County of Wellington By-law 5942-25 - Curbside Collection

Wellington North, Ontario · No. 5942-25 · adopted 2025-09-25 · summary & facts

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 522d911a01c2 · verified 2026-10-19 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

THE CORPORATION OF THE COUNTY OF WELLINGTON BY-LAW 5942-25 A by-law to repeal and replace by-law 5670-20, being a by-law to authorize the Corporation of the County of Wellington to establish, maintain and operate a system to provide for the curbside collection of household and commercial waste materials. WHEREAS Council deems it in the public interest to establish a system for the collection of waste materials; ANO WHEREAS the Council of the County has enacted By-law Number 5670- 20 to establish, maintain and operate a system to provide for the curbside collection of household and commercial waste, organics and recyclable material for its member municipalities; NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the Corporation of the County of Wellington enacts as follows: 1. SHORT TITLE 1.1. This by-law may be cited as the "Curbside Collection of Waste Materials By-law". 2. GENERAL PROVISIONS 2.1. The Chief Administrative Officer {CAO) or designate Is authorized to administer this By-law. 2.2. All terms used in this by-law which have not been defined in this By-law shall be given the meanings provided for such terms in the Ontario Environmental Protection Act and the regulations thereunder, as amended. 2.3. The necessary grammatical changes required to make the provisions in this By-law apply to corporations, partnerships, trusts, and individuals, male or female, and to include the singular or plural meaning where the context so requires, shall in all cases be assumed as though fully expressed. 2.4. The insertion of headings is for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of the sections of this By-law to which they relate. Page 1 2.5. Where a provision of this by-law conflicts with a provision of another County of Wellington by-law, the provisions that establish the higher standards to protect the environment, and the health, safety and welfare of the general public shall prevail. 2.6. The schedules to this By-law form an integral part of this By-law. 2.7. If any provision of this By-law is declared invalid or inoperative in any respect by a Court of competent jurisdiction, it is intended that such provision shall be severed from the By-law and the remainder of the By-law continues in full force and effect. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR COLLECTION SERVICES 3.1. All permanent single unit residential dwellings and multi~unit residential dwellings are eligible to receive curbside collection services and become a serviced unit. 3.2. All industrial/ commercial/ institutional (ICI) properties fronting on a municipally or provincially maintained public roadway, or other location approved by the CAO or designated representative, are eligible to receive curbside collection services and become a serviced unit, provided these properties do not exceed the maximum limits for waste materials under this By- law. 3.3. The owner of any non-serviced unit shall provide a system for the collection, removal, and disposal of all waste materials from such property at the owner's expense. 3.4. Every owner of a multi-unit dwelling or apartment building receiving collection by the County shall ensure that specific waste material instructions are posted for residents in sufficient and suitable locations on the premises. 3.5. Failure by any serviced unit to comply with the requirements of this By-law may result in the refusal or suspension of waste collection services by the County. 3.6. An owner of an apartment building or an ICI property, who finds the collections established by the County pursuant to this By- law inadequate to keep such premises free of accumulated waste materials and other refuse, may make other arrangements, at their own expense, for the collection and removal thereof as may be required. Page 2 3.7. Owners of unserviced areas, including private areas and private roadways, may apply for collection services, and will be considered by the County for inclusion providing that such services can be safely and efficiently provided by the County. 3.8. The number of residential dwelling units or ICI units located at a serviced unit shall be determined by the database maintained and operated by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). 4. COLLECTION SERVICE General Information 4.1. Every person putting out waste materials for curbside collection by the County shall comply with preparation and set-out instructions as a condition of the provision of such collection service. 4.2. For the purposes of carrying out waste material collections in the County, the Chief Administrative Officer or designate may divide the County into collection zones as may be deemed necessary and fix a day or days on which waste, organics and/or recyclable materials shall be collected in the zones. 