A message from the District of Muskoka
District waste management services, facilities and programs have been impacted due to COVID-19. To help protect the health and wellbeing of our staff and the public, we are asking residents to implement increased protective measures for waste collection during this time.
Curbside Collection
Effective immediately, the following adjustments to curbside waste collection will take effect:
- all garbage, recycling, and green bin organic material to be bagged, sealed and placed securely inside bins – do not put loose materials out for collection
- exercise physical distancing with collection operators
The following remains the same:
- all curbside bi-weekly garbage limits remain in effect
- green bin material must be put in compostable bags
- continue to sort recycling
Waste Management Facilities
Ridout (Dorset) Transfer Station is temporarily closed. Other transfer stations are currently open during regular hours, accepting debit and credit payment methods. Reuse buildings are temporarily closed at all locations to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. Residents may experience longer delays at sites due to restrictions on the number of people permitted in certain areas to ensure physical distancing. If you have curbside collection and your visit to a waste facility can wait, we recommend postponing your trip.
The Bracebridge Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Facility is temporarily closed. Residents are encouraged to hold their household hazardous waste and not put it into their garbage or dump materials at closed facilities. Residents who use an unstaffed bin dumpster site are asked to visit www.EngageMuskoka.ca for updates.
Stay updated
This is a developing situation and communities should be prepared for additional site closures and program impacts. Prior to visiting District waste facilities, residents are encouraged to visit www.muskoka.on.ca/coronavirus for the most current information.
To receive service alerts for any future waste collection impacts, download the Muskoka Recycles app on the App Store or Google Play.
The District is reminding residents to follow the advice of public health experts. To prevent the spread of germs after handling garbage, visiting a waste facility, or dumpster site, please ensure physical distancing is practiced, along with washing your hands using soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Please visit Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s website for more information at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/
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I for one do not have clear plastic bags and do not intend to make a special trip to try and find any !! knowing that this will apply to many, and put myself and others unnecessarily at risk. Now incurring more cost and recyclables and do think many who do not have these bags will simply put it in the garbage instead.
I did email public works and suggested maybe to collect every 2 weeks to reduce risk. They did say that “Currently, we are still picking up blue boxes from residents who are unable to use bags, however we ask those folks to kindly ensure their materials are packed tightly and stacked on top of each other to aid in their containment.”
Please explain the difference in virus exposure to staff between picking up a bin and dumping it vs picking up a plastic bag? I would anticipate they are wearing work gloves as personal protective equipment in either case. This seems to be an increase in cost and packaging waste with no gain in safety.
Does that mean that people have to go out and buy 2 secure bins to place the bagged recycling (one for plastics, the other for paper) to replace the open blue boxes or can the sealed bags be placed in the open blue boxes at the curbside? Or will leaving the bagged recycling at the curbside suffice?
Are you telling us to place our full tied blue recycling bags inside sealed garbage containers?
or just place the blue bags out as usual?
Hi Steve,
Although not specified in this release, the District notes its guidelines for recycling on its website. With the option for open blue boxes removed, that leaves just this one: “Residents may also use clear or transparent blue bags to contain recycling.”
https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/live-and-play/Curbside-Collection-Information.aspx
Could the District elaborate on their instructions regarding the bagging of recyclables? Must the bags be clear plastic so the contents are visible or are paper and plastic disposable bags ie from grocery stores acceptable?