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New Garbage Collection Program - Fall, 2023

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Green Bin at the curb

Changes to garbage collection program are now in effect

As part of the City's Waste Management Master Plan Update, changes to the residential garbage collection program were approved by City Council at its meeting on February 27, 2023 and would start at the same time as the upcoming introduction of the Green Bin (household organic waste) collection program began October 31, 2023.

  • Weekly Green Bin (household organic waste) collection alongside maintaining weekly Blue Bin (recycling) collection
  • Changing to every-other-week garbage collection since much of the waste generated will be diverted through the Green Bin and Blue Bin waste collection
  • Requiring the use of clear garbage bags for curbside collection of garbage

The first collection day on October 31, 2023 saw strong uptake on the new program, with approximately 85% of eligible households in the Tuesday collection area placing their Green Bin to the curb for pick up.

The requirement to use clear garbage bags is also being implemented successfully, with approximately 80% of households in Tuesday’s collection area using clear bags.

“Congratulations Peterborough! Today we are a greener community thanks to the remarkable uptake of the new Green Bin program and garbage collection changes. We’re diverting more waste from the landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving workers' safety,” said Councillor Gary Baldwin, Chair of the City’s Waste Management Portfolio. “These are big changes for our community, and it’s going to take some time for everyone to get into a new routine. We appreciate everyone’s efforts and will continue to support residents as they learn the new waste management expectations.”

The changes will help increase diversion rates away from the Peterborough City-County Landfill from about 52% currently to 76%-83% by 2030. An increase to 75% diversion will add another 5 or 6 years of life to the landfill.

Be informed.

Knowing what to expect will make the changes easier for City residents to adjust to.

These garbage collection changes are based on the best practices of many municipalities in Ontario that have had similar programs in place for years.

Over the last several months the City has been sharing details on the new garbage collection program. We understand that good public education will ensure the highest success of the program aimed at increasing our waste diversion rates to extend the life of the landfill and reduce both short-term and long-term impacts on the environment.

Please review the commonly asked questions below. We trust they will answer most of your queries, but if there is something else you'd like to find out about please ask your question below.

Additionally, if you'd like more information, we provide some links and background documents on the right-hand column of this page. Please check them out.

Waste collection days have shifted for some addresses

To help make sure that waste collection services can continue to be delivered on schedule as the community continues to grow and to improve worker safety by balancing collection routes, weekly waste collection days will be changing for approximately 8,200 households starting October 31, 2023.

Notices are being hand delivered to households and affected businesses that receive municipal curbside collection that will have their weekly waste collection day change starting October 31, 2023. The news release provides full details.

Changes to garbage collection program are now in effect

As part of the City's Waste Management Master Plan Update, changes to the residential garbage collection program were approved by City Council at its meeting on February 27, 2023 and would start at the same time as the upcoming introduction of the Green Bin (household organic waste) collection program began October 31, 2023.

  • Weekly Green Bin (household organic waste) collection alongside maintaining weekly Blue Bin (recycling) collection
  • Changing to every-other-week garbage collection since much of the waste generated will be diverted through the Green Bin and Blue Bin waste collection
  • Requiring the use of clear garbage bags for curbside collection of garbage

The first collection day on October 31, 2023 saw strong uptake on the new program, with approximately 85% of eligible households in the Tuesday collection area placing their Green Bin to the curb for pick up.

The requirement to use clear garbage bags is also being implemented successfully, with approximately 80% of households in Tuesday’s collection area using clear bags.

“Congratulations Peterborough! Today we are a greener community thanks to the remarkable uptake of the new Green Bin program and garbage collection changes. We’re diverting more waste from the landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving workers' safety,” said Councillor Gary Baldwin, Chair of the City’s Waste Management Portfolio. “These are big changes for our community, and it’s going to take some time for everyone to get into a new routine. We appreciate everyone’s efforts and will continue to support residents as they learn the new waste management expectations.”

The changes will help increase diversion rates away from the Peterborough City-County Landfill from about 52% currently to 76%-83% by 2030. An increase to 75% diversion will add another 5 or 6 years of life to the landfill.

Be informed.

Knowing what to expect will make the changes easier for City residents to adjust to.

These garbage collection changes are based on the best practices of many municipalities in Ontario that have had similar programs in place for years.

