Garbage carts to replace yellow bags in 2028
Wellington County signing onto seven-year contract with Waste Management worth nearly $35 million
WELLINGTON COUNTY – The countdown is officially on for a switch to cart-based garbage and organic waste collection in Wellington County.
County council approved the switch to carts from yellow, user-pay garbage bags at a June 25 council meeting.
That means starting in the summer of 2028, residents – with the exception of those in the county’s 14 downtown cores – will no longer use garbage bags.
Garbage trucks with a robotic arm will grab and empty carts without changes to the current schedule.
Jordan Snobelen
With space constrains in downtown cores, manual collection will continue, but with residents purchasing typical black bags and using current organics bins.
Residents will receive yard waste pickup on the same day garbage is collected, and pet waste can be tossed in organics bins.
Delivery of new carts is expected in the spring of 2028.
There will be no bulky-item pickup offered. Staff recommended against the option because of the cost, lack of interest from residents and already-available waste facilities for drop-offs.
The change comes with a new seven-year contract with Waste Management, the company currently collecting garbage for the county.
Jordan Snobelen
The current contract expires next year, but is being extended for 2027-28 to allow Waste Management to order new trucks.
The new contract, covering 2028 to 2035, rings in at nearly $35 million, not counting the $5.5-million price for carts.
Council has earmarked a $4.6-million surplus from last year’s budget for the carts. The $900,000 shortfall could be made up from development charges, debt or through tax bills.
With the removal of user-pay garbage bags comes a $1.5 million hit in lost revenue. It’s likely the county will recover the lost revenue through taxes.
County waste services manager Das Soligo previously told the Advertiser the average household is likely to pay less overall through tax bills.
Organics will be collected weekly, with garbage and recycling collection occurring on opposite weeks.
