City of Kawartha Lakes improving organics collection program

Kawartha Lakes –  The City of Kawartha Lakes is updating its Source Separated Organics (SSO) program to make waste collection simpler and continue progress toward long-term sustainability goals. 

Starting June 15, 2026, residents in Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Omemee who are a part of the SSO program will see the following changes: 

• Garbage bag limit changing to one bag per household. With organics being collected separately, households should be producing less garbage overall. Any additional garbage bags can be set out with a bag tag, available for purchase at Municipal Service Centres and libraries, and online at www.kawarthalakes.ca/curbsidetags. 

• No organics permitted in garbage bags. Compostable materials should be placed in the green bin where they can be turned into valuable compost instead of going to our landfill. 

• Organics collection moving to your regular waste collection day. Beginning June 15, green bins will be collected on the same day as garbage and recycling. This change will make it easier to remember collection days, improves service consistency and helps reduce missed or delayed collections. 

“These updates are another step forward in improving how we manage waste across Kawartha Lakes,” said Mayor Doug Elmslie. “Since the program began in 2025, residents have already kept more than 900 tonnes of organic material out of our landfills. That’s an impressive achievement and something our whole community can be proud of.” 

The City continues to focus on making the most of existing landfill space and supporting waste reduction programs that protect the local environment. As part of these ongoing improvements, updates to the City’s recycling program are also on the way, including an expansion of what items can be placed in blue and green bins instead of the garbage.  

“Building on the success of the program helps us make sure we’re using our resources wisely and preparing for the future,” said Councillor Pat Warren, Ward 2 and Council representative on both the Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory and Waste Management Advisory Committees. “It’s great to see residents embracing changes that benefit both our community and the environment. Being part of the organics program means less garbage each week, and we’re reaping the environmental and economic benefits of that.” 

For full program details, collection schedules, and information on what goes where, visit www.kawarthalakes.ca/organics. 

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