Bracebridge receives update about District's new waste initiatives
Bracebridge Council was updated about the District of Muskoka’s new waste initiatives, in the August 14, 2024, meeting.
Deputy Mayor and member of the District’s Engineering and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Brenda Rhodes, suggested the public view the meeting webcast for an overview of projects in the works, which involve environmental monitoring and remediation initiatives.
In her summary to Council, she said there continues to be an ongoing consultant review on the needs of 15 District waste management sites that will include landfill gas and public safety.
In the meantime, the EPW Committee has expanded the Curbside Organic Program. Rhodes said, “We’ve seen an increase of 28% of materials going into the green bin, which is fantastic news.” She advised that this was from 2022 to 2023.
She indicated a “fun fact” as: “Organic materials that end up in the landfill creates methane at 28x more potent green house gas than carbon dioxide.”
She explained that this is important regarding the distribution of organic waste. “Every time we can put organics in our green bins, in your composter, or in your backyard, food cyclers, worms, whatever you got to make sure those organics don’t go into the landfill, is very important.”
According to Rhodes, the Green Bin Program will be expanded to 272 collection points in Bracebridge and Huntsville, as a part of the expansion. She added, “There is more expansion happening. It will be 7,800 more to be expanded to and they’re expediting that program.”
She said, “The goal is 60% diversion. At this moment we’re at 37%. So, we have a lot of ways to go.”
She indicated that ideas to reach the diversion goal include the Blue Box transition, collection of industrial, commercial and institutional garbage, bin site transition, expanded curbside organic… collection and diversion of special items, elevated waste ramps, and the clear bag program.
The clear bag initiative was proposed because of the potential to divert 10% from garbage, advised Rhodes.
She continued that garbage audits will be ongoing, with the next one this fall, which she will participate in, and welcomed other Councillors to. She said, I think it’s important that we see what’s being put in the garbage. That is to divert potentially hazardous waste, obviously organic material is a big piece of that.”
Regarding how the clear bag program will be rolled out, Rhodes advised that the transition will begin in March 2025, and residents will have until January 2026 to get rid of their black garbage bags.
She said that two privacy bags will be allowed in the clear garbage bags, which can still be put in garbage bins or bare bins for those concerned about people seeing their garbage contents.
Rhodes continued that the goal is to extend the life of the landfill site, which has progressed but not enough, and it’s unlikely it can be replaced. She said, “The province has regulations in place that makes it very, very hard for other landfills to come to fruition, and so there’s a concern there that if we fill our landfill, we can’t get another landfill, and we may be trucking garbage, so the more we can do the better.”
Councillor, Don Smith, expressed support for the diversion efforts and thinks it’s “the big win” regarding capacity. However, he had different thoughts regarding the methane issue.
He advised that compost produces methane regardless of whether it’s in the landfill or not. He said, “We’re not going to get away from methane. The level of methane is maybe not quite as high whether it’s done externally but there’s still a huge methane issue.
He added, “The only way if we want to address methane is to go through some sort of physical building which traps the methane and then uses it for what ever other purpose that we want to use it for.”
He suggested that more consideration be given to this area. He added, “I find it difficult when we keep hearing that methane is an issue and yet either way, you’re going to be producing methane.” He said the consideration should be what they can do to address that issue.
Rhodes indicated that she will “ask that question,” in the upcoming EPW meeting.
She advised that waste changes will be included in the 2025 budget, and the District is working on a Solid Waste Master Plan, and a report expected to be presented to Council in 2026.
