When April runs out, the change begins with Barrie’s curbside collection.
As of May 1, pick-up days can change, as can collection times for garbage and organics, pet waste goes in the green bin, yard waste day is a week long and the city is getting out of the recyclables game.
“Really, waste management is always changing,” said Stephanie Mack, the city’s associate director of waste management and environmental sustainability. “This will really help us prepare for growth within the city. We have a changing city and this contract will help align with that.
“Essentially, we are preparing for changes within our community, changes provincially and greater focus on diversion," she added.
Changes to collection will affect about 58,000 single- and multi-family residences and 4,000 commercial units in Barrie, which are eligible for waste services.
Mack will make a presentation to Barrie councillors Wednesday evening (April 10), called Changes Coming to the Curb.
Despite these changes, and more to come, Coun. Clare Riepma expects people to adapt to them like anything else.
“The changes to curbside collection on May 1 will be relatively modest and hopefully seamless for all residents,” said the Ward 1 councillor. “We will have a new contractor starting that day, which means that the trucks may be a different colour and the routes may be a bit different. Our collection day may change, but that hasn't been confirmed yet and I expect no significant changes.
“As of May 1, pet waste, including plant-based kitty litter and bedding for small animals in compostable bags, can be put in your green bin,” he added. “Yard waste can be put out at the curb on the Monday of your collection week and it will be picked up by the end of the week.”
Other changes effective May 1 are that collection days may change to balance the routes, the pick-up times you are used to may change with the new collection routes, there will be no shift in collection due to holidays, except Christmas and New Year’s Day, and yard waste will be collected every other week, April through November.
Curbside collection will be expanded to eligible private roadways and laneways. The city says it is working to assess eligible properties. This service will be phased in and the city will contact eligible property managers after May 2024.
Unspecified changes are also coming to the collection schedule and frequency for multi-residential buildings of six units or more.
“The waste collection changes … are undoubtedly a step in the right direction,” said Coun. Amy Courser, who represents Ward 4. “These changes support a more circular economy in waste management policy, emphasizing sustainability and producer accountability. These changes also streamline the waste management system and improve waste diversion and neighbourhood cleanliness.”
Barrie’s recycling program is also changing, starting May 1. On that date, residential recycling — blue and grey boxes — will no longer be collected by the city. A not-for-profit organization, called Circular Materials, will be financially responsible for collecting and managing residential recycling in Barrie, through a contractor.
At this time, there are no anticipated changes to the materials residents can recycle — so still paper and containers.
This change comes as part of a provincial regulation whereby all Ontario municipalities are transitioning to a producer responsibility model. Companies, or producers, which supply recyclable materials will be responsible for the collection and recycling of these materials.
Coun. Craig Nixon, who represents Ward 2, said there will naturally be some blow-back from the new regulations.
“Like any changes, there will be feedback and concerns from residents, and some will be affected more than others,” he said. “Some will find it difficult to adjust at first, and others will not.”
For residents in the Downtown BIA (Business Improvement Area), there will be daily (Monday to Friday) collection of garbage and organics, with no change to weekly limits in this designated area.
“But if residents still have questions, they are more than welcome to reach out to their ward councillor or staff for clarification,” said Nixon, whose ward includes the downtown.
He said all of the details are on the city’s website, as well as dates and locations of upcoming information seminars, where residents and businesses can come and speak to staff directly to address any concerns and receive answers to their specific questions.
“The changes coming to Barrie’s waste collection reflect a responsible approach to waste management that will keep more materials out of the landfill and best meet the needs of our growing community,” said Ward 6 Coun. Nigussie Nigussie.
The existing waste collections contract with Waste Connections expires April 30 and the new contract with the Emterra Group begins May 1 — an eight-year deal with options for two one-year extensions.
Emterra has been contracted by Circular Materials to collect residential recycling materials. They are to be collected the same day as garbage and organics.
Not only who collects the waste is changing, but how is, as well.
Rolling out the carts
Barrie’s new collection contract will use manual collection from May 1, 2024 until Sept. 7, 2025. The next day, Barrie will make the transition to automated collection, with the use of carts or bins for all materials except yard waste. The carts will be provided to residents.
“The new bins are a bit of a change to how we do things, but a necessary one,” said Ward 9 Coun. Sergio Morales. “We’re hearing, we’re listening and we are actively monitoring how front-yard bin storage and the new curbside collection schedules play out, as the revised schedule has been the main focus of concern for a lot of people.”
Barrie businesses and institutions must register to receive the current level of curbside waste collection service from the city, with the introduction of a new waste collection contract on May 1. The city is asking for applications by April 15.
Barrie’s solid waste collection costs were projected in 2023 to more than double during the next five years. The forecast is costs rising from $6 million last year to $13.57 million in 2027 for collecting garbage, organics, recycling, yard waste and batteries.
A number of factors could contribute to the cost increase, including the expansion of organics collection and processing, including pet waste, more frequent collection within the BIA, curbside collection expanded to multi-residential buildings, private roads and laneways, equipment retrofits for auto-cart collection and buying the carts, the transition of eligible blue box collection/processing to producers, and annual contract cost escalation triggers such as the consumer price index (CPI), fuel adjustments and more stops for service, based on population growth.
These changes all stem from provincial programs. In June 2016, the province enacted its Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA), which required the development of a strategy for a waste-free Ontario.
“City staff have done a great job of being proactive by putting together a comprehensive information and awareness campaign leading up to the changes happening May 1,” Courser said, “including direct mail, radio and digital ads, signage, staff outreach for special events, city facilities and town hall meetings."
She encouraged residents and businesses to visit Barrie.ca/
“And, as always, we are open to feedback from the community," Courser added.
But the difficulty for residents with these changes is being acknowledged.
There will be a special collection day May 3, when about 7,000 city households will get garbage and organics pickup, to bridge the scheduling and routes gap.
Impacted residents will receive a letter from the city about this.
And to get their materials to the curb by 7 a.m.
That’s not changing.
