Loyalist Township is developing a 30-year Solid Waste
Management Master Plan to guide waste management planning, decision-making and
services. The plan aims to address the Township's current and future waste
management challenges by improving waste diversion, recycling, and organics
processing; and to establish a framework for managing curbside residential
waste, multi-residential waste, parks and public spaces waste, and waste from
Township facilities.
Key goals include increasing waste diversion, decreasing
waste generation, determining efficiencies and cost savings, and ensuring
environmentally sustainable practices.
The plan will address the limited
remaining capacity of the Township's two waste disposal sites, the Amherst
Island and Violet Waste Disposal Sites, examine collection and processing
methods, and look at broader policy issues like single-use plastics,
alternative technologies, greenhouse gas emissions, and circular economy
programs.
The project involves collaboration between Loyalist Township staff, EXP Services Inc., and other stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive approach to waste management.
Curbside collection is a substantial portion of the cost of dealing with solid waste for any municipality. Loyalist Township is currently providing curbside collection only on the mainland. Amherst Island residents pay the same general tax rate and the same bag tag fees, but must take their garbage to the waste disposal site themselves. Changes to recycling responsibility may also be a consideration in curbside collection.
The Violet Waste Disposal Site could reach capacity as early as 2043 and the Amherst Island site as early as 2039.
The master plan will examine options for the Township's landfills, including whether to continue operating two separate sites.
The Township has set a goal of 40% residential waste diversion by 2030. That won't happen by accident: we need a plan to help us meet that goal. This includes looking at options for residents to dispose of recyclables and organics.
The plan will help determine how the Township responds to upcoming regulatory changes, like Extended Producer Responsibility for recycling. This policy approach makes producers responsible for recyclables for the entire life cycle, including after the consumer is done using it. That responsibility can be physical, financial, or both.
We're growing! The Township's population is expected to grow as much as 40% by the year 2046, so we need to have sound plans in place to deal with solid waste.
Financial considerations always mean balancing the level of service Council wishes to provide, with the cost of the service.
The plan will incorporate environmentally sustainable practices and address issues like greenhouse gas emissions.
Between September – December 2023, Loyalist Township ran a 100-household FoodCycler pilot program. Based on the positive results, a second 100-household pilot was launched in April 2024, bringing the total number of participating households to 200. Feedback from both pilots will be integrated into Loyalist Township’s Solid Waste Management Plan, contributing to long-term waste reduction strategies.
As part of the development of the ResiLienT Loyalist Township Climate Action Plan, 1,137 residents responded to a Source Separated Organics (SSO) Survey. The survey aimed to gather feedback from residents on current waste management practices and gauge interest in potential organic waste diversion programs. The responses from the SSO survey will be incorporated into Loyalist Township’s Solid Waste Management Plan, aiding in developing long-term waste reduction strategies.
Do you have questions about solid waste management? Ask them here!
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| Phone | 613-386-7351 |
|---|---|
| Website | www.loyalist.ca |
| In writing | Box 70, 263 Main Street |
