Editor's note: County of Simcoe decisions regarding waste do not have any effect on the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia, which handle their own waste collection.
Garbage collection for Simcoe County residents will be changing in November 2021 to automated cart collection, however, a pilot project given initial approval this week could open the door to smaller cart options down the road.
During Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting, county councillors gave initial approval to recommend proceeding with a waste collection pilot project in New Tecumseth, which would see condo owners in Green Briar/Briar Hill being given an option for a smaller cart size.
However, some councillors expressed concern that the project could open a “Pandora’s Box” of requests from homeowners and other condo owners across Simcoe County who also want smaller carts.
“We decided on a single format for a variety of reasons. The implementation of that decision has already begun,” said Midland Mayor Stewart Strathearn. “Everybody else is going to ask, ‘What about me?’ The condo corps have an option that they can opt-out, and that’s their prerogative.”
“People will adapt. I don’t see any reason to open Pandora’s Box to go back on a decision council made because a group at Briar Hill has raised an issue,” said Strathearn.
Under the upcoming contract and voted upon by councillors in late 2020, the decision was made to obtain 240-litre garbage carts, 360-litre recycling carts and 120-litre organics carts for all property owners across Simcoe County for use starting in Nov. 2021 through a new automated collection process.
At that time, various size options were discussed, but ultimately councillors voted in favour of one standard size, with Rehrig Pacific selected to manufacture the bins.
Since the decision was made, various groups including seniors, condominium owners and homeowners in more rural areas have expressed concerns that the bins will be too large for single-occupancy households, too cumbersome to navigate, or too large to fit in single-car garages along with a vehicle.
“When we agreed to this, I got many concerns from seniors about long driveways and how they were going to tow these big carts,” said Adjala-Tosorontio Mayor Floyd Pinto. “I told them they had no option. Now, to change it and give certain people beneficial treatment, I cannot support this.”
“I don’t think it’s fair to the rest of the residents of our county,” he said.
Severn Township Deputy Mayor Jane Dunlop said she objected to calling it a “pilot project.”
“To me, a pilot project is something you’re going to try out. This doesn’t sound to me like it’s a try-out. It seems like we’re all in, or all out,” said Dunlop.
Tiny Township Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma said he understands the county is now locked in for November in terms of only the standard size being available, however, he asked if it might be a possibility down the road for residents to switch to a smaller size if, after trying the standard size, they find it still doesn’t work for them.
“I’m just suggesting we be willing to adapt to the needs of our residents,” he said.
Condominium corporations across Simcoe County are given the option to opt-out of county waste collection services and choose an alternative private waste service if they determine the service the county provides doesn’t meet their needs.
Residents from Green Briar and Briar Hill organized correspondence to express their concerns with the cart program for their specific development.
According to the county’s staff report, generally most of the residents were not displeased with the concept of carts but wished to utilize a smaller size which they felt would be more appropriate to their specific development’s needs, citing an inability to store the carts selected in their garages, not being able to store them outside due to rules in their condo agreements, and/or they felt as a group that they don’t produce enough waste to justify the sizes selected.
During committee of the whole on Tuesday, councillors voted 19-12 in favour of proceeding with the pilot project for Green Briar/Briar Hill, which would see residents use two 120-litre carts for garbage and organics, and one 240-litre cart for recycling.
Individual votes are not recorded during committee of the whole.
The vote will need to be ratified at the next regular meeting of council.