4.3. The County will designate the days of collection, which may be altered from time to time. Public notification of any change in the days of collection will be advertised by the County prior to the effective date of said change. 4.4. Collectable waste materials shall be placed at the curbside by 7:00 am on the day of collection, with the exception of recyclable materials in identified downtown collection zones which shall be placed at the curbside by 6:00 am on the day of collection. Any waste materials set out after these times are acknowledged as being 11at risk" of not being collected due to changes to collection times and routes. 4.5. The County may make such temporary or permanent exceptions to collection hours, frequency rate, and schedules as deemed appropriate from time to time. 4.6. Waste containers shall be removed from the street as soon as possible after collection, and subject to any member municipality By-laws. 4.7. No person shall set out waste materials for collection in excess of 18.2 kilograms (40 pounds) for each authorized bag or container, inclusive of the bag or container. 4.8. Where waste materials are set out at curbside, they shall not be piled on each other or on other materials. Page 3 4.9. No curbside collection of waste materials shall be made on the following statutory and County- recognized holidays, or any other holiday as recognized by the County in the future, unless approved by the CAO or designate in advance. In the event a County recognized or statutory holiday falls on a regularly scheduled collection day of garbage or organics, collection will take place on the following Saturday, unless an alternate collection schedule is devised by the County to accommodate such changes. New Year's Day Family Day Good Friday Easter Monday Victoria Day Canada Day Civic Holiday Labour Day Thanksgiving Day Remembrance Day Christmas Day Boxing Day 4.9.1.1. Should a statutory holiday fall on a day where leaf and yard waste is scheduled for collection, collection of leaf and yard waste may be provided. 4.10. The County may delay curbside collection services due to weather conditions, construction projects, or other health and safety related issues, and will attempt to notify affected property owners of such changes. 4.11. All approved containers for the collection of wate materials shall be maintained in a clean and safe condition. 4.12. The County is not responsible for the replacement of any lost, damaged, or stolen containers or user pay bags. 4.13. No person shall place ignitable material in a container or bag for collection by the County. 4.14. No person shall place ashes out for collection sooner than two (2) weeks after removal from a fireplace, firepit, woodstove, or other location. 4.15. All waste materials not collected by the County for any reason, including materials from non-serviced units, shall be the responsibility of the owner. 4.16. It shall be the responsibility of any person putting out waste materials for collection -to ensure that no material is scattered by wind, animals, or other cause, or by improper preparation of waste material prior to collection. 4.17. Waste shall be drained of all liquids prior to being placed in the appropriate container for collection. Page 4 4.18. No person shall pick over, interfere with, disturb, remove or scatter any waste materials placed out for collection by the County. 4.19. No person shall permit their animal or an animal under their care or control to pick over, interfere with, disturb, remove, or scatter any waste materials set out for collection by the County. Preparation of Waste Materials Garbage 4.20. Garbage ls collected bi-weekly at single-family Residential Dwelling Units. 4.21. Garbage is collected bi-weekly at ICI serviced units. 4.22. Notwithstanding 4.21, weekly collection may be provided at ICJ serviced units located in downtown areas upon request by the member municipality and/or Business Improvement Area. 4.23. All garbage set out for collection shall be placed in a specially stamped County user- pay bag and must be securely tied. 4.24. There is no limit to the number of user-pay garbage bags allowed to be set out on collection day. 4.25. User-pay bags for collectable garbage shall be yellow plastic bags specially stamped by the County; large bags having approximate dimensions of 75 cm x 95 cm (30 inches x 38 inches), and small bags having approximate dimensions of 60 cm x 70 cm (24 inches x 28 inches). 4.26. No person shall modify or attempt to copy any specially stamped County user-pay bag. 4.27. User-pay bags may be placed within a rigid container designed for the collection of garbage. Rigid containers must: a) Have a capacity no greater than 125 litres (33 gallons); b) Have an external height no greater than 95 centimetres (38 inches); c) Have an internal width or diameter no greater than 60 centimetres (24 inches); d) have a lid which may be easily and completely removed to facilitate collection, if a lid is used; e) be in good condition and good working order and safe for use. Page 5 Organics 4.28. Organics is collected weekly at single-family Residential Dwelling Units. 