County of Simcoe Statement: Cart Exchange Program

Midhurst/October 26, 2021 – County Councillors remain committed to the automated cart collection program and to providing cart size options based on public feedback. Today, a majority of Council voted to expedite the cart exchange program to increase flexibility for residents rather than waiting for the results of a public survey and pilot project to explore potential cart exchange options. We recognize that the move to automated cart collection is a substantial change, and we know that waste collection is a very valuable service to our residents. We want you to know that we’ve listened and responded to your input over the last few months.

Automated cart collection is extremely common, with the County’s cart manufacturer estimating that as many as 60-70% of municipalities in Canada and the United States already use carts. The number of municipalities using carts is growing due to the labour challenges associated with manual waste collection. We’re leveraging the experiences of many other municipalities and making local adaptations to ensure the cart program is successful here in Simcoe County.

While cart exchange was something Council committed to considering in the future, we will now begin accepting cart exchange requests in mid-January 2022, with deliveries anticipated to begin by the end of February. The program will provide residents with an opportunity to exchange their recycling and garbage carts for smaller options (with the smallest being the same size as the existing organics cart).

Full details about exchanges will be communicated in January, and we ask residents to hold exchange requests until the system is in place early next year. As we wait for the exchange program to begin, please use this time to experience the new carts and confirm your household’s waste needs before deciding whether to switch size.

Based on data from other jurisdictions, we expect fewer exchanges after residents have experienced using the carts. With a 20-year life span, any exchanged carts will be repaired and put back into the system as replacements.

The County of Simcoe appreciates the feedback we have received from our communities, and we look forward to the launch on November 1.

George Cornell - Warden, County of Simcoe

For media inquiries:
Chris Hedley - Public Relations Consultant

• County of Simcoe, Service Simcoe Department
• 705-715-7654 (mobile)
• Chris.Hedley@simcoe.ca

Collin Matanowitsch - Manager, Public Relations

• County of Simcoe, Service Simcoe Department
• 705-734-8386 (mobile)
• Collin.Matanowitsch@simcoe.ca