Operations Committee Wrestles with Provincial Recycling Policy, Non‑Profit Impacts and Regional Advocacy
Owen Sound’s Operations Committee weighs short-term fixes and advocacy as provincial blue box cuts hit charities and non-residential sites.
The City’s Operations Committee faced a full chamber and a complex policy challenge at its November 20 meeting, as members debated how Owen Sound should respond to the province’s imminent removal of blue box recycling services for non-residential sources. The shift will leave charities, churches, and commercial properties outside of the publicly funded recycling system starting January 1, 2026.
The change stems from Ontario’s transition to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model for blue box recycling, which moves responsibility from municipalities to producers. The model limits service to “eligible sources,” including residential homes, apartments, public spaces, and seasonal households.
Left out are industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) properties — including non-profit organizations, places of worship, daycares, campgrounds, and municipal buildings.
The committee heard from several local charities during the public forum portion of the meeting. Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director of United Way Bruce Grey, spoke alongside representatives from Safe ‘n Sound and the Harmony Centre.
Dobbyn explained that for organizations like hers — which runs extensive community programs including a backpack distribution initiative and emergency supports — recycling costs will be a significant burden.
“We just cannot take any more downloads to the charitable sector of ‘you guys go fix this,’” she told the committee. She noted that cardboard is a particular challenge, given that her organization lacks space for a dumpster and already uses its land for community gardens.
Leigh Greaves of the Harmony Centre called the legislation “spectacularly flawed,” noting the impracticality of requiring individual organizations to arrange for private dumpsters in tightly spaced downtown properties.
David Parsons, chair of the River District board, attended primarily to listen and observe ahead of a board meeting next week.
In response, staff presented a detailed report outlining potential municipal responses, prepared by Supervisor of Environmental Services Heidi Jennen. She reminded the committee that Council had previously asked for a follow-up after initial discussions in October.
The report reviewed a number of short- and long-term options, ranging from status quo continuation of all non-eligible recycling collection to full discontinuation, as well as possible depot-only solutions or funding models through special levies or user fees.
Jennen recommended three immediate options for Committee (and subsequently Council’s) consideration.
The first would see the City fund continued collection of recycling from non-eligible sources across the municipality — a move that would cost between $120,000 and $145,000 annually.
The second option proposed continuing collection temporarily for up to six months, giving affected parties more time to transition.
The third would direct non-eligible sources to use the Miller Waste transfer station depot, requiring organizations to register with the City and sort their recyclables accordingly. Cardboard and paper would be free to drop off, but mixed recyclables like glass and plastic would carry a cost.
The discussion quickly zeroed in on the impact on the local charitable sector. Councillor Carol Merton raised the idea of prioritizing continued collection for non-profit organizations that provide critical services like food, shelter, and emergency support. She floated the idea of sending a formal letter to the province advocating reinstatement of eligibility for these groups.
“Food and income insecurity is a local, provincial, and federal issue,” Merton said. “The most vulnerable in our community rely on these programs.”
Other members shared concerns about the broader implications of the provincial changes. Member Robert Droine argued that the exclusion of certain users from the provincial program was “arbitrary” and failed to reflect how the community collectively funds shared services.
He compared the situation to municipal funding of parks, arenas, or the art gallery — services that not all residents use equally, but which are funded through the general levy.
Mike Crone noted that recycling used to be a revenue stream and questioned whether the cost of $120,000 and $145,000 annually for the City to continue collection included that potential revenue. Jennen responded that Miller Waste closed its material recovery facility (MRF) in July 2023, ending any revenue from marketing recyclables.
Crone also said River District garbage “has always been an issue,” and he wanted to see more responsibility on the part of building owners for removing tenants’ garbage.
Several members, including Arlene Blue Indoe, questioned whether placing the entire financial burden of the policy shift onto the city’s tax base was sustainable. Deputy Mayor Scott Greig warned that by absorbing the costs outright, the City could be signalling acceptance of a provincial download that municipalities across Ontario are actively opposing.
“The second that you decide to take it on, then you’ve accepted it,” he said. “The only leverage you have is pushback.”
Staff confirmed that many municipalities are dealing with the same dilemma. Director of Public Works and Engineering Lara Widdifield said that regions including Simcoe, Halton, and York are all opting to discontinue non-eligible collection.
“All of those communities are rolling back,” she said. “They’re saying: we’re sorry — not-for-profits, ICIs — but the costs are just exorbitant.”
In the end, the committee opted for a compromise. They unanimously passed a motion to continue collection for non-eligible sources for three months, half of the originally proposed six-month window.
This decision will allow time for advocacy and coordination with other municipalities while giving local charities and businesses time to make transitional arrangements.
The committee also unanimously supported a motion from Merton recommending that Council write to the Province, Premier Doug Ford, Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, local MPP Paul Vickers, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), requesting that charities be reinstated as eligible for curbside blue box collection.
The motion explicitly highlighted the needs of food banks, United Way programs, and other donation-based service organizations.
A separate motion endorsed a letter from the Town of The Blue Mountains urging Grey County to take a regional approach to waste management. Members agreed to send a letter of support, noting that other municipalities are grappling with similar challenges and that greater coordination could reduce costs and confusion.
See the Operations Committee meeting recording on the City of Owen Sound website for more.
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