Over the last several months the City has been sharing details on the new garbage collection program. We understand that good public education will ensure the highest success of the program aimed at increasing our waste diversion rates to extend the life of the landfill and reduce both short-term and long-term impacts on the environment.

Please review the commonly asked questions below. We trust they will answer most of your queries, but if there is something else you'd like to find out about please ask your question below.

Additionally, if you'd like more information, we provide some links and background documents on the right-hand column of this page. Please check them out.

Waste collection days have shifted for some addresses

To help make sure that waste collection services can continue to be delivered on schedule as the community continues to grow and to improve worker safety by balancing collection routes, weekly waste collection days will be changing for approximately 8,200 households starting October 31, 2023.

Notices are being hand delivered to households and affected businesses that receive municipal curbside collection that will have their weekly waste collection day change starting October 31, 2023. The news release provides full details.

Commonly asked questions

Changes to the City of Peterborough's curbside collection of garbage, recycling and organics are scheduled to start October 31, 2023, aimed at improving our 53% diversion rate to extend the lifecycle of the City-County Landfill and reduce our carbon footprint.

Please review the commonly asked questions below. If you have questions that are not yet answered, please submit them below and we will provide you with an answer as soon as our Waste Management is available.

Thanks for your interest - we're excited to launch these important changes.

You need to be signed in to add your question.

  • Share Would paper towels soiled with toxic chemical cleaners still be expected to go in the green bin? What about soiled tissues? on Facebook Share Would paper towels soiled with toxic chemical cleaners still be expected to go in the green bin? What about soiled tissues? on Twitter Share Would paper towels soiled with toxic chemical cleaners still be expected to go in the green bin? What about soiled tissues? on Linkedin Email Would paper towels soiled with toxic chemical cleaners still be expected to go in the green bin? What about soiled tissues? link

    Would paper towels soiled with toxic chemical cleaners still be expected to go in the green bin? What about soiled tissues?

    AmandaDC asked about 1 year ago

    Anything with toxic chemical cleaners should be disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste facility on Pido Road. 

    Otherwise, paper towels and soiled tissues can go in the Green Bin. 

  • Share Where do the empty milk bags go rinsed and recycle or garbage? on Facebook Share Where do the empty milk bags go rinsed and recycle or garbage? on Twitter Share Where do the empty milk bags go rinsed and recycle or garbage? on Linkedin Email Where do the empty milk bags go rinsed and recycle or garbage? link

    Where do the empty milk bags go rinsed and recycle or garbage?

    Huff asked about 1 year ago

    Rinsed milk bags go in your blue box for recycling. for more sorting tips please visit: https://www.peterborough.ca/en/city-services/collection-schedule-and-events.aspx

  • Share Are egg paper cartons allowed in Green Bin? on Facebook Share Are egg paper cartons allowed in Green Bin? on Twitter Share Are egg paper cartons allowed in Green Bin? on Linkedin Email Are egg paper cartons allowed in Green Bin? link

    Are egg paper cartons allowed in Green Bin?

    Ken Grady asked about 1 year ago

    If paper egg cartons are clean, please place them in your blue box for paper.  If they have food waste on them, please place them in your Green Bin.

  • Share What is acceptable items in the blu boxes? Where does used aluminum foil and food plastic. Wrap go? on Facebook Share What is acceptable items in the blu boxes? Where does used aluminum foil and food plastic. Wrap go? on Twitter Share What is acceptable items in the blu boxes? Where does used aluminum foil and food plastic. Wrap go? on Linkedin Email What is acceptable items in the blu boxes? Where does used aluminum foil and food plastic. Wrap go? link

    What is acceptable items in the blu boxes? Where does used aluminum foil and food plastic. Wrap go?

    Cardba asked about 1 year ago

    You can use our handy sorting tool to see what goes into Garbage, Recycling and Green Bins: https://www.peterborough.ca/en/city-services/collection-schedule-and-events.aspx

  • Share I wonder if the lid from small single serve yogurts are recyclable? They are silver on one side (not the hard plastic lids). on Facebook Share I wonder if the lid from small single serve yogurts are recyclable? They are silver on one side (not the hard plastic lids). on Twitter Share I wonder if the lid from small single serve yogurts are recyclable? They are silver on one side (not the hard plastic lids). on Linkedin Email I wonder if the lid from small single serve yogurts are recyclable? They are silver on one side (not the hard plastic lids). link

    I wonder if the lid from small single serve yogurts are recyclable? They are silver on one side (not the hard plastic lids).

