Organics Program starts January 2025
Our new organics curbside collection program for the urban areas of Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Omemee is here! The first collection day is Saturday January 4, 2025. See below for everything you need to know about the program.
What is an Organics Program?
Our Organics Program, also referred to as our Source Separated Organics Program, is a new way for residents to dispose of their food and organic waste.
Did you know that 30% or more of household waste is considered organic waste?
Every year households in Kawartha Lakes fill up 28,000 cubic metres (more than 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools) worth of landfill space with an estimated 4,500 tonnes of organic waste. A successful organics program will help the municipality meet provincial policy targets and get closer to reaching our goal of diverting 70% of waste from our landfills by 2048.
What does this mean for me?
There are no changes coming to your waste (garbage) and recycling curbside collection day; your waste will continue to be picked up on the same day each week. The main difference is that when the program starts, you will no longer be allowed to throw your food and/or organic waste in your regular waste (garbage).
You will be provided with a small kitchen catcher (seven litre bin) for countertop collection of your organic waste along with a larger, 45L organic waste rollout cart for curbside collection. Curbside collection of organic waste will happen on Fridays each week for every address that is included in the program. For example:
If your regular waste and recycling collection day is Tuesday, you’ll continue to put your waste and recycling curbside by 7am on Tuesday and then later in the week, you’ll put your organics bin curbside by 7am on Friday for collection. Please Note: The first pick up is a Saturday because of the New Years Day holiday falling on a Wednesday.
For residents who don't live in the urban areas of Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, or Omemee, we encourage you to compost at home! Composters and digesters can be purchased at our Municipal Service Centres. For more information about compositing in Kawartha Lakes visit our Waste Diversion Programs page and look for the Backyard Composting tab.
Program Rollout Timeline
- December 2024 – Bin delivery was completed by December 13, 2024. If you received a letter saying you're in the program but didn't get your bins, please call Customer Service 705-324-9411 or email our Waste Management team
- Week of December 22, 2024 – This is the last week you’ll be able to dispose of your food and organic waste with your regular waste (garbage)
- Week of December 29, 2024 – Begin separating your food waste from your regular waste by using your kitchen catcher and rollout cart
- January 4, 2025 – Have your organics bin to the curb by 7am for collection
*Organics Bins are for organic waste ONLY, please do not put recycling material or regular garbage in the bins. Miller Waste will not be checking the organic bins on your regular waste collection days, only on Fridays when it is time for organics collection. Avoid delays with your regular waste and recycling pickup, by using the appropriate bins for the appropriate service.
I have my bins, what do I do now?
Participating in the Organics Program is simple and easy! All you have to do is simply separate food and organic waste from regular garbage using their new organics bins.
The process is simple:
- Place a compostable bag in your kitchen catcher bin.
- Add organic waste to the bag.
- When full, transfer the bag to your rollout cart and then every Friday (Saturday if there's a holiday that week) by 7am.
Our goal is to achieve a 50% diversion rate within the year. Your participation will help extend the lifespan of our landfills, decrease the municipality (and your own) carbon footprint, and lower the greenhouse gases produced by our landfills!
Start separting the week of December 29, and get your rollout cart to the curb for the first pickup on Saturday January 4, 2025.
Need help sorting?
The Organics acceptable and unacceptable material list has been added to the Recycle Coach App! The app is a great resource for sorting your waste, recycling and organics. Using the handy “What Goes Where?” tool, you can type in the item you're looking to sort and the app will tell you where to put it! We also send out waste delay notices, program reminders and weekly pickup reminders through the app. Download it today: www.kawarthalakes.ca/RecycleCoach
What goes in the bin?
Acceptable Material |
To keep any mess to a minimum, we recommend using compostable bags in your kitchen catcher. The following materials are acceptable for the organics program:
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Unacceptable Material |
The following materials are not acceptable for the organics program:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the program mandatory? Why are we doing this, what are the benefits for me and for the environment? |
Yes, the program is mandatory for any resident living in an urban area in the City of Kawartha Lakes. The City has implemented the organics program to adhere to Ontario’s Food and Organic Waste Policy. This program saves landfill space, reduces greenhouse gases, and supports resource recovery. Resource recovery includes generating resources such as animal feed, renewable electricity, soil amendment products, and fertilizers. The organics program also supports the City’s strategic goals of good government and a healthy environment.
