County proposes modest cutbacks to curbside yard waste and tree pickup

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Administration and Operations Committee supports staff plan aimed at $110,000 in annual savings

The County of Brant is planning two modest reductions to its curbside waste-collection services beginning in 2027, changes that staff say will save about $110,000 a year while still providing residents with free disposal options.

At last week’s Administration and Operations Committee meeting, councillors endorsed staff recommendations to reduce urban yard-waste collection weeks from nine to six per year and to discontinue curbside Christmas-tree pickup once the new solid-waste contract begins on June 1, 2027.

“These are service levels that reflect how residents are actually using the programs,” said Matthew D’Hondt, the County’s Solid Waste and Wastewater Operations Manager, in the staff presented report. “Both recommendations come directly from the Solid Waste Management Master Plan (SWMMP) and will help ensure the County’s system remains financially and environmentally sustainable.”

Data from 2024 show that nearly 40 per cent of yard waste was collected in November and another 21 per cent in May, while summer volumes were much lower. The revised schedule would keep two collection weeks in May and November and single pickups in July and October, eliminating lightly used weeks in June, August and September.

Staff estimate that trimming the service will reduce annual contract costs by about $100,000, a 45 per cent cut from current spending. More than half of residents (54 per cent) supported the change during public engagement.

Residents will continue to have free access to the Biggars Lane Landfill and Paris Transfer Station for yard-waste drop-off and will be encouraged to compost at home.

The County also plans to end curbside Christmas-tree collection, which has seen participation drop steadily, from 14 tonnes of trees in 2017 to just 6.7 tonnes this year, while costs 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.

During the Administration and Operations meeting, Councillor Steve Howes sought clarification on whether that free-drop-off period would expire after the holidays.

Director of Environmental Services Andrea Bazzard confirmed there will be no time limit.

Councillor John MacAlpine voted against both recommendations, while Howes opposed the tree-collection change. The recommendations now move to County Council for final approval.