We’re Listening: Clarifying the Waste Service Proposals

Type(s)
News Releases

Over 500 residents have already taken the time to watch our video on the proposed changes to waste services.

Yes, the video is long — and that’s by design. It replaces a traditional in-person info session (which is often poorly attended) and lets you watch on your own time.

Each section of the video is timestamped so you can skip to the topics that matter most to you:

  • 0:00 — Why the plan is being updated
  • 1:07 — Provincial Regulations
  • 6:45 — How waste is managed in Clarence-Rockland
  • 10:32 — Options for updating the Solid Waste Plan
  • 12:41 — Recommended Updates: Waste Reduction / Reuse
  • 13:49 — Recommended Updates: Recyclin
  • 15:25 — Transition Period
  • 17:17 — Recommended Updates: Organics
  • 19:07 — Recommended Updates: Waste Collection
  • 21:01 — Recommended Updates: Promotion and Education
  • 21:59 — Recommended Updates: Municipal Policies
  • 24:59 — Recommended Updates: Opportunities

What We’re Proposing — and Why It Matters

Each proposal is based on resident feedback, local needs, and provincial regulations.

Organics Collection

  • What’s Proposed: Plan and implement a curbside organics program.
  • Why Feedback Is Needed: To understand how ready residents are to compost and what support they need.
  • Timeline: Short-term (1–5 years) planning; Medium-term (5–10 years) implementation
  • Regulation: Required under the Food and Organic Waste Policy Statement (2018) and the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA), 2016.

Garbage Collection Frequency

  • What’s Proposed: Shift to every-other-week garbage pickup, aligned with organics rollout.
  • Why Feedback Is Needed: To gauge household comfort and ensure the change won’t negatively impact residents.
  • Timeline: Medium-term.
  • Regulation: Aligns with best practices supporting diversion goals in the Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario (2017)

Clear Bag Program

  • What’s Proposed: Transition to a clear garbage bag program.
  • Why Feedback Is Needed: To assess community support and identify concerns about privacy, cost, and accessibility.
  • Timeline: Short-term planning; Medium-term rollout.
  • Regulation: Supports sorting and diversion targets under the Waste-Free Ontario Strategy (2017) and RRCEA, 2016 

User-Pay Model

  • What’s Proposed: Study the feasibility of a full user-pay system.
  • Why Feedback Is Needed: To explore fairness and affordability from a resident perspective.
  • Timeline: Medium-term.
  • Regulation: Encouraged under the Waste-Free Ontario Act (2016)

Promotion & Education

  • What’s Proposed: Launch a new education strategy and conduct regular waste audits.
  • Why Feedback Is Needed: To ensure communication is clear, inclusive, and effective.
  • Timeline: Short-term.
  • Regulation: Supports public awareness goals under the RRCEA, 2016

Recycling & Diversion

  • What’s Proposed: Textile recycling pilots, battery collection, and depot promotion.
  • Why Feedback Is Needed: To identify which programs residents value most and where improvements are needed.
  • Timeline: Short-term promotion; Medium-term pilot programs.
  • Regulation: Aligns with O. Reg. 391/21 (Blue Box) and other IPR regulations under the RRCEA, 2016 

IC&I Waste Limits

  • What’s Proposed: Reduce landfill use by industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors.
  • Why Feedback Is Needed: To preserve landfill space for residential use and balance busness realities.
  • Timeline: Short-term.
  • Regulation: Supports diversion targets in the Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario (2017)

Landfill Expansion

  • What’s Proposed: Review options to purchase adjacent land for future expansion.
  • Why Feedback Is Needed: To plan responsibly for future generations and understand community views on long-term disposal strategies.
  • Timeline: Short-term review; Ongoing assessment in future updates.
  • Regulation: Aligns with long-term waste management strategies under the Waste-Free Ontario Act (2016)

Why Your Voice Matters

  • Make informed decisions that reflect community values
  • Balance service improvements with cost efficiency
  • Build a waste system that works for everyone

How to Participate

Visit: consultations-cr.ca

If the site doesn’t open in your preferred language, use the toggle in the top left corner.

You’ll be asked to log in or create an account before taking the survey. This helps us:

  • Protect the integrity of the results
  • Ensure responses are genuine
  • We keep your personal information safe, as protected under the Municipal Act

Thank you for taking the time to participate.