Different Collection Days for Zones A, B, C, D
Tessa Swanton (Townson), Bruce Peninsula Press
A new curbside waste collection schedule was approved at the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula (MNBP) September 28 Council Meeting. The new schedule spans across four weekdays split geographically between the former village of Lion’s Head and three municipal townships: St. Edmunds on Mondays (Zone A), East Eastnor on Tuesdays (Zone B), Lindsay on Wednesdays (Zone C), and West Eastnor on Thursdays (Zone D (see map on page 20). “We’re hoping this is the best route to get everything completed in four days, which is going to be good,” said Troy Cameron, Public Works Manager.
Cameron plans to transition to in-house municipal waste collection under the new schedule on November 23, 2026, which will be the first in-house garbage collection day under the new schedule. Currently, the entire Municipality receives garbage collection on Mondays by Waste Management.
Blue box curbside recycling will continue to be collected by Waste Management (WM). The company is switching their trucks to a “cart system” for recycling where the truck uses mechanical arms to lift and empty carts. In 2026, the recycling program shifted to being managed by the provincial government. Municipalities and taxpayers no longer pay for curbside blue box recycling – the cost is borne by the producers of packaging and paper products.
Cameron said in a telephone interview that WM has been minimal in communications regarding future curbside recycling plans.
Conversations suggest that recycling will remain on Mondays, however it may occur biweekly – half of the Municipality receiving pickup each week, then switching.
Recycling carts have not been distributed to households yet. Transition to the cart system was originally planned for the end of November but has not been confirmed.
Bruce Peninsula Press reached out to WM for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of this newspaper’s printing.
Since the MNBP’s decision on July 13 to transition to in-house waste collection, primary and secondary garbage trucks have been purchased, and two Waste Management Operator positions have been created and staffed to carry out collection. The new hires are anticipated to start work at the beginning of November where they will focus on training and practice the routes before the first collection day to optimize efficiency.
Report PW 26-25 from Cameron explains that collection must occur over four days due to the Municipality’s large size and increasing number of households. He estimates that the St. Edmunds and West Eastnor locations will be the longest collection days. The report says that an interactive map will soon be available to residents where they can enter their address and confirm their new collection day.
During the meeting, Cameron stated that 1664 collections are estimated for the St. Edmunds area. Combined with traveling the speed limit and 20 seconds allotted per stop, the waste collection employees will be working a 12-hour day plus a trip to the landfill for drop off. He described the Lindsay route as one of the smallest with 1100 stops and about 10 hours long and a landfill trip. Eastnor West has 1481 stops totalling 11.5 hours and Eastnor East has 1218 stops including highway pickups. He confirmed that his estimations account for “every possible stop” which may not always be the circumstance, but he is preparing for “worst case scenario” to ensure successful collection.
His thorough report, based on logistics, lists variables that were considered when determining route assignment and collection days, such as “number of pickups per route, estimated hours of collection based on speed limits, distance travelled to landfill, total distance of route, number of permanent vs. part time residences in each catchment area, travelling logistics, landfill hours of operation, number of STAs in each catchment area, and historical collection routes within the Municipality.”
Cameron said that the St. Edmunds area was chosen for Monday pickups to accommodate the substantial number of cottagers/visitors leaving their garbage curbside after traveling back home to the city after the weekend. Tuesday was selected for Eastnor East because of Lion’s Head residents.
The new Waste Collection By-law states that garbage must be placed curbside on the morning of collection by 7:30am, half an hour earlier than the previous by-law.
He mentioned that Council approving the purchase of a second garbage truck gives staff the flexibility to task other PW staff with assisting in collection during the busy summer months, if needed.
Councillor Todd Dowd shared his concerns with tourists/cottagers leaving their garbage curbside for days after going home following a weekend trip. He suggested the community use bear proof bins to avoid attracting bears and other animals because an “old wooden box won’t cut it.”
Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden emphasized the importance of public education, including targeting short term accommodations, their managers, and seasonal residents.
The Municipality plans to educate the public about the new collection schedule by distributing flyers, posting on social media, publishing newspapers ads, contacting radio stations, and posting on the municipal website. Visit www.northbrucepeninsula.ca, click “Government,” “Garbage and Recycling,” then “Curbside Waste and Recycling Collection” for updates and watch for municipal communications to learn more.
Cameron’s report concludes, “Staff are confident that a comprehensive operational and implementation plan is in place to support a smooth transition to in-house garbage collection beginning November 23, 2026.” It further notes that staff will monitor the program to ensure service levels are maintained.
