Release - City of Barrie
Residents and businesses can expect many changes coming to Barrie’s curbside waste collection program over the next few years. In May 2024, changes include a new waste collection contractor, and the transition of the residential recycling program to a producer responsibility model, per a provincial regulation. In 2025, the city will introduce automated cart collection.
“Some of these changes are regulated by the province, and some are the result of the city procuring a new contractor to improve and advance Barrie’s waste collection program and align it further with the City’s Circular Economy Framework,” says Stephanie Mack, Associate Director of Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability. “The city is committed to supporting a seamless transition for residents and businesses through these changes, while delivering the best possible waste collection service.”
A list of the major impacts, and associated timeframes, follows.
May 1, 2024: New collection contractor for organics, garbage and yard waste
Starting May 1, 2024, the City will have a new waste collection contractor, Emterra Group, for organics, garbage and yard waste collection. Key changes for residential collection include:
- There will be a new collection schedule. To balance the routes, this means residents’ collection day for organics, garbage, and yard waste may change. Residents are encouraged to review if their collection day will change via barrie.ca/CollectionSchedule.
- Pet waste will be accepted in the organics (green) bin;
- No changes to the collection schedule for holidays, except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day;
- Yard waste will be collected every other week April through November. Yard waste will be collected weekly in January to accommodate Christmas tree collection.
- There will be no specific day for yard waste collection. Residents will be asked to place yard waste curbside Monday by 7 a.m. on their yard waste collection week (opposite garbage week). Collection will occur at some time during the week before the end of day Friday.
Businesses will be affected by the new collection contract as well. Unlike residential recycling, recycling from businesses will still be collected by the city, and businesses will now need to register with the city to receive municipal curbside waste collection (garbage, yard waste and recycling) as of May 1, 2024. Businesses will be able to register online in early 2024. More details on how to register will be provided closer to when registration opens. For businesses in the downtown BIA, there will be daily (Monday to Friday) collection of garbage and recycling from May 1, 2024 to September 7, 2025, until automated cart collection is introduced. There will be no change to weekly limits in this area.
May 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025: Transition of the residential recycling program
Residential recycling (blue/grey box) will no longer be collected by the city. This change comes as part of a provincial regulation affecting all Ontario municipalities. An organization called Circular Materials will oversee the collection and management of residential recycling through a contractor. As of May 1, 2024 residents will have to contact the contractor for recycling-related inquiries. More details about the collection contractor and contact information will be available closer to May. Recycling collection frequency and accepted materials will not change.
The transition of the recycling program will take place from May 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025. After the transition in 2026, Circular Materials may make changes to the recycling program (i.e. materials collected, collection mechanism, etc.).
Visit CircularMaterials.ca to learn more about the transition of the recycling program. CircularMaterials.ca/barrie will have Barrie-specific recycling information posted closer to May 1, 2024. Residents can also call Circular Materials directly for recycling-related questions at 1-877-667-2626.
2025: Introduction of automated cart collection in Barrie
On September 8, 2025, the city will move to automated cart collection service.
Residents will receive one cart for organics and one for garbage; yard waste will be collected manually. Residential recycling will continue to be collected by the contractor retained by Circular Materials.
Carts have many advantages: they are easy to roll, don’t need heavy lifting or dragging, and they help keep neighbourhoods cleaner by keeping waste contained and protected against wind and animals. Prior to September 8, 2025, the city will provide residents with standard sized carts. Carts will be designed to accommodate current waste limits. The city is currently looking at options for residents who may need a smaller sized garbage cart to switch the standard size for a smaller one.
Businesses will receive carts for organics, garbage and recycling (all recyclable material, both blue and grey box material, will be placed in the same cart). Organics will be introduced to businesses at this time.
For a full list of the changes coming to curbside collection in Barrie visit barrie.ca/CurbsideCollectionChanges.
These changes are also detailed in the 2024 Waste Collection Calendar, which will be delivered to Barrie households this week.
