Orillia is quite a ways north of us here in Trenton and Colborne, and it’s known as the Sunshine City because it’s known to get more of the stuff than other regions of the province and one of the nice things about living there is you’ve got two lakes on either side of you. Of course we have one of the Great Lakes right in front of us with Lake Ontario here along Highway 401 but we’ll concede that Lake Simcoe has a lot going for it in comparison to Ontario and Georgian Bay is pretty special too. We are tops for waste disposal in Trenton and Colborne, but it appears that they’re starting to do things differently in Orillia.
We’re also tops for Colborne disposal bin rentals, and you’re free to call them dumpster rentals if you like. But we’re fairly sure there isn’t a single see-through dumpster anywhere on the planet and we certainly don’t have any bins like that here either. Where we’re going with this all of this is that Orillia is introducing a new project related to municipal waste collection and the need for it is as ‘transparent’ as can be. As of Monday this week residents and businesses in Orillia will need to put ALL household garbage in an entirely clear and see-through garbage bag rather than a black or green one.
Why ‘see-through’ and no other type of bag, you might ask? Well, surely we can agree that in today’s day and age recycling of materials that can be recycled is more important than ever. Having them end up in waste management centers or landfills is not only inappropriate, it’s also expensive and creates even more problems down the line.
So for all these reason you must now use a clear garbage bag in Orillia. We understand things are always done differently in the GTA, but is this something that we might see with Trenton and Colborne waste disposal services? Hard to say, but there is definitely merit in this program.
Need More of It
This applies to residents and businesses who receive curbside collection from the city, and the city has stated it is going to enforce this to the best of its ability. Why is it so important? All about the percentage of recyclable waste that is actually ending up where it should be so that it can be recycled most effectively and with the lowest cost to taxpayers.
Estimates are that almost 36% of what goes in the garbage at the curb in Orillia could go in the recycling or compost. The idea with the clear bags is it will allow processors to make an effective visual assessment when handling the waste at a facility, and to a lesser extent it may coerce some residents into being better about their household waste management when it is put on display for neighbors’. Some of whom may be more civic minded than others!
But here’s where the whole thing has some teeth; The City of Orillia said clear garbage bags containing more than 10% of recycling material and compost combined will not be collected. That means it stays on the curb for at least one more week unless the property owner chooses to bring it in, and either way the unpleasantness of having to do that should convince them to play along and separate their waste better before just taking it to the end of the driveway.
Best Choice for Eco-Interests
Orillia states that other municipalities that have adopted a clear garbage bag program are pleased to have seen up to 11% increases in diversion rates, and obviously this will mean very real and immediate ecological benefits for the communities in these areas.
Recycling that has become soiled – including pet waste in newspaper wrapping – can still be included in your trash and the city will also allow residents to place up to two small privacy bags within a clear garbage bag to prevent personal items from being exposed. What types of personal items might those be? You’re free to imagine.
But in the meantime if you need trash removal or job site clean up with dumpsters in Colborne or Trenton make sure you call Load n’ Lift first. Our mini-bin system can be placed in the most challenging locations and in spots where larger trucks won’t be able to access them as easily. We also have a 5% discount for seniors and military. This is waste pick up and disposal done right.