4.29. Organics is collected weekly at eligible ICI properties. 4.30. Organics must be placed in a County-approved green bin, with a maximum capacity of 45 litres (12 gallons). 4.31. There is a maximum of six (6) green bins that may be set out per serviced unit per week. 4.32. Only BPI certified green bin liners are accepted. Leaf and Yard 4.33. Leaf and Yard (L&Y) materials are collected in urban areas only, as defined by the SWS Division. 4.34. L&Y materials are collected from April through November. Collection occurs once per month per Residential Dwelling Unit from April through September, and twice per month per Residential Dwelling Unit in October and November. 4.35. L&Y materials must be placed out in a brown paper yard waste bag or in a reusable can clearly marked "Yard Waste". Small, tied bundles oftwigs will also be collected. Twigs must be no larger than a pencil in width (approximately 1 cm) and no longer than 92 cm (3 feet) in length. 4.36. There is no limit to the number of bags, reusable containers, or bundles set out for collection. Christmas Trees 4.37. Natural Christmas trees are collected in urban areas only, as defined by the SWS Division. 4.38. Natural Christmas trees are collected during the first full week in the month of January. 4.39. Natural Christmas trees shall be set out for collection without any material thereon which is not part of the natural tree, including wrapping, bags, decorations, lights, nails or stands, and in accordance with any other requirements advertised from time to time by the County in connection therewith. Page 6 4.40. Natural Christmas trees longer than 2.5 metres (8 feet) must be cut in shorter lengths. 4.41. There is no limit on the number of natural Christmas trees set out for collection. Recycling 4.42. There is no blue box recycling collection provided by the County to Residential Dwelling Units. 4.43. Recycling materials are collected from ICI units located in downtown areas only, as defined by the SWS Division. 4.44. Collection will be provided once per week. Recycling materials must be set out by 6:00 am on collection day. 4.45. Recycling materials set out for collection shall be placed in a 240 litre (64 gallon) recycling cart provided by the County. 4.46. There is a limit of two (2) carts allowed to be set out per ICI unit on collection day. 4.47. Eligible ICI units must register with the SWS Division in order to receive collection. Bulky Items 4.48. There is no bulky item collection provided by the County. 4.49. Notwithstanding 4.48, County Council may designate certain days or times as "Treasure Hunt" days whereby bulky items placed at the curbside on the specified day or time may be removed by other residents of the County for the purpose of reuse. Location of Waste Materials for Curbside Collection 4.50. All waste materials and approved waste containers shall be placed in a fully visible location within one (1) metre from the edge of the street along which collection service is provided at the premise the material is generated. 4.51. All waste materials and approved waste containers shall be placed either on the property from which they are to be collected, or on the road allowance nearest to the curb at the front of the property in the place of easiest access to the collector and at ground level. Page 7 4.52. Where compliance with paragraphs 4.50 or 4.51 cannot reasonably be affected, the County may designate in writing the location at which bags and containers shall be placed for collection. 4.53. In all cases, all waste materials and approved waste containers shall be placed so as not to obstruct the travelled portion of a street, public sidewalk, or any other public way. 4.54. In all cases, no waste materials or approved waste containers shall be placed in the gutter or ditches, or on the traveled portion of the roadway. 4.55. During times of snow accumulation, all waste materials and approved waste containers shall be left for pick-up on the driveway of the property, adjacent to the ploughed portion of the roadway, in an area in the snow bank cleared to ground level at the curb, or at such other location as may be designated in writing or by public advertisement by the County. 4.56. No collector, in order to collect waste materials is obliged to enter into any building, ascend any stairway, enter into any elevator, hoist or lift or access a privately owned driveway or other private property beyond the vicinity of the curb where waste materials and approved containers are to be placed unless specifically authorized in writing by the County. 