The County of Simcoe is rolling out a new automated cart system for curbside waste collection starting November 1. Officials say the new system will provide an easy and safe solution for residents to manage their waste each week.
To support residents with the upcoming change, the county has launched a new website featuring information about automated collection, details about the size of the carts, instructions for set out, storage tips, visuals, videos and FAQs all geared to help residents adapt to this new system.
“On behalf of county council, we look forward to enhancing waste services starting November 1, 2021, joining leading municipalities across North America that have successfully switched to this improved collection system,” said Warden George Cornell. “We’re confident that residents will find the easy to wheel carts to be a far more convenient solution than carrying and storing multiple bags, containers and open bins each week. We know that the switch to bi-weekly collections in early 2020 was challenging for residents, and with increased vertical storage the cart system will be a significant improvement. We’re here to assist residents with this change and pleased to introduce carts.simcoe.ca as one of our main tools to help residents as we shift to the future of waste collection services.”
Between August and October, eligible locations will receive three complementary carts, one each for garbage, recycling and organics, delivered with instructions.
Residents should continue to use their current system of bins, bags and containers until November 1 when the new collection provider, Miller Waste Services, will begin to collect your waste through the automated cart system.
Collection days and times may change, although the frequency of bi-weekly garbage and recycling collection and weekly organics will stay the same.
The county will move to a four-day collection schedule, to improve predictability when missed collections occur due to poor weather or road conditions, allowing resources to return to missed areas. Information about new collection days will be communicated in the fall through the annual waste management calendar mailed to all county households, through advertising and social media, on the county’s website, and on the Simcoe County Collects app, among other communications.
In addition to introducing carts.simcoe.ca, the county is rolling out a social media campaign featuring reviews and insights from cart users in other communities. Residents across the county will also receive a mailer featuring information about the carts throughout May. A detailed education campaign will also commence in late July, including a virtual public information centre (PIC).
The purpose for the PIC is to provide roll-out details, timelines and instructions. Although the county continues to gather public feedback, this particular session will focus on providing information to assist residents with the change to the new system. Additional communications will be provided during key milestones leading up to the launch.
The automated system is much safer and less strenuous for collection workers. This added level of workplace safety will help to expand the labour force, so service disruptions due to labour shortages are minimized under the new cart system. The touchless system also helps fight the spread of pathogens, a critical step towards fighting possible transmissions in the event of future pandemics.
The larger organics cart is great for the environment by adding more space for food scraps and encouraging organics over garbage. Cart lids and a gravity locking system on organics carts will also help to reduce wind-blown litter in our ditches and roadways, while protecting against critters.
Cart sizes were selected based on the requirements of the average county household. With the knowledge that provincial changes are coming soon to recycling programs, more materials may be allowed to be recycled in the future. Carts provide flexibility for additional capacity when needed. Uniform cart sizes for each waste stream also helps to keep costs in check.
The county will provide more information on options to properly re-purpose old bins and containers after the new cart system launches, including a County Waste Facility drop-off program.