Mandatory Waste Sorting Enforcement FAQ

Mandatory Waste Sorting Enforcement FAQ – April 2026

1. Why is the municipality enforcing recycling rules?

The municipality is enforcing rules under Kawartha Lakes’ City’s existing Waste Management By-law (2025-137) to make sure garbage is collected safely and efficiently, and to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

In January, the province added new materials to the recycling program, and the municipality requires that these materials are properly sorted. When recyclables are placed in garbage bags, they cannot be properly processed and use up space in our landfills. Improperly sorted waste may also cause delays or issues during collection.

2. How will this be enforced?

Miller Waste collectors will check garbage bags at the curb during regular collection.

If recyclable materials are seen within it, the bag will be tagged with an “Oops” tag and left behind. The tag will indicate why the garbage was not collected.

3. What happens if my garbage contains recyclables?

If your garbage is tagged for containing recyclables, you will need to correct the issue before it can be collected.

• If recyclables are properly sorted out and the bag is set out the following week, Miller Waste will collect the previously tagged bag as part of a double collection. This grace period will be in place until further notice.
• If recyclables are not removed and the garbage is set out the following week, it will continue to be tagged and left behind. Residents can take excess waste to the landfill (fees apply) or, for a limited time, purchase and use bag tags for additional garbage set out at the curb. Using bag tags on garbage containing recyclables will not be accepted on an ongoing basis. This temporary measure is permitted until further notice.

4. How much will it cost to bring my waste to the landfill?

• Properly sorted waste that contain less than 10% recyclable materials mixed with garbage will be charged the regular tipping fees of $15/visit minimum at $145/tonne. 
• Improperly sorted waste that contains over 10% recyclable materials mixed with garbage will be charged a minimum $30/visit at $290/tonne. 

5. What is an “oops” tag?

An “oops” tag is a sticker placed on your garbage bag to explain why it was not collected. The sticker should indicate the specific reason waste was not collected. See What happens if my garbage contains recyclables? section above for details on what to do next, or call the phone number on the tag.

6. Why do I have to do this? How much impact does it really have if everyone leaves a little bit of recycling their garbage?

Though it may seem small, when your items are multiplied by every household in the municipality, a little recycling makes a big difference.

For example, if every household in Kawartha Lakes placed a small amount of recycling in the garbage each week for one year, the impact would be significant:

• Two aluminum cans per household would add emissions equivalent to heating about 100 homes for a year.
• Five disposable coffee cups per household would represent about $16,000 worth of landfill space annually.
• Two 500mL plastic bottles per household could fill about 1.4 Olympic-sized swimming pools in a year, and plastic can take 450 years or more to break down.

Sorting waste properly helps reduce landfill use, lower emissions, and make sure recyclable materials are handled the right way.

7. Why do we need to make sure there’s still space at the landfill?

Landfills are expensive to build and require land space. We will continue to require more capacity with expected growth of municipality. The faster we fill the landfill the more it will cost taxpayers, and we will have the difficult task of finding more space.

8. Recycling questions?

The municipality is no longer responsible for the recycling program. Costs for recycling pick up and management of materials that go into the blue box are the responsibility of producers. For up-to-date recycling information, including what goes in your recycling bins, visit www.circularmaterials.ca/kawarthalakes

Circular Materials – Kawartha Lakes