Barrie's Waste Collection Overhaul: New contractor and pet waste green bins starting in May

Beginning May 1, Barrie residents will see significant changes in their waste collection services, as announced at the April 10 General Committee Meeting. 

The city has partnered with Emterra as the new waste collection contractor, introducing new trucks, drivers, routes, and collection schedules. Notably, residents can now dispose of pet waste in their green bins, alongside traditional food waste.

Stephanie Mack, Associate Director of Waste Management & Environmental Sustainability, outlined these changes during a presentation to city council members. To ensure smooth transition, residents are encouraged to visit the Barrie official website for a detailed readiness checklist and updates at Barrie.ca/CurbsideCollectionChanges. 

The new contractor is prepared with a fleet of approximately 16 trucks, ensuring a smooth transition with no interruption in service. Mack emphasized the importance of residents checking their new waste collection schedules as around 10,000 properties will experience changes.

Significant program changes include the introduction of pet waste in green bins, which is expected to divert about 3600 tons of waste from landfills annually. Additionally, a new municipal model for yard waste collection will be implemented, which involves biweekly collection from April to November. This aims to address the unpredictable nature of yard waste generation and improve operational efficiency.

Another major update discussed was the provincial Blue Box regulation, transitioning the responsibility of the blue box program from municipalities to producers. This change is intended to streamline recycling processes and has been successfully implemented in other municipalities.

For businesses, the waste collection model will shift to a per unit basis, improving compensation structures and operational clarity. Businesses must register by April 15 to ensure uninterrupted service under the new system.

Mack concluded the presentation by reinforcing the need for community engagement and adherence to the new schedules and systems, underscoring the city’s commitment to improving waste management practices and sustainability efforts.

Key points include: 
Check and adjust to the new collection schedule available online. 
Curbside placement of materials is required by 7 a.m. on collection days. 
A special collection is scheduled for May 3 for certain properties. 
Yard waste should be placed curbside by 7 a.m. on designated collection weeks. 
The updated schedule includes no shifts for holidays, with the exception of Christmas and New Year's Day. 
These enhancements are aimed to improve the efficiency of waste management in Barrie and support the city’s environmental sustainability goals.