Community members are expressing worries about Norfolk County’s upcoming waste collection system set to launch next week.
The new setup will have trash collected in large bins every two weeks, while recycling and organic waste will be picked up weekly starting on Sept. 28.
Collection bins were distributed to downtown Simcoe last week, which quickly led residents to share their concerns on social media.
One of the voices was Ryan Boyko, who is campaigning for Ward 5 (Simcoe) in the municipal election this October. Boyko received numerous comments on a video he shared, describing it as “the garbage bin apocalypse” as many carts were placed around the town center.
The video features Boyko trying to carry a garbage bin up a set of stairs.
“I don’t see how this is going to fix the garbage problem, especially downtown (Simcoe),” he shared. “I’ve heard many complaints from people I’ve talked with, and now that we can see what’s happening on the streets, this is going to be a huge issue. I’m not sure where these bins are supposed to go.”
Unless requested otherwise, each household or apartment got a 120-litre organics cart, one small kitchen container for organic waste, and a 240-litre garbage cart.
“Can you imagine having a small studio apartment with hardly any space and having that sitting in your living area?” asked one user.
“Think about how it’s going to affect seniors or individuals with disabilities,” another commented.
Merissa Bokla, Norfolk’s Waste Management supervisor at Norfolk County, previously mentioned that the county’s old collection contract serviced 31,500 single-family homes and collected about 20,000 metric tons of garbage, recycling, leaf and yard waste along with bulky items each week.
The county recently released a video featuring Bokla reminding everyone of some important points before the new program starts. One reminder is to keep the bins about two feet away from any other object; carts should be positioned with the lid facing the street; and all garbage and organics must fit inside the carts with lids fully closed. Any materials left outside of the cart won’t be collected.
“Property owners and tenants need to figure out where carts will be stored on their property when they aren’t out for collection,” Bokla noted in an email to the .
“Downtown waste collection will start at 7 a. m. so there are fewer issues with parking,” she added. “Residents should place their carts at the curb between parked vehicles so that the automated collection arm can access them safely.”
Residents in western parts of the county are also trying to understand how this new system works. Property owners on Hastings Drive recently received a letter from Andrew Grice, general manager of Infrastructure and Environmental Services for Norfolk County, explaining that they won’t have access to the new automated cart system due to “road conditions, maintenance standards and/or topography.”
Weekly pickup of trash bags and recycling won’t happen for properties beyond the paved part of Hastings Drive from May until October.
“Instead, you’ll need to take your garbage and recycling to a designated common collection point at the end of Hastings Drive’s paved section,” said Grice’s letter.
There are around 24 cottages along with 122 properties or lots located on Hastings – a narrow road alongside Lake Erie – most situated beyond its paved section.
“I really hope my taxes go down accordingly since Norfolk will have to handle all those animals tearing apart trash left in plastic bags at our end,” wrote one property owner in an email sent to The Reformer. “Are we expected to drive our recycling bins down there just for them when we’re back (whenever we get back)? ”
This property owner explained many cottagers use large wooden or plastic tubs for waste so they won’t miss garbage pickups while they’re away and keep it safe from wildlife rummaging through their rubbish.
The prediction is that most cottagers leaving Long Point will add their trash into this pile at drop-off points blocking off traffic on those roads instead.
The updated system requires waste placement by no later than 7 p. m. before collection day or by 7 a. m. on pickup day itself.
“Collection methods vary depending upon property type,” Bokla said. “Property owners must decide suitable storage areas and set-out locations according to county guidelines along with safety requirements.”
Bokla emphasized that “Materials shouldn’t be left at collection points before those times.”
The common collection spot on Hastings Drive takes into account operational needs for waste collection vehicles along with road conditions.”
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