4.57. The owner of any private property or roadway served by County collection shall ensure that the designated or authorized waste material collection point is maintained and in good repair, and free from snow, ice, and any other obstructions which may impede access to the waste materials or approved containers by collectors and collection vehicles. User-Pay Programme 4.58. User-pay bags will be made available for purchase at various County authorized retail, government, and solid waste service facilities throughout the County, or in neighbouring municipalities where deemed appropriate. 4.59. The price of the user-pay bags shall be set by the County and will be subject to change from time to time in accordance with Section 220 of the Municipal Act R.S.O. 1990, chapter M.45, as amended, and Part 12 of the Municipal Act 2001, 5.0. 2001, c.25. The price constitutes a user fee for the collection of waste by the County pursuant to this By-law. The payment of such fees shall be made to the Corporation of the County of Wellington through the purchase of user-pay bags from the County or its authorized agents. Page 8 Denial of Collection Service 4.60. Collection services shall be denied to owners at a serviced unit if: 4.61. Waste is frozen, liquefied, or is stuck to the approved container or to the ground. 4.62. The waste contains prohibited materials. 4.63. The waste has blown away or otherwise escaped in any manner (e.g. scattered by animals). 4.64. Access to waste materials is blocked at the time of collection. 4.65. The waste is placed or prepared in contravention of this By-law, not in an approved container, or not in compliance with published set-out directions. 4.66. There is any danger to collectors including, but not limited to, aggressive animals, bees, and pathological waste. 4.67. Waste collection services have been suspended, discontinued, or revoked in accordance with this By-law. 5. OFFENCES 5.1. No person shall place waste materials for curbside collection by the County except in accordance with this By-law. 5.2. Every person who o contravenes any provision of this By-law; o maliciously, wilfully or negligently tampers with any facility, structure1 equipment used in the collection of waste, organics or recyclables pursuant to this By-law; o obstructs, hinders, or causes to be obstructed any employee of the County or its Contractor(s) in the performance of any work duty or the exercise of any power in relation to this By-law; is guilty of an offence; and upon summary conviction shall be liable to a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for a first offence and not more than $25,000.00 for any subsequent offence. Page 9 5.3. Each day on which an offence occurs or continues under this By-law shall constitute a separate offence. 5.4. Any person who contravenes any provision of this By-law may be temporarily refused collection services by the County. S.S. Any person who wilfully continues to contravene any provision of this By-law may be permanently refused collection services by the County. 6. ENFORCEMENT 6.1. This By-law may be enforced by a Police Officer, By-Law Enforcement Officer, or other person appointed for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this By-law. 7. COMING INTO FORCE 7.1. That By-law 5670"20 is hereby repealed. 7.2. This By-law shall come into force and effect on the date it is passed. READ A FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD TIME ANO PASSED SEPTEMBER 25, 2025. CHRIS WHITE, WARDEN .0 Page 10 SCHEDULE "A' DEFINITIONS For the purposes of this By-law, the following terms shall have the corresponding meanings: 11apartment building" means a detached .building containing more than six (6) dwelling units; 11ashes'' means the residue, including soot, of any fuel or waste after it has been consumed by fire; 11bulky materials" means material of a kind which may be included in services provided by the County for the collection of items referred to in Schedule II D 11 of th is By-law;; "By-law" means this By-law and any amendments thereto including any Schedule forming part of this By-law and any amendments thereto, as enacted by County Council from time to time; "By-law Enforcement Officer 11 means a designated employee or officer for the County or any other person authorized by the County to enforce the By-laws of the County; "Chief Administrative Officer 11 means the Chief Administrative Officer of the County of Wellington; "collector" means any person designated or authorized by the County to collect waste materials pursuant to this By-law, and includes a collection Contractor, and any person working for a collection Contractor; "collection Contractor" means a company, person, corporation or partnership performing collection and haulage of waste materials on behalf of the County of Wellington; "collection services'' means the services provided by the County for the removal of waste materials from residential and industrial/commercial/institutional (ICI) properties within the County; ''container" means a method of containment for various types of waste materials set-out for curbside collection, and is separate from the meaning of blue box recyclable containers as described in