Plastic film will no longer be accepted as recycling in Meaford.
Meaford council recently awarded two contracts to Miller Waste Systems — valued at $2.9-million and $562,000 — to handle the municipality’s recycling, organics and garbage collection, processing and disposal.
Meaford’s existing waste management contract expired at the end of September. The new agreement is a three-year term.
According to a report by Meaford’s Director of Corporate Services and Treasurer Darcy Chapman, waste management costs have increased significantly in the last three years due to several factors such as changes to the global recycling market, increased labour costs and higher capital expenses for vehicles and equipment.
Meaford’s collection and processing costs are rising more than $300,000 this year over the 2019 contract, while disposal costs are up more than $50,000.
To minimize the increased costs, the collection and processing of plastic film was removed from Meaford’s new waste management deal.
The estimated municipal savings will be around $36,000 annually by discontinuing this service, according to a staff report.
Meaford staff advise items such as bread bags, milk bags, plastic wrap, fertilizer or soil bags and grocery bags must be disposed of as garbage effective immediately.