DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
KAWARTHA LAKES: The new year will see the City of Kawartha Lakes take a significant step toward environmental sustainability with the launch of its new organic curbside collection program.
Beginning Saturday, January 4th, residents in the urban areas of Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, and Omemee will start separating food and organic waste from their regular garbage. The initiative is part of the municipality's commitment to reducing landfill use and meeting provincial waste diversion targets.
"Every time I take out the garbage, I think about how much could have been composted," said Lindsay resident Margaret Wilson. "I'm glad the city is taking this step; it's about time we put less in the landfill."
The program is designed to make it easier for households to dispose of organic waste, which makes up more than 30 percent of household garbage. Currently, Kawartha Lakes residents fill an estimated 28,000 cubic metres of landfill space annually with organic material, enough to fill over 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools. By separating and processing this waste, the municipality aims to divert 4,500 tonnes of organic material from landfills each year and move closer to its ambitious goal of diverting 70 percent of waste by 2048.
Households included in the program will receive two new bins this December: a small, seven-litre "kitchen catcher" for collecting food waste indoors and a larger 45-litre rollout cart for curbside pickup. Organic waste will be collected every Friday, except for the launch week, when pickup will occur on Saturday due to the New Year's holiday.
For many, the convenience of curbside organics collection is a welcome change. Fenelon Falls resident Michael Thompson shared his enthusiasm: "I've tried backyard composting, but it's hard to keep up with during the winter. This program is a great solution."
While the program will initially serve urban areas, rural residents are encouraged to continue backyard composting. The city offers composters and digesters for purchase at Municipal Service Centres to support these efforts. For more information, residents can visit the city's Waste Diversion Programs webpage under the Backyard Composting section.
This initiative aligns with growing public awareness of environmental issues. "I think this is a great way to show we care about future generations," said Lindsay's Carol Brooks, a local teacher. "Teaching kids about composting and waste reduction at home makes a real impact." Kitchen catchers and carts are scheduled to be completed by December 20th. Residents are urged to start using the new system during the week of December 29th, when organic waste will no longer be accepted in regular garbage. By January 4th, households are expected to have their organic bins at the curb by 7 a.m. for the first official collection.
The city hopes the organics program will inspire lasting changes in waste management habits and contribute to a greener future for the community. As Bobcaygeon resident Tom Hayes said, "Small steps like this add up. It feels good to be part of something making a difference."
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