Garbage collection changes to Thursdays in New Tecumseth

Posted March 5, 2013

Simcoe County residents can expect a greater frequency of leaf and yard waste pick-up throughout the year, no collection delays from holidays (excluding Christmas and New Years Day), but it will cost individuals $35 to arrange large item/bulky material under changes being implemented to waste management, effective April 1.

In New Tecumseth, curbside collection day will change from Tuesdays to Thursdays starting April 4.

The changes coincide with a looming switch in the service contract Simcoe County awarded last April to BFI Canada Inc. It's a seven year deal, with a two year renewal option that will cost $10.65 million in its first year, a decrease of $2.6 million from the $13,282,800 budgeted for the same services in 2012.

BFI's lowest bid covers five collection categories: $2.6 million for garbage; $2.6 million for organics; $5.2 million for recyclables; $181,193 for wheeled carts; and $27,670 for litter bins.

The curbside collections of leaf and yard wastes, which also includes brush, will have four pick-ups in in the spring and five collections in the fall (bi-weekly). The new call-in bulky waste collection program will run through June to the end of September.

"This new service will provide residents with a convenient, cost effective means to dispose of up to five bulky items at a user-pay cost of $35," according to the County's information package. "This service will expand the types of materials that were previously collected in this program including: refrigerators, televisions, and tires. This service will now be offered to all County curbside collection locations versus select municipalities."

All businesses will also be eligible to receive curbside collections but maximum limits apply and those businesses,"must participate in diversion programs."

The other change the County is boasting about includes the garbage trucks themselves, which the majority will be "powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) which produces significantly fewer toxic pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions."

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