Unsupervised Dumpster Sites

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The District Municipality of Muskoka’s Bin Site Transition Plan is an ongoing initiative to transition Muskoka’s previously unstaffed and unsupervised dumpster sites to long-term, alternate waste collection service that is licensed and environmentally sustainable.

With guidance given by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), this transition involves replacing community bin sites with Ministry-approved waste collection alternatives, such as curbside and lakeside waste collection, along with the establishment of new drop-off depots.

Through this initiative, we seek to achieve several key objectives:

Discover more about our Bin Site Transition Plan and how we’re re-shaping waste collection services in Muskoka by viewing our Waste Collection Alternate Servicing Study Terms of Reference, which highlights:

  • How our plan aligns with the District’s Waste Management Strategy
  • Insights into Muskoka’s diverse bin sites and their unique environments
  • The process behind implementing alternative services
  • The crucial role community consultation plays in shaping our approach

Have your say!

Waste Collection Surveys are crafted to gather your valuable input on the bin site transition process, enabling us to deliver efficient, sustainable waste collection services considering the unique needs of each community. We also work closely with marinas and cottage associations to shape future waste servicing. Your contribution makes a difference! Watch this space for available surveys.

Current lakeside waste collection and existing services

Some communities have already made the transition away from dumpster bins to new lakeside waste collection servicing. Learn more about which community is receiving Lakeside waste collection and the collection event schedule for each community.

You can also learn more about curbside garbage collection for eligible properties, green bin organics and recycling.

Active consultation updates

Consultation has begun and is ongoing with stakeholders. Final transition dates and alternate servicing continue to be investigated. Learn which communities are currently being consulted with:

Allport Marina, Pride of Muskoka and Spirit Bay (Bracebridge)

Milne Road, Rignalls Road, Bird Lake Road and Black River/Clear Lake Road (Bracebridge)

  • The District’s long-term planning team is considering area preferences for a permanent drop-off depot for the Highway 118 community.
  • View the Highway 118 Community Survey Summary for the site. Results have been reviewed by stakeholders.

Fish Lake Road at Maws Road (Huntsville)

  • Preliminary meetings have been held with key stakeholders.
  • Consultation will continue with the community to finalize winter servicing.

Campbell's Landing Marina and Villas Marina (Gravenhurst)

  • Preliminary meetings have been held with key stakeholders.
  • Given the large number of islanders accessing bins on both the southwest/Gravenhurst side of Lake Muskoka and the southeast/Bracebridge side of Lake Muskoka, the long-term planning team continues to develop comprehensive final servicing plans.
  • Transitions on both sides of the lake will occur together.
  • View the Campbell's Landing and Villas Marinas Community Survey Summary for results of our online survey, distributed to stakeholders during summer 2024. The survey gathered input on users' waste disposal habits and will help determine future waste collection servicing for the community.

East Bay Landing (Muskoka Lakes)

  • Preliminary meetings have been held with key stakeholders.
  • An online survey was distributed to customers of East Bay Landing in fall 2024 to gather input on waste disposal habits and help determine future servicing.

Township of Georgian Bay

New drop-off depot updates

New public drop-off depots are being established to support communities once serviced by bin sites. The depots will be licensed, fully secured, and staffed by an on-site attendant during operational hours, in accordance with MECP regulations.

View the latest updates to new depots or view the most recent District Staff Report around the new depots’ development to learn about facility updates:

Southwood Depot

  • Supports the Nine Mile Marina community in Muskoka Lakes.
  • The District has submitted an ECA application to the MECP for the Southwood Depot and expects to receive results later in 2025.

Housey's Rapids Depot

  • Housey's Rapids Depot is now open!

    Located at 1990 Housey's Rapids Rd. in Gravenhurst, the depot is open during summer hours until the lsat Sunday in October on: Mondays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

    Housey's Rapids depot accepts household bagged garbage, green bin organics and recycling only.

Lake Muskoka Depot

  • Supports the Lake Muskoka community.
  • The District has submitted an ECA application to the MECP for the Lake Muskoka Depot and expects to receive results later in 2025.

Other depot sites

  • The service level across the District's waste drop-off facilities network is being evaluated through the District's Solid Waste Master Plan (SWMP).
  • Consideration for new depots to support the Skeleton Lake and Hwy 118E communities will be completed under the scope of the SWMP.

Transition status for community bin sites

View the transition status and consultation opportunities for each community using our Bin Site Locations and Status Chart (coming soon).

View the Bin Site Transition Plan 2024 Annual Report for updates on:

  • Sites already transitioned
  • Proposed 2025 activities
  • Transition of remaining bin sites

View updates on current bin sites that are in the process of being transitioned or have been recently completed:



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

The District Municipality of Muskoka’s Bin Site Transition Plan is an ongoing initiative to transition Muskoka’s previously unstaffed and unsupervised dumpster sites to long-term, alternate waste collection service that is licensed and environmentally sustainable.

With guidance given by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), this transition involves replacing community bin sites with Ministry-approved waste collection alternatives, such as curbside and lakeside waste collection, along with the establishment of new drop-off depots.

