Collection Changes

A comprehensive review of waste management best practices and extensive public consultation was completed as part of the 2022 Waste Management Master Plan (WMMP) Review and Update. The review identified the following proven diversion opportunities to increase waste diversion within the City of Peterborough:

1. Clear bag garbage collection to encourage residents into complying with recycling and organic waste separation guidelines that supports the WMMP waste diversion goal. Within the City, residential waste audits undertaken through 2021 / 2022 have identified up to 8% of material placed in the garbage stream is applicable to the residential blue box;
2. Every-other-week collection of residential garbage pick-up as a result of the SSO program diverting organic resources weekly out of the garbage stream, reducing the bulk of current garbage eligible material;
3. Implementation of the Green Bin program targeting compostable food material diversion (i.e., GROW Peterborough) into the SSO program will increase residential waste diversion by an incremental 15 to 20%;
4. Update the waste collection enforcement by-law to amend the language to include new definitions of the waste stream, collection requirements, and penalties for non-compliance of diverted waste as an option if public education efforts are not effective in changing disposal behaviours, and;
5. Continue exploration of waste diversion as new markets and partnership opportunities become available in Peterborough for other existing hard to recycle materials (i.e., carpets, bulky items, etc.).

In addition to these added waste initiatives, the 2022 WMMP update will continue with existing diversion programs offered by the City.