County launches long-term waste management review as audits begin across Brant

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Residents who recently received a letter advising them of waste audits taking place in their neighbourhood may be wondering what prompted the County of Brant to start sorting through curbside garbage.

The answer lies in a major review of the county's waste management system that will help shape how garbage, recycling and organics are collected and managed over the next quarter century.

The County of Brant has officially begun developing a Solid Waste Management Master Plan, a comprehensive roadmap that will guide waste collection, diversion and disposal decisions over the next 25 years.

As part of that process, consultants are conducting detailed waste audits throughout the community to better understand what residents are throwing away and identify opportunities to reduce the amount of material ending up in landfills.

County officials say the plan is needed to address growing populations, changing environmental regulations and increasing pressure to find cost-effective ways to manage waste. The master plan will examine waste management needs in three phases: short-term initiatives extending to 2027, medium-term priorities through 2040 and long-term strategies beyond 2040.

Among the short-term initiatives is the implementation of new scale house software in 2026 to improve efficiency at county waste facilities. The waste audits currently underway are expected to continue into 2027 and will provide valuable data to help identify areas where waste diversion can be improved.

The county is also looking at ways to control rising collection costs. Beginning in 2027, urban yard waste collection is expected to be reduced from nine curbside pickups annually to six. These two measures is expected to save the county $110,000 a year. The annual curbside Christmas tree collection program is also slated to end in 2028. In a staff report issued last fall, the county notes a considerable reduction in the Christmas-tree collection services in recent years with participation dropping steadily from 14 tonnes of trees in 2017 to just 6.7 tonnes of trees in 2024, while costs to keep the service running have more than doubled to about $10,000 annually. Under the change, residents can continue to take trees to County waste sites at no charge. 

Looking further ahead, the county plans to introduce stricter measures to encourage waste diversion. 

A ban on placing recyclable materials in curbside garbage is proposed for 2028, aligning with broader sustainability goals and efforts to keep reusable materials out of landfill sites.

One of the most significant changes being explored is the introduction of a curbside organics collection program between 2032 and 2034. The county is also considering a transition to automated waste collection using standardized carts during the same period.

County officials say the ultimate goals of the master plan are to meet the needs of a growing population, protect the environment by diverting more waste from landfills and ensure waste services remain financially sustainable for residents. Public input will play a key role in shaping the final plan. 

Residents are encouraged to learn more about the project and share their feedback as the county develops its long-term waste management strategy.

More information is available at the county's webpage on the Engage Brant website.