Schedule "C"; ''Council" means the Council of the County of Wellington; "County" means the Corporation of the County of Wellington, or the geographical area comprising the County of Wellington, as the context requires; Page 11 "curbside" means the edge of the travelled portion of the road (curb or shoulder); "dwelling unit", also referred to herein as a ''household", means a unit consisting of one or more rooms designed for use as a single housekeeping establishment; ugreen bin'' means a closed top plastic box supplied by the County of Wellington used for the collection of organic material; "industrial/commercial/institutional (ICI) premises" means any building, structure or premises used for an industrial, manufacturing1 or institutional purpose and premises occupied for the purpose of carrying on a profession, trade or business; "industrial/commercial/institutional {ICI) waste" means waste material from any one or more industrial or manufacturing processes, any waste produced by or at any commercial premises, or waste from any industrial or institutional premises; "leaf and yard waste" means plant materials generated in the gardens and yards of a serviced unit, but does not include branches1 tree trunks, or stumps, and as more specifically set out in Schedule "F"; "member municipality" means a local municipality forming part of the County of Wellington for municipal purposes and includes the Corporations of the Town of Erin, the Town of Minto, the Township of Centre Wellington, the Township of Guelph/Eramosa, the Township of Mapleton, the Township of Puslinch, and the Township of Wellington North; "multi-unit dwelling" means a detached building containing more than one but less than seven (7) dwelling units, and includes a rooming house; "non-collectable waste'' means any gaseous, liquid or solid waste that, because of its inherent nature and quality, requires special disposal techniques to avoid creating health hazards, nuisances or environmental pollution including but not limited to items or materials listed in Schedule "B" to this By-law; "non-serviced unit" means any dwelling unit or institutional/commercial/ institutional premises that does not receive curbside collection services; "organics" means any compostable materials including food stuffs, plants, and non- recyclable paper products, but does not include leaf and yard waste; "owner", when used in relation to property or premises, includes the occupant of real property or premises; Page 12 "private road" means any road or laneway that has not been ass urned by either the local municipality or the County of Wellington; "recyclables" means material of a kind which is included in the County's recycling programme from time to time, including, but not limited to, items or material listed in Schedule "C" to this By~law; "Regulation 347" rneans Regulation 347, R.S.O. 1990, under the Environmental Protection Act, as same may be amended or replaced from time to time; "rural" refers to the country where County Council has determined there is an insufficient number of homes to be considered for curbside collection services of certain waste materials; "Schedule" means all regulations attached to and forming part of this By~law including any amendments thereto; "serviced unit" means any dwelling unit or industrial/commercial/institutional premises that is located within an urban curbside collection area and receives collection services pursuant to this By-law; "sharps" means medical or veterinary equipment intended to be sharp for the purpose of cutting, piercing, or shaving, and includes medical needles, scalpels and knives; "street" means any public highway, road, lane, alley, square, place, thoroughfare or way within the County of Wellington; "unserviced areas" means any urban areas not receiving local municipal services, and where curbside collection services are not provided by the County, and may include private areas or private roadways; "urban" refers to residential areas including but not limited to the former towns and villages of the County of Wellington, and any other areas of sufficient number of homes to be considered eligible for curbside collection services of certain waste materials; "user~pay" refers to the County programme established for recovering costs of garbage collection which requires owners of serviced units to purchase County issued yellow user- pay bags for curbside placement of garbage; "waste" means any residential, commercial or institutional materials that are collected for the purposes of recycling, diversion, or disposal, and accepted at solid waste service facilities, by the County; ''solid waste service facilities" means an active provincially approved sanitary landfill site or waste transfer facility; "yard waste" has the same meaning as "leaf and yard waste". Page 13 SCHEDULE 118 11 NON-COLLECTABLE WASTES The following materials are not acceptable for collection through the curbside waste materials collection programme: - Biomedical or