or less can buy garbage tags.

Extra garbage bags over and above the one bag limit per unit need a garbage tag.

Buy garbage tags online or at a store.

Waste Collection Changes Starting Oct. 19

  • Single family homes and apartments with six units or less
    Garbage will be collected every-other-week.

    Your Blue Box, Grey Box and Green Bin will continue to be collected every week. There's no limit to the amount of recycling and organics that can be placed at the curb.

    Green Bin program

    If you don’t use a Green Bin / Cart for organics, now is the perfect time to start. Separating your organic waste is a perfect way to eliminate odours from your garbage can that will be collected every-other-week. Over half of what's placed in our garbage actually goes in the Green Bin or Blue / Grey Boxes.

    Large items and appliance collection

    Large appliances and scrap metal, such as stoves, dishwashers, etc. will no longer be collected at the curb. You can still recycle these items at our drop-off depots free of charge, or through scrap metal haulers / dealers.

    Appliances with CFCs, such as freezers and refrigerators, are subject to a $20 fee per unit at the drop-off depots, unless you have pre-purchased the $20 CFC sticker.

    For large household items, such as furniture, there's a four item limit for each residential unit, each collection day. Large items must be booked for collection two working days before your regular collection day. Request a large item pick-up.

    Diapers and medical exemptions

    Diapers and waste resulting from a medical condition will be collected weekly. Starting July 6, you can register for a diaper or medical exemption.

    If you're already registered, you don't need to register again.

  • Apartments with seven or more units

    Buildings with Niagara Region curbside collection services will receive garbage collection every-other-week. There will be a two container limit per unit, to a maximum of 24 containers per building. Garbage tags cannot be used for extra bags.

    Your Blue Box / Cart, Grey Box / Cart and Green Bin / Cart will continue to be collected every week. There's no limit to the amount of recycling and organics that can be placed at the curb.

    Green Bin / Cart program

    If your building doesn't have a Green Bin / Cart program for organic waste, now is the perfect time to start. Separating organic waste is a perfect way to eliminate odours from your garbage can that will be collected every-other-week. Over half of what's placed in our garbage actually goes in the Green Bin / Cart or Blue / Grey Boxes / Carts.

    Blue / Grey Box / Cart program

    If your building doesn't have a Blue / Grey Box / Cart program, now is the perfect time to start. At the start of each recycling program (Blue / Grey Box / Cart), units will receive two free reusable recycling bags, an introductory letter and information package.

    Property managers and superintendents are responsible for purchasing Blue, Grey and Green Carts, in-unit kitchen catchers and replacing broken carts.

    Learn more about recycling and organics collection services for managers and superintendants.

  • Mixed-Use and Industrial, Commercial and Institutional properties (inside and outside designated business areas)

    Inside a designated business area

    Collection services inside designated business areas may be different between local municipalities, depending on the level of service selected and paid for by each municipality. Find your collection services.

    Outside a designated business area

    You will now have garbage collection every-other-week with a limit of eight containers. Your Blue / Grey Box and Green Bin / Cart will continue to be collected every week.

    Industrial, Commercial and Institutional properties located outside designated business areas will have a combined limit of eight Blue and Grey Carts and a limit of eight Green Carts.

    Green Bin / Cart program

    If you don’t use a Green Bin / Cart for organic waste, now is the perfect time to start. Separating your organic waste is a perfect way to eliminate odours from your garbage can that will be collected every-other-week. Over half of what's placed in our garbage can actually be recycled or composted.

    Rethink Your Waste at Your Workplace program

    Whether you're getting your business organics and recycling program off the ground or your program is well established, consider joining our 'Rethink Your Waste at Your Workplace' program. Your business will be recognized for its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint, and have access to tools and support.

Benefits to Waste Collection Changes

Some key environmental and financial benefits of every-other-week garbage collection include:

  • Extended lifespan for open Regional landfills
  • Increase in the participation and capture rates in Niagara Region diversion programs
    • Only 48 per cent of Niagara's single family homes and apartments with six units or less use the Green Bin program
    • Industrial, commercial and institutional and mixed use audits show recycling and organics diversion programs are underutilized
    • Only 34 per cent of industrial, commercial and institutional and 61 per cent of mixed use properties outside designated business areas participate in the recycling program
  • Reduction of organics being landfilled will result in less methane emissions reducing the landfill carbon footprint for climate change reduction
  • Improved leachate quality, which lessens the potential for environmental impact
  • Long-term cost reduction with care and control of landfill sites
  • Increased net processing revenue from the sale of more recyclables due to increased volumes
  • Conservation of non-renewable resources

Reducing our environmental impact is everyone's responsibility. Sort it, box it or bin it to limit what's sent to landfills.

Illegal Dumping

Illegal dumping can take on many forms, such as dumping garbage from a home or business into a public litter bin. Under the Region’s Waste Management By-law, this activity is not allowed and fines are still in effect

Research has proven that similar municipalities that have switched to every-other-week garbage collection haven't seen an increase in dumping, as residents have properly sorted and recycled their waste.

The Region provides waste disposal options for many illegally dumped materials, including furniture and appliances containing CFCs. Tires, electronics, household hazardous waste, scrap metal, appliances without CFCs, and residential leaf and yard waste (branches and leaves) are accepted free of charge at drop-off depots.

Report illegal dumping in Niagara.

Contact

If you have questions about the changes, call the Waste Info-Line.

Monday to Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
905-356-4141
Toll-free: 1-800-594-5542

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