North Huron to usher in wheelie bins for waste, recycling collection, opts against organic bins

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

At its April 7 meeting, North Huron Council was asked to approve a new curbside waste collection contract that would change how residents manage household garbage. Although a report submitted by Director of Public Works and Facilities Kevin Watson and township staff recommends that North Huron switch over to bi-weekly waste collection and introduce organics pickup, council instead voted to carry on with weekly waste pickup and hold off on organics for the time being.

 

Watson’s report presents two options for the township to consider as it moves to enter into a five-year agreement with Waste Management for curbside collection and disposal services, with the option to extend the contract for up to two additional years. Both of the two service models presented would replace North Huron’s current bag tag system with an automated, flat-rate, cart-based collection program.

 

The first option would see weekly garbage collection maintained, using standardized bins at current service levels. Watson estimates the cost is about $127 per household annually.

 

The second option, recommended by staff, would introduce weekly organics collection alongside bi-weekly garbage pickup. Organic material would be transported to Arthur for composting and re-use, and would not contribute to the landfills of Huron County. The estimated annual cost of this option is $215 per household. The report notes this approach could extend landfill lifespan, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve waste diversion rates, while aligning North Huron with other municipalities in Huron County.

 

When staff issued a request for proposals in February, five contractors obtained bid documents, but only Waste Management, the township’s current provider, submitted a complete proposal. Over a five-year period, the garbage-only option is estimated at about $1.28 million, while the garbage and organics program would cost about $2.3 million. The township will also be facing the cost for purchasing and delivering carts, the specifics of which will be addressed at a future council meeting.

 

During council’s discussion, Councillor Anita van Hittersum felt that switching from bag tags to a flat rate is unfair to those who produce less waste than others. “People who produce way less waste still have to pay the same,” she pointed out. “Right now, on garbage day, Waste Management goes around in the rural areas with a pickup truck, so that shows you how little garbage there is. They can pick it up in the back of a pickup truck. I think this is a very unfair system… and I don’t think it’s going to be very good in reducing waste.”

 

Councillor Chris Palmer voiced concerns over bi-weekly pickups. “In Belgrave, we're a good example of the new system, but it’s weekly. We have one bin for recycle, one bin for garbage, and it works out very well,” he told the rest of council. “I'm concerned about option two as a bi-weekly pickup. I don’t know how large this bin is going to be, but it’s going to smell and it’s going to get overloaded.”

 

Councillor Mitch Wright wanted to know how North Huron’s apartment dwellers would manage under the proposed collection system. “I’m thinking about rentals above Main Street - I’m not sure how car parking will interfere with bin pickup,” he said. “And are there going to be some properties that currently get bag tag collection that won’t be eligible for curbside pickup with bins?”
Watson assured Wright that North Huron’s multi-unit residences will be supplied with an adequate number of bins, with a limit of four. “These bins are quite large, and they hold quite a bit of material,” Watson told him. ‘I don’t think anybody’s going to be without.”

 

Choosing the second option - bi-weekly waste pickup and organics - was brought to a vote and defeated. Accepting the first option - weekly waste pickup without organics - was brought to a vote, which carried.

 

The township’s current contract with Waste Management expires on April 30, with a new agreement set to begin May 1. Cart delivery for recycling is scheduled between June 23 and July 11, with automated collection beginning July 21.