Peterborough city council approves biweekly garbage collection, clear bag use

The city estimates the service changes will bolster the waste diversion rate from about 52 per cent to between 76 and 83 per cent by 2030. 

Peterborough city council on Monday approved several waste management service changes, including a new biweekly garbage collection beginning in the fall.

Effective Oct. 31, garbage collection will shift to a biweekly schedule and also require the use of clear bags for curbside collection.

Council did not discuss the motion, which was presented as part of an extensive staff report earlier this month and approved the changes as part of the city’s Waste Management Master Plan Update.

It is expected that the number of garbage bags that each household can put out for collection biweekly will be set at four bags, up from the current limit of two lifts.

The city says the collection of household organic waste (green bin program) will be weekly. Recyclables (blue bin) collection remains weekly, with the drop-off facility on 390 Pido Rd. open daily 24 hours a day.

“Garbage amounts are expected to reduce by between 40 per cent and 50 per cent, which will allow garbage collection to shift to an every-other-week schedule that is common in other communities that have green bin programs,” the city stated.

The city says the use of clear bags for garbage will “support waste diversion efforts” and improve worker safety for garbage collectors by helping to avoid incidents with sharp objects in garbage bags.

Residents will still be permitted to use a small opaque bag, such as a grocery bag, as a “privacy bag” that could be put into the larger clear bag. The privacy bag could be used for items such as medical prescription containers and other confidential items.