pathological waste, whether solid or liquid, as designated and regulated in Regulation 347, as amended from time to time; - Explosive, highly combustible, or ignitable waste; - Hazardous waste, as defined in Regulation 347, as amended from time to time; - Household hazardous waste materials which are corrosive, toxic, reactive, or flammable (see Schedule "E") - Motor vehicle bodies or parts thereof; - Live animals or birds, and carcasses or parts thereof of any animal or other creature, save for normal kitchen organic waste, which has been drained of all liquids; - Manure, septic or holding tank pumpings, or raw sewage; - Materials of any kind or nature that contain hot live coals or fire; - Non-anatomical waste infected with a communicable disease; - PCB waste; - Radioactive waste; - Sealed metal drums or barrels; - Any gaseous, semi-liquid, or liquid waste; - A designated substance as prescribed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O.1, as amended; - Any material not placed in a specially-stamped user-pay garbage bag; - Other material as designated by the County from time to time; - Any waste material not generated within the corporate limits of the County of Wellington. Page 14 SCHEDULE "C" RECYCLABLE MATERIALS The following materials are accepted for the purposes of recycling through the County of Wellington's ICI blue box programme. Paper products and containers may be placed in the same cart. No materials shall be placed within plastic bags. PAPER PRODUCTS - Newspapers and flyers - Magazines and glossy paper - Catalogues, phone books and directories - Books (hard cover removed) - Boxboard (non-waxed) - Clean paper egg cartons - Fine paper e.g. envelopes and computer paper; - Corrugated cardboard boxes (flattened - Any other paper product as designated by the County from time to time CONTAINERS (EMPTIED AND RINSED) which previously contained a food, beverage or non-hazardous consumer product - Glass bottles and jars - Tin and aluminum cans - Rigid plastic containers, excluding empty motor oil containers - Aseptic containers (e.g. Tetrapak®) - Aluminum foil and formed aluminum containers - Any other container material as designated by the County from time to time Page 15 SCHEDULE "D" BULKY ITEMS The following bulky materials are examples of materials that may be desisnated for special curbside collection services by the County from time to time. All materials must be able to be reasonably lifted and loaded by two people. - automobile parts - barbecues - bathtubs - bicycles - carpet and rugs - construction and demolition wastes - furniture - garden, yard, and pool equipment - large toys - major household appliances, including - stoves - washers - dryers - dishwasher - refrigerators - freezers - mattresses and boxsprings - televisions - water tanks Page 16 SCHEDULE "E" HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTES The following household hazardous materials are accepted for the purposes of recycling or reclamation at household hazardous waste facilities only. These materials are not accepted in regular garbage. - adhesives and glues - aerosol cans - automotive products - antifreeze (glycol) - motor oil - gasoline - diesel fuel - brake fluid - transmission fluid - waxes - empty motor oil containers - oil filters - windshield wiper solution - automotive batteries - expired pharmaceuticals (prescription and non-prescription) - fire extinguishers - flea sprays and powders - fluorescent bulbs, tubes, and ballasts - household batteries - household cleaners Page 17 - kerosene - lighter fluid - medical needles and syringes - mercury thermometers and thermostats - mothballs - paints, oil-based and latex - paint thinner and solvents - pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides - pool or photographic chemicals - propane cylinders - rat and mouse poison - wood preservatives and stains - any other household product or item labelled as corrosive, toxic, reactive, explosive, oxidizing, poisonous, or flammable The following household hazardous materials are not accepted at household hazardous waste facilities. - E-mobility batteries Page 18 SCHEDULE "F" LEAF AND YARD WASTE The following plants and plant-like materials are examples of materials that are accepted for the purposes of composting through the County of Wellington's Leaf and Yard Waste programme. - corn stalks - dead plants - fallen fruit and nuts from trees - garden trimmings - leaves - mulch - prne cones - pumpkins and jack o'lanterns (remove any candles or decorative items) - small amounts of grass edging - straw - twigs in bundles The following materials are not accepted in the County of Wellington's Leaf and Yard Waste programme. - branches - driveway sweepings - grass clippings - kitchen scraps - inorganic material (e.g. planter pots) - loose leaves (must be in a paper yard waste bag or reusable container) - noxious weeds - rocks - soil - sod - tree trunks and stumps - treated lumber or wood products - unbundled or untied twigs Page 19