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When will the program start? |
A letter went out to impacted residences the week of October 21. Bin delivery is set to begin in December, with all bins anticipated to be delivered by December 20. First organics collection is Saturday January 4, 2025. Regular organics collection is Fridays, but the mid-week stat holiday on January 1 has shifted the first pick-up day forward to Saturday. Regular organics collection begins on Friday January 10, 2025. |
When is my pick up? How often is my pick up? |
For all urban areas (Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, and Omemee) included in the Organics Program, collection is weekly on Fridays. To ensure your organic waste is collected each week, please have your rollout cart to the curb for pick up by 7am. Note, if there is a statutory holiday that moves waste collection a day, organics collection will also move forward a day to Saturday. Important: Organics will not be collected with your regular garbage and recycling collection. Your regular collection day will remain the same, but you'll put your organic rollout cart to the curb on Fridays (or Saturdays as outlined above). |
Who's included in the new organics program? |
The program is being rolled out to the urban areas of Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Omemee. Only properties included in the town limits are included in the program; there will be situations where one side of a street is in the program and the opposite side is not in the program. We will be posting a map to show where the program is. |
I received a letter saying I'm in the program, but I didn't receive the bins, what do I do? |
If you received a letter saying that your household is included in the program, than you should have received bins for the program. If you didn't receive your bins, please contact our Customer Service team at 705-324-9411 or click the following link to email our Waste Management team directly. Note: all households included in the program should have received a 45 litre rollout cart, a smaller kitchen catcher and a flyer with brief instructions that includes a list of what material will or won't be accepted. |
How do I use the bins? |
You'll use your smaller "kitchen catcher" bin in your home. For cleanliness, we recommend putting a small 10 litre compostable bag in your kitchen catcher. As you create food and organic waste, you'll add it to your kitchen catcher. Once your kitchen catcher is full, empty it into your bigger rollout cart. Pickup is on Fridays each week. Be sure to get your rollout cart to your curb by 7am to avoid any delays. Please note that Organics Bins are for organic waste ONLY, do not put recycling material or regular garbage in the bins. Miller Waste will not be checking the organic bins on your regular waste collection days, only on Fridays when it is time for organics collection. If you put your organics waste bin out on your regular waste collection day, it will be ignored. Avoid delays with your regular waste and recycling pickup, by using the appropriate bins for the appropriate service. |
Who owns the bin? |
The bins are registered to the property, meaning if the owners sell, the bin stays with the property. The rollout cart delivered at the start of the program will have a RFID tag that is trackable through the registry; any replacement or secondary bin purchased will not have a tag. The bins are free to the home owners, any extra bins needed will need to be purchased/ordered through our service centres. |
Where do I get extra bins? Is there a cost associated with the bin? Are there different sizes available? What makes this bin special? |
Bins were delivered to eligible households between December 2, 2024, and December 13, 2024, at no additional cost to the owner. There are two different bins associated with the program – a 7-litre kitchen catcher, and a 45-litre rollout cart for curbside collection. If you would like an extra bin, they are available for purchase through the Service Centres starting January 6, 2025. Kitchen catchers are $10 each and rollout carts are $30 each. The kitchen catchers have perforated lids to assist in keeping your organics from composting too soon. For best cleanliness practices, we recommend using compostable bags in your kitchen catcher, then once they're full, taking the bag out and putting it in your rollout cart. The rollout cart is equipped with wheels for easy transportation to the curb and a lock-latch on the lid to deter animals and keep the contents contained. |
What bags are required and can they be purchased in Kawartha Lakes? |
To keep your organic waste as neat and tidy as possible, we recommend using compostable bags in your kitchen catcher. Larger compostable bags for your rollout cart will also be available but won't necessarily be needed if you're already using compostable bags in your kitchen catcher. To avoid sticking, we recommend putting a piece of cardboard at the bottom of the inside of your rollout cart. Compostable bags can be purchased through local hardware stores. We've also contacted our local grocers to let them know the program is coming and we've asked them to begin stocking compost bags for program launch at the beginning of January 2025. |
Where can I get a replacement bin if needed? Can my household have more than one bin? |
Replacement bins or extra bins are available for purchase through the Service Centres starting in 2025. There is no limit to the quantity of organics you can put out for curbside collection as long as it is contained in the City approved cart and not over-filled. Households can have more than one City approved bin if needed. |
Is there a limit to how many compostable bags that can be collected? Do I leave them in the bin for pick up? |
If you choose to use a bag, please make sure it is compostable. We ask that all organic waste remains within the provided rollout cart for collection. There is no limit for the amount you can put out as long as it is contained in the City approved cart and not over-filled. |
I put my organics out but they weren't collected. What do I do? |
Complete the checklist:
If none of the above reasons apply and your organics collection was missed, please contact Miller Waste to report it 1-888-557-4711 or email kawarthalakes@millerwaste.ca. |
What happens if I miss a collection day? Can I take it directly to the landfill? |
If a collection day is missed, you should hold on to your organics waste until the following week for curbside collection and avoid using the landfill. If you decide to take your missed collection to the landfill, regular tipping fees will apply. |
How does the program work for multi-residential properties (apartments, condos, etc.)? |
Multi-residential properties with 5 or less units will have bins for each unit and Kawartha Lakes will collect.
Multi-residential properties with 6 or more units will be handled by owner/landlord just like commercial collection.
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Why isn't my household included in the program? |
Due to the organics program being a pilot-program, we are implementing it in the higher populated, urban areas first. For the time being, we encourage households that aren’t eligible for the program to compost organics with a backyard composter or digester if you'd like. |
I don’t live in an area that has curbside organics pick up, what are my options for composting in Kawartha Lakes? |
A backyard composter or digester would be perfect for you! They can be ordered through the Service Centres. Be sure to check out the website for the option that is best for you. |
Will the program be expanded to areas outside of the urban areas of Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Omemee? |
The City hopes to evaluate the participation of the organics program and determine if the quantities meet the Ontario’s Food and Organics Waste Policy Statement. The Integrated Waste Management Strategy is exploring future collection options with input from residents. |
My household isn't included in the program, do my tax dollars still go towards it? |
The program is being implemented in a way that aligns with the City of Kawartha Lakes strategic goal of providing good government and being fiscally responsible. The program is starting with the urban areas to determine if the 50% diversion target set in the provinces organic waste policy can be achieved. Diverting organics from landfill will prolong the life of the City’s landfills for all residents. |
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