    Lindsay77 asked about 1 year ago

    The foil lid from yogurt containers goes in the garbage.Check out our handy sorting wizard for more answers to "What goes where?" https://www.peterborough.ca/en/city-services/collection-schedule-and-events.aspx

  • Share I want to line the inside of my green bin with another bag, as the compostable bags are expected to start breaking down days after they are used, creating a mess in the green bin that will be challenging to clean each week, especially in the winter. Can I line my green bin with a paper yard waste bag? on Facebook Share I want to line the inside of my green bin with another bag, as the compostable bags are expected to start breaking down days after they are used, creating a mess in the green bin that will be challenging to clean each week, especially in the winter. Can I line my green bin with a paper yard waste bag? on Twitter Share I want to line the inside of my green bin with another bag, as the compostable bags are expected to start breaking down days after they are used, creating a mess in the green bin that will be challenging to clean each week, especially in the winter. Can I line my green bin with a paper yard waste bag? on Linkedin Email I want to line the inside of my green bin with another bag, as the compostable bags are expected to start breaking down days after they are used, creating a mess in the green bin that will be challenging to clean each week, especially in the winter. Can I line my green bin with a paper yard waste bag? link

    I want to line the inside of my green bin with another bag, as the compostable bags are expected to start breaking down days after they are used, creating a mess in the green bin that will be challenging to clean each week, especially in the winter. Can I line my green bin with a paper yard waste bag?

    OB asked about 1 year ago

    Yes, you can line your Green Bin with paper yard wast bags if you choose.

  • Share In the curbside green bin do we have to line the bin or is everything permitted to only be in the kitchen catcher biodegradable bags? on Facebook Share In the curbside green bin do we have to line the bin or is everything permitted to only be in the kitchen catcher biodegradable bags? on Twitter Share In the curbside green bin do we have to line the bin or is everything permitted to only be in the kitchen catcher biodegradable bags? on Linkedin Email In the curbside green bin do we have to line the bin or is everything permitted to only be in the kitchen catcher biodegradable bags? link

    In the curbside green bin do we have to line the bin or is everything permitted to only be in the kitchen catcher biodegradable bags?

    The Norsworthy Family asked about 1 year ago

    There is no need to line the Green Bin. Most people just toss their compostable bags directly into the Green Bin. Some people prefer to put newspaper at the bottom of the bin to catch leakage. It's a personal preference.

  • Share Some of the homes in our area do no have driveways and the streets have a lot of parking during the day. How will the garage collectors access bins if there is a car parked in front of it? on Facebook Share Some of the homes in our area do no have driveways and the streets have a lot of parking during the day. How will the garage collectors access bins if there is a car parked in front of it? on Twitter Share Some of the homes in our area do no have driveways and the streets have a lot of parking during the day. How will the garage collectors access bins if there is a car parked in front of it? on Linkedin Email Some of the homes in our area do no have driveways and the streets have a lot of parking during the day. How will the garage collectors access bins if there is a car parked in front of it? link

    Some of the homes in our area do no have driveways and the streets have a lot of parking during the day. How will the garage collectors access bins if there is a car parked in front of it?

    Jkim asked about 1 year ago

    Where possible to safely do so, Green Bin collectors will move bins away from cars parked in the street. If it's not safe to do so, collectors may have to leave the Green Bin for a future collection. if this is a reoccurring problem please contact Parking Services to request additional parking enforcement.

  • Share How are we supposed to pick up our dog poop? on Facebook Share How are we supposed to pick up our dog poop? on Twitter Share How are we supposed to pick up our dog poop? on Linkedin Email How are we supposed to pick up our dog poop? link

    How are we supposed to pick up our dog poop?

    Jayme asked about 1 year ago

    Dog feces can be picked up the same as you always have. If you use a certified compostable bag, you can put it in the Green Bin. If you use plastic bags, you can either put them in the garbage or empty the contents into the Green Bin and put the bag in the garbage.

  • Share Where do we put used paper plates , on Facebook Share Where do we put used paper plates , on Twitter Share Where do we put used paper plates , on Linkedin Email Where do we put used paper plates , link

    Where do we put used paper plates ,

    Huff asked about 1 year ago

    Used paper plates go in the Green Bin, unless they have plastic or metallic embellishments.

Page last updated: 01 Nov 2023, 08:49 AM