Bin Site Transition Plan

Since 2019, the District has been working with communities to replace unlicensed dumpsters with long-term sustainable waste services.

The current unsupervised bins pose a threat to Muskoka's environment and contribute to illegal dumping. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has directed the District to remove all 80+ dumpster bins by 2023. The District has committed to working with each community to put convenient and environmentally sustainable waste services in place before bins are removed.

We continue to monitor the COVID-19 emergency and follow recommendations from Public Health. If you currently have curbside collection or use a licensed transfer station, nothing has changed. Please monitor muskokarecycles.ca for any COVID-19 related service impacts.

Fall 2021 – Update

This fall, the following bins will be removed and replaced with other forms of waste servicing:

Clearwater Lake in Gravenhurst (Bin #18 on Clear Road)

• Year-round residents will receive curbside collection at a common collection point near the mailboxes at Coopers Falls Road. Details are provided in this letter to CLOPA.
  The District is working with CLOPA to remove the existing dumpster once the common collection point is ready (tentatively scheduled for November 1).
• Residents will receive a letter from the District with more information on this transition, including when curbside collection service begins. Please note that it may take several weeks for our Online Waste Calendar and Muskoka Recycles App to update. Your new schedule will be loaded by the end of the year and at that time, you can subscribe to notifications and reminders. Please refer to the information that is mailed to you.

Rivercove Drive in Huntsville (Bin #71)

• Residents on Rivercove Drive, Groeger Road and Robert Road E will start receiving curbside collection in November.
• Residents will receive a letter from the District with more information on this transition, including when curbside collection service begins. Please note that it may take several weeks for our Online Waste Calendar and Muskoka Recycles App to update. Your new schedule will be loaded by the end of the year and at that time, you can subscribe to notifications and reminders. Please refer to the information that is mailed to you.

Riley Lake in Gravenhurst (Bin #70)

• The existing dumpsters will be removed November 1, 2021
• For residents on year-round roads – year-round curbside collection service is available for some properties including along Riley Lake Road
• For residents that do not receive curbside collection (including island properties on Riley Lake and Larroger Road), the proposed depot at Housey's Rapids depot is still under development. We continue to consult with these residents regarding an interim option for winter servicing before the new depot is available.
• We are planning for some winter servicing in this area. If you use the existing dumpster on Riley Lake Road in the winter and do not receive curbside collection, please sign up here so we can ensure you continue to receive waste collection this winter.

Leech Lake and Pine Lake in Bracebridge (Bin #42)

• The existing dumpsters will be removed November 1, 2021
• All roads around Leech Lake and Pine Lane receive curbside collection in the summer
• We are planning for some winter servicing in this area. If you use the existing dumpster on Lorne Road in the winter, please sign up here so we can ensure you continue to receive waste collection this winter.

As we prepare to transition other bins next year we will consult with these communities:
Clear Lake in Bracebridge (Bin #11)

• The existing dumpsters will be in place starting the first week in November until April 2022
• We will be consulting with various communities along Highway 118E who have winter bin sites in preparation for transition next fall
• If you would like to be part of this consultation please sign up.

Community Surveys

In collaboration with several marinas and cottage associations, communities were surveyed this summer to seek feedback on long-term waste servicing. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this effort. Community surveys were completed in 2020 and 2021 for:

• Parkers Marina in Muskoka Lakes (download summary here)
• Kahshe Lake in Gravenhurst (download summary here)
• Walker's Marina and Beaumaris Yacht Club (download summary here)
• Allport Marina, Pride of Muskoka and Spirit bay Marina in Bracebridge (download summary here)
• Clearwater Lake in Gravenhurst (download summary here)
• Nine Mile Lake in Muskoka Lakes (download summary here)

Sign up to be notified when your community is being surveyed.

Based on the work undertaken so far and feedback received in these surveys, staff presented a preliminary plan for 2022 to the Engineering and Public Works Committee in August, 2021. An update will be provided to all residents when the final proposed plan for 2022 is presented to Committee in October.

2021 Lakeside Waste Collection

Lakeside waste collection will continue in the following locations until Thanksgiving weekend. Lakeside collection will be back at all locations in 2022.

For more information including acceptable material and a downloadable schedule, visit our Lakeside Waste Collection page.

Why are bin sites being removed?

Bin sites are not licensed and not compliant with the Environmental Protection Act.
They pose risks to the environment and human health, especially when waste is not disposed of properly in and around bin sites. Many bin sites are located very close to our lakes and rivers and they pose a high risk of contamination.