What's changing?

Upcoming changes to curbside collection are being driven by a number of factors.

Oxford County’s 2021 Black Bag Audit

An independent audit of curbside garbage in Oxford County in 2021 found that more than half of the “black bag” (by weight) contained organic material that could be diverted from landfill and used for beneficial purposes, such as renewable natural gas or compost/soil amendment.

The audit also found that the amount of organic waste found in the black bag was typically higher in urban areas than in rural areas. (See County Council Report PW 2022-33 for further details.)

Reducing landfill methane emissions

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, municipal solid waste landfills are responsible for about 23% of Canada’s methane gas emissions from decomposed organic waste was buried in landfills over 20 years ago.

The County already diverts brush, leaf and yard waste from the municipal landfill, and it operates a landfill gas collection and flare system to mitigate methane gas emissions.

Diverting organic waste from landfills through a residential organics (green bin) collection program would significantly reduce future methane gas emissions. This aligns the County’s waste management program to federal climate change initiatives and proposed regulatory framework.

Requirement to start an organics (green bin) collection program

Starting in 2026 and as part of Ontario’s Food and Organic Waste Framework, the County will be required to provide an organics (green bin) program for communities with populations of 25,000 or more (i.e., City of Woodstock, Town of Tillsonburg, at a minimum).

Residential sources of organics are generally food and kitchen waste, but, in some municipalities, can also include non-food organics like diapers, tissues, sanitary products, pet waste, and yard waste.

In October 2023, County Council approved the recommendations in Report PW 2023-42 to consider the implementation of a residential curbside organics (green bin) collection program starting in 2026.

Meeting Oxford County's commitment to diverting organics from landfill

Through Oxford County 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and the Zero Waste Plan (June 2018), Oxford County has committed to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and to preserving and enhancing the natural environment through achieving zero waste. These goals align with the federal and provincial goals and objectives.