Organics program changes starting June 15

Kawartha Lakes – Changes to the City’s organics collection program will begin June 15 for households currently receiving organics collection in Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Omemee. 

Program updates 

Starting June 15, the following will apply to households in the organics program: 

• Organics collection moves to your regular garbage day. Organics will be collected by Miller Waste on the same day as your garbage. This change is noted in the 2026 Municipal Calendar. 

• No organics permitted in garbage bags. Food scraps and other compostable materials must be placed in the organics bin (or a backyard composter), where they can be turned into valuable compost instead of going to landfill. 

• Limit of one bag of garbage per household. With organics collected separately, and more items now eligible for recycling, households should be producing less garbage overall.  

Medical Waste Register 

If you require additional bags of waste at the curb each week because of in-home medical treatment or other medical reasons, please visit our Medical Waste Register page for information.   

Why this is happening 

 In October 2025, the City announced updates to the organics program to make waste collection simpler and support long-term environmental goals.  

Sorting waste properly helps the City:  

• Decrease the amount of waste sent to landfill. The City is working toward a 53% reduction in residential waste by 2048, which means more materials need to be recycled or composted instead of thrown away. Less organics in garbage means more items kept out of the landfill.  

• Follow the Waste Management By-law. The 2025-137 Collection and Management of Waste and Recyclables By-Law limits how much organics can go in the garbage.  

• Keep collection running smoothly. This change makes it easier to remember your collection day, and helps reduce missed or delayed collections. 

• Improve efficiency, reduce collection costs, and lower its carbon footprint by reducing the number of times collection trucks travel through the community. 

These changes also build on the City’s recent waste sorting enforcement efforts.  

Did you know? 

In 2025, residents diverted 1,171 tonnes of organics through the program. This is about the same as taking the garbage from over 4,000 residents out of landfill and turning it into compost. 

For information on what happens to your organics after collection, visit the Organics Process page. 

Learn more 

Visit the Organics Program page for details on what can go in your organics bin, answers to frequently asked questions, and more program information. 

For all information about the residential curbside waste program, visit the Residential Waste Collection page.