City sticks with tried and true garbage bag tags after review

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After a review of the City of Stratford’s wase management system, city council elected to stick with the status quo ahead of signing a seven-year contract from 2026 to 2033.

The review was prompted by the Province of Ontario’s plan to shift its blue box recycling program and the conclusion of the city’s current collection contract, which both come due in the new year.

Over 1,000 responses from residents responded to a survey on the plan over the course of the year. Main insights include that most respondents (63 per cent) wanted weekly garbage collection and the introduction of bins rather than bag tags, that 83 per cent of respondents participated in the green bin program and wanted it to continue, that 87 per cent of respondents used the yard waste collection service and that while the survey did not ask about recycling, many residents requested a weekly service with the introduction of bins (something out of the city’s control as wheeled bins will be introduced to residents in 2026 under the new blue box program).

“It was great to see the amount of engagement we had on the survey that went out,” Coun. Jo Dee Burbach said. “Over 1,000 people commented, so people are very interested in waste and what it costs us to get rid of that waste.”

With the public responses in mind, city staff presented two options to council: stick with the same service or switch to an automated cart-based system.

Currently, the waste collection service is financially sustained through the sale of bag tags, which generate over $1.2 million for the city annually. Without tags, the cost would have to be borne by property taxpayers or another user fee.

As noted in the management report, the second option was the automated system, which would have the weekly collection of green bin waste and the bi-weekly collection of garbage (doubled for those in the downtown core) and the seasonal collection of leaf and yard waste. Residents would receive wheeled garbage and green carts, which would be collected by trucks with automated lift arms.

An automated system is already coming to Stratford and select areas in January. The new blue box program is a similar system.

While sticking with the tried and true would cost a little over $8.8 million over the 2026-2033 contract term (not including the revenue accrued with the tags which would essentially cover the cost), the automated system would be over $12.2 million without an obvious revenue source to offset the cost.

Weighing the costs, council unanimously voted in favour of sticking with the current system, awarding the seven-year, $8.8 million contract to Canadian Waste Management Incorporated.

Moving forward, there will continue to be the weekly collection of garbage and green bin waste for most residents, with twice-per-week collection in the downtown core. Bag tags will continue to be used and may be purchased at:

• Stratford City Hall, 1 Wellington St.

• 7-Eleven, 327 Erie St.

• Blowes Stationery, 34 Wellington St.

• Canadian Tire Gas Bar, 1101 Ontario St.

• Daisy Mart, 555 Downie St.

• East End Variety, 231 Douro St.

• Esso, 501 Ontario St.

• Giant Tiger, 477 Huron St.

• Hallmark/Blowes, 1067 Ontario St. (Festival Marketplace Shopping Mall)

• Joe's Variety, 760 Ontario St.

• Mobil, 180 Erie St.

• Mornington Variety, 231 Mornington St.

• North End Pharmacy, 240 Graff Ave.

• Shell Station, 405 Huron St.

• Sobey's, 581 Huron St.

• Stratford Mini Mart / GoCo, 666 Ontario St.

• Stratford Variety, 542 Downie St.

• Video 99 and Convenience, 332 Erie St.

• Zehrs, 865 Ontario St.