Huron East has decided to take away seven community recycling dumpsters in Seaforth after determining that keeping them would cost over $20,000 each year.
The bins, found at various public and community locations throughout Seaforth, will be removed after September 15.
This decision is part of Ontario’s shift to an Extended Producer Responsibility recycling model, which transfers the costs of residential recycling collection and processing from municipalities to the businesses that create packaging and paper products.
However, Huron East mentions that community recycling dumpsters located at industrial, commercial, and institutional sites are not included in this new system.
This means the municipality would need to cover the collection expenses if they chose to maintain the seven bins in Seaforth.
According to Huron East, the estimated cost would be “more than $20,000 annually,” prompting council approval for their removal.
The specific locations affected include the Seaforth Arena, Huron East Municipal Office, Seaforth Agricultural Society, UPI Energy, and the Information Booth.
The municipality assures residents that this change will have “no impact on existing curbside residential recycling collection or wheelie bins.”
Only the community dumpsters are being taken out of service.
A similar adjustment occurred in Brussels in the spring of 2025 when community recycling bins were removed as Ontario transitioned to a producer-funded recycling system.
Residents and businesses seeking more recycling options can reach out to the Bluewater Recycling Association for details on residential and commercial collection services.
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