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Dumping your trash will now cost $10 minimum

Council says the move is to help reduce the amount of garbage that goes to landfill
EloraFergusToday Staff
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NEWS RELEASE
WELLINGTON COUNTY
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Wellington County Council has voted to implement a new $10.00 minimum user fee at each of the County’s six waste facility sites, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The decision supports the County’s Solid Waste Services (SWS) Strategy, which aims to establish a Diversion Centre Model, reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

The minimum fee is intended to encourage residents to use the County’s existing curbside collection program which is provided to every single-family household across the County. Starting January 1, 2025, residents who choose to dispose of small amounts of garbage at waste facilities, will be subject to the new minimum fee.

"The curbside collection program is a more convenient and cost-effective option for managing household waste and recycling," said Councillor Stephen O’Neill, Solid Waste Services Committee Chair. "As more residents embrace curbside collection, SWS will be able to dedicate space at waste facilities for materials that can’t be handled at the roadside, such as asphalt shingles, drywall, and mattresses, which will soon be recycled instead of sent to landfills.”

Charging a minimum waste fee is a standard practice at waste facilities across Ontario. By adopting this best practice, Wellington County aims to expand the list of materials that can be diverted at waste facilities by freeing up space currently occupied by bagged garbage. Diverting more materials will extend the lifespan of the County’s only active landfill site and provide both environmental and financial benefits to County residents.

The minimum fee will apply to all materials brought to County waste facilities, including waste contained in yellow user pay garbage bags, with several exemptions.  Materials designated by the province under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA) will be exempt from the minimum fee. The following items are currently designated under the RRCEA and financially supported by producers:

  • Household Hazardous Waste
  • Tires
  • Electronic waste

In addition to the above items, residential leaf and yard waste delivered to County waste facilities from April through November will also be exempt from the minimum fee.

For more information about the new minimum user fee and waste diversion initiatives, visit the County’s Solid Waste Services webpage at www.wellington.ca/waste-facilities. 

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