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Some big changes are coming to Georgian Bluffs’ waste management services.
During its meeting Wednesday, Township council confirmed a committee resolution to include weekly green bin collection and bi-weekly garbage and recycling pick-up in its next waste management contract.
Weekly curbside organic waste collection is a new service enhancement in Georgian Bluffs.
The township is also ditching garbage bag tags, and will be integrating waste collection costs into the levy. Another change is the trucks used for waste collection will be automated, requiring special carts for curbside pick-up of garbage, recycling and organics.
“Each resident will receive a standard cart for both waste and organics,” Georgian Bluffs interim CAO Brittany Drury says in an email. “For a one-time fee, residents will have the opportunity to purchase a second cart, should they feel the provided cart does not meet their household’s waste needs.”
Council also directed staff to continue negotiations with the company which will provide the services, Waste Management Inc.
The new waste management contract will begin by June 1, 2026, which is when the township is aiming to implement all of the new services.
Georgian Bluffs’ next waste management contract is a five-year term.
A report by Drury says the projected annual cost of the new waste collection service is $810,000.
Drury told councillors earlier this month the average household will see property taxes increase by about $32 annually — or $2.60 a month — for the enhanced service.
“The flip side is the residents no longer are spending that money to buy bag tags,” says Georgian Bluffs Mayor Sue Carleton. “So, if there’s an increase … on taxation. They’ve had a saving by not buying the tags.”
Georgian Bluffs councillors decided in a 4-2 recorded vote during a July 9 committee of the whole meeting to move ahead with the changes, which were formally passed during Wednesday’s council meeting.