Waste Diversion Programs and Goals

Durham Region
Durham Region has waste management programs in place for source separation and diversion of both “Blue Box” recyclables and “Green Bin” household organics. In 1999, Durham Region adopted a goal of reaching a 50 per cent residential waste diversion rate by 2007 under the Region’s Long Term Waste Management Strategy Plan: 2000 to 2020.

In 2003, the Region introduced “Green Bin” household organics collection in four of the eight municipalities that make up Durham Region. In 2007, the Region successfully achieved the 50 per cent diversion goal by implementing a weekly Blue Box and Green Bin collection and bi-weekly garbage collection coupled with a reduction in the curbside bag limit in the municipalities of Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa. In January 2008, Durham Regional Council adopted a further resolution to increase the targeted diversion rate from landfill disposal by up to a minimum 70 per cent by December 31, 2010. In 2009, the Region will move forward with a standardized collection service level for Blue Box, Green Bin and residual garbage collection for all areas.

York Region
York Region has programs in place for the source separation and diversion of "Blue Box" recyclables and household organics. In July 2005, York Region opened a single-stream Blue Box materials recycling facility located in East Gwillimbury. This facility enables residents to put all recyclables into one blue box, eliminating the need for separating containers and fibres. The facility also allows residents to recycle approximately 25 items, including #1 to #7 rigid plastic food containers, empty paint cans, and milk cartons. Household collection of food waste began, as a pilot project, in September of 2004 and is currently provided to over 100,000 households. Full implementation of the household organics programs is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.