Exemption policy approved for waste collection

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

County to transition to new service in the fall

Young families and people with medical conditions may be able to apply for extra waste capacity when Norfolk County brings in a new collection system in the fall.

As staff continue to work towards transitioning to a new system, councillors approved a staff recommendation at the Jan. 13 council-in-committee meeting that provides, among other things, two exemptions for the biweekly waste collection limit. Those exemptions are to deal with excess diaper waste for homes where there are three or more kids under the age of four, and excess waste from medical equipment.

The county’s waste collection services will be changing in September. A new weekly organics pickup will begin and garbage collection will transition to every other week. Homes will also be given standardized bins that trucks with automatic scoops are able to collect and empty.

These moves are being made in large part to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills. Tipping fees in the province are increasing as landfill space becomes increasingly sparse. 

However, the staff report suggested accommodations should be made for people who generate excess waste as a result of a medical condition, or those young families or home daycares where soiled diapers can accumulate quickly.

Homes will have to apply for exemptions yearly. For exemptions as a result of excess diaper waste, homeowners will have to provide the ages of the children or the name of the home daycare. A healthcare practitioner note is required for the medical waste exemption, though Bokla said a note is good for five years.

Those who receive exemptions will have the choice of receiving a larger collection bin, or a second bin of the standard size. Merisa Bokla, supervisor of waste management, said the municipality is trying to offer some flexibility for homeowners. They’re also looking at offering smaller bins as an option for those who prefer it.

“It’s kind of being flexible with individual needs and requirements,” she said, adding the smaller bins may be preferred for older residents or those with strength or mobility issues.

The report also included two other updates. First, technical requirements for condos have been approved. Common collection points will no longer be an option due to the new automated collection arms being utilized on the trucks. Condos will have to be able to offer enough space for the bins to be spaced at least two feet apart. Other technical requirements under the new system include a road width of six metres and turning radius of 12 metres, as well as continuous collection routes where trucks don’t have to reverse.

Condos that don’t meet these requirements will be forced to arrange private garbage collection. 

The report also updated rules around collection for social housing units. 

“To ensure consistency across all social housing properties, multi-residential properties will be required to arrange for private collection services,” the report said. “Properties that are townhouses with private internal roadways must meet the updated technical guidelines.”

Those that don’t meet the technical guidelines will need to arrange private collection.

Social housing properties that front onto a municipal street can receive the municipal service as long as they meet the residential requirements. The new waste collection system is set to come into effect on Sept. 29 of this year.