Unsupervised Dumpster Sites

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The District Municipality of Muskoka’s Bin Site Transition Plan was a multi-year initiative to transition Muskoka’s previously unstaffed and unsupervised dumpster sites to long-term, alternate waste collection services that are licensed and environmentally sustainable.

With guidance given by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), this transition involved 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.

The Final Annual Report (2025) for the project was presented to the Joint Engineering and Public Works and Finance and Corporate Services Committee in January 2026.

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.

12 Mile Depot Closure

12 Mile Depot located at 1200 Twelve Mile Bay Road in