Through this initiative, we seek to achieve several key objectives:

Discover more about our Bin Site Transition Plan and how we’re re-shaping waste collection services in Muskoka by viewing our Waste Collection Alternate Servicing Study Terms of Reference, which highlights:

  • How our plan aligns with the District’s Waste Management Strategy
  • Insights into Muskoka’s diverse bin sites and their unique environments
  • The process behind implementing alternative services
  • The crucial role community consultation plays in shaping our approach

Have your say!

Waste Collection Surveys are crafted to gather your valuable input on the bin site transition process, enabling us to deliver efficient, sustainable waste collection services considering the unique needs of each community. We also work closely with marinas and cottage associations to shape future waste servicing. Your contribution makes a difference! Watch this space for available surveys.

Current lakeside waste collection and existing services

Some communities have already made the transition away from dumpster bins to new lakeside waste collection servicing. Learn more about which community is receiving Lakeside waste collection and the collection event schedule for each community.

You can also learn more about curbside garbage collection for eligible properties, green bin organics and recycling.

Active consultation updates

Consultation has begun and is ongoing with stakeholders. Final transition dates and alternate servicing continue to be investigated. Learn which communities are currently being consulted with:

Allport Marina, Pride of Muskoka and Spirit Bay (Bracebridge)

Milne Road, Rignalls Road, Bird Lake Road and Black River/Clear Lake Road (Bracebridge)

  • The District’s long-term planning team is considering area preferences for a permanent drop-off depot for the Highway 118 community.
  • View the Highway 118 Community Survey Summary for the site. Results have been reviewed by stakeholders.

Fish Lake Road at Maws Road (Huntsville)

  • Preliminary meetings have been held with key stakeholders.
  • Consultation will continue with the community to finalize winter servicing.

Campbell's Landing Marina and Villas Marina (Gravenhurst)

  • Preliminary meetings have been held with key stakeholders.
  • Given the large number of islanders accessing bins on both the southwest/Gravenhurst side of Lake Muskoka and the southeast/Bracebridge side of Lake Muskoka, the long-term planning team continues to develop comprehensive final servicing plans.
  • Transitions on both sides of the lake will occur together.
  • View the Campbell's Landing and Villas Marinas Community Survey Summary for results of our online survey, distributed to stakeholders during summer 2024. The survey gathered input on users' waste disposal habits and will help determine future waste collection servicing for the community.

East Bay Landing (Muskoka Lakes)

  • Preliminary meetings have been held with key stakeholders.
  • An online survey was distributed to customers of East Bay Landing in fall 2024 to gather input on waste disposal habits and help determine future servicing.

Township of Georgian Bay

New drop-off depot updates

New public drop-off depots are being established to support communities once serviced by bin sites. The depots will be licensed, fully secured, and staffed by an on-site attendant during operational hours, in accordance with MECP regulations.

View the latest updates to new depots or view the most recent District Staff Report around the new depots’ development to learn about facility updates:

Southwood Depot

  • Supports the Nine Mile Marina community in Muskoka Lakes.
  • The District has submitted an ECA application to the MECP for the Southwood Depot and expects to receive results later in 2025.

Housey's Rapids Depot

  • Housey's Rapids Depot is now open!

    Located at 1990 Housey's Rapids Rd. in Gravenhurst, the depot is open during summer hours until the lsat Sunday in October on: Mondays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

    Housey's Rapids depot accepts household bagged garbage, green bin organics and recycling only.

Lake Muskoka Depot

  • Supports the Lake Muskoka community.
  • The District has submitted an ECA application to the MECP for the Lake Muskoka Depot and expects to receive results later in 2025.

Other depot sites

  • The service level across the District's waste drop-off facilities network is being evaluated through the District's Solid Waste Master Plan (SWMP).
  • Consideration for new depots to support the Skeleton Lake and Hwy 118E communities will be completed under the scope of the SWMP.

Transition status for community bin sites

View the transition status and consultation opportunities for each community using our Bin Site Locations and Status Chart (coming soon).

View the Bin Site Transition Plan 2024 Annual Report for updates on:

  • Sites already transitioned
  • Proposed 2025 activities
  • Transition of remaining bin sites

View updates on current bin sites that are in the process of being transitioned or have been recently completed:



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

Discussions: All (1) Open (1)

  • Have your say

    over 4 years ago
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    23 Responses

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    The District of Muskoka is seeking your input as we transition the bin sites. 

    The purpose of initiating an Alternate Servicing Study is to inform the Bin Site Transition Plan by assessing waste collection alternatives for the District’s communities currently served by 88 existing unlicensed bin sites. The Study will be used to identify alternate waste collection services that are compliant with the Environmental Protection Act, 1990 (EPA), in keeping with the District’s Strategic Priorities and future Waste Management Strategy, and reflects the unique waste collection service needs of each 'bin site community'.

    The Terms of Reference outlines the goals, objectives and key actions that will guide the work of the Bin Site Transition Plan from 2020-2023. Please give us your feedback.

    Go to discussion
Page last updated: 31 Mar 2025, 09:16 AM