WELLINGTON COUNTY – While a new minimum waste fee isn’t beloved by Wellington County residents, their Manager of Solid Waste Services told Centre Wellington council Monday it’s a necessary one, to attack a looming provincial issue.
This $10 fee, while unpopular, “serves a purpose” in the eyes of Das Soligo. The rationale behind it, Soligo explained, is to help step up the County’s diversion game by keeping smaller loads of waste picked up curbside.
Soligo says this is crucial work for not just Centre Wellington, but municipalities across the province.
As a holdover to days when rural residents didn’t have access to collection, Soligo points out sites have been conveniently used by the public to the point where people were just bringing a singular bag or box of waste or recycling.
While new landfills would help, Soligo says it takes about ten years to bring one to life. He went on to say there hasn’t been a new site in Ontario in 26 years.
As for right now, Soligo painted a picture of a short remaining timeline for available capacity.
A $10 minimum fee shouldn’t come as too shocking a surprise, Soligo said, reminding residents bags are still at a flat rate of $2.50 per. He added compared to 16 surrounding municipalities, the County was the last to adopt this type of fee.
Soligo voiced the uncertainty felt regarding an issue that has been swept under the proverbial rug.
Soligo says keeping smaller loads of garbage to curbside pickup generates more real-estate at local transfer stations to handle heavier materials like mattresses, shingles and drywall.
Locally, Soligo called the active Riverstown landfill a “goldmine.” He says he wants to preserve local landfill capacity for generations to come.
Serving as the only active county landfill, Soligo estimates through analysis of local demand, it should serve the county’s landfill capacity for the next 20-25 years.
The solution to the provincial crisis may come in many forms, Soligo explained, but diverting waste via a minimum waste fee is a step in the right direction from Centre Wellington and Wellington County.
