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Last October, Niagara Region moved to every-other-week garbage collection for residents and businesses while continuing to provide weekly collection of Green Bin, Blue Box and Grey Box materials. Based on the early results, Niagara residents are responding well as Green Bin tonnage is up more than 34 per cent and garbage tonnage is down almost 16 per cent. Recycling tonnages have also increased by almost 12 per cent since the new collection changes came into place.
The results were part of an update given to Niagara Region’s Public Works Committee on May 11, 2021 for the first six months of the new contract comparing tonnages versus the same period last year. The curbside collection changes, which came into effect Oct. 19, 2020 were intended to reduce the amount of garbage going to landfill and to increase recycling, in particular the usage of the Green Bin.
Catherine Habermebl, Director of Waste Management said, “We would like to recognize and thank Niagara residents and businesses for their enthusiastic participation. The increase in Green Bin usage and recycling materials is a direct result of their efforts. Our team intends to continue to seek ways to build on these early results and provide residents with the information they need to continue to Box It. Bin It. Sort It.”
A driving reason for the changes was Niagara Region was seeing more than half of its curbside waste going into landfills, when it could have gone into the Blue / Grey Box or the Green Bin. Niagara Region waste audits showed that only 48 per cent of Niagara residents are using a Green Bin. Out of Niagara's Industrial, Commercial, Institutional and Mixed-Use properties only 14 to 20 per cent were using the Green Bin program.
About Niagara Region’s Curbside Collection changes
Niagara Region launched the new curbside collection changes on Oct. 19, 2020, which saw the following collection changes for low-density residential properties: recycling (Green Bin, Blue Box, Grey Box) collected every week, and garbage now collected every-other-week, with residents able to put out two bags/cans. The collection changes were supported with a communications campaign, which encouraged residents to Box It. Bin It. Sort It.
Large appliances and scrap metal, such as stoves, dishwashers, etc. are no longer collected at the curb. Residents can still recycle these items at Niagara Region 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 the $20 CFC sticker was pre-purchased.
For large household items, such as furniture, there is a four item limit for each residential unit, each garbage collection day. Large items must be booked for collection two working days before your regular garbage collection day.
The new collection contract also split Niagara Region into two areas:
- GFL Environmental Inc. is the contractor for Collection Area One (Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Thorold, Wainfleet and West Lincoln)
- Miller Waste Systems Inc. is the contractor for Collection Area Two (Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Port Colborne, St. Catharines and Welland.)
Visit the Niagara Region Waste Management website for more information on programs and services or download the Niagara Region Waste Management App.
Quotes
"This term of council made the progressive choice to move forward with every-other-week collection as it was the best decision for our local environment. After six months, we have seen exceptionally positive results that demonstrate that this change in policy lead to a significant increase in green bin usage, while diverting organics from our landfills. On behalf of Regional Council, I want to thank residents for their willingness to adapt to every-other-week collection as it is protecting our natural heritage." ~ Regional Chair Jim Bradley
A message from Niagara Region.
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