Open Houses Seek Community Input on Waste Diversion Strategies

Published on: 2019/09/09 - in News

The City of Kingston is looking for public input on a variety of waste diversion strategies that resulted from a series of June focus groups. Open houses will be hosted around the city between September 18 and October 9 for community members to provide their feedback on those proposals.

New waste diversion strategies are being sought in part because Kingston’s 60 per cent diversion rate has not improved since 2015, short of the city council’s target of 65 per cent.

“Do you put waste out at the curb in Kingston? The waste diversion strategies we choose will definitely affect how you do that,” said Heather Roberts, director of solid waste. “Please make a point of coming out to see what’s being considered and offer your input.”


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Some of the strategies being discussed include having weekly blue & grey box and green bin collection while garbage pickup would only be bi-weekly,allowing for weekly yard waste collection, and requiring citizens to use clear garbage bags (a small opaque privacy bag would be allowed) to help the City enforce a future ban on recyclables and organics in garbage bags.

Other measures on the table include making garbage collection a full user-pay system by requiring a bag tag for every garbage bag, with possible exemptions considered for low-income households; increasing the cost of bag tags while also limiting the number of additional tagged bags allowed and fewer days where two untagged can be put out; and making green bins in multi-residential buildings mandatory.

Feedback from the open houses will be used to develop recommended waste strategies to be considered by council by the end of 2019 and will be held on the following dates and locations:

  • West: 5-7pm Wednesday, Sept. 18 – INVISTA Centre, 1350 Gardiners Rd. Enjoy a FREE skate from 5:30-6:30pm.
  • East: 5-7pm Tuesday, Sept. 24 – École Sir John A. Macdonald School, 529 St. Martha St.
  • Central: 5-7pm Tuesday, Oct. 1 – John Deutsch University Centre, 99 University Ave.
  • North: 5-7pm Wednesday, Oct. 9 – Rideau Heights Community Centre, 85 MacCauley St.

More information can be found at the City of Kingston’s Waste Strategies page.


Image (video still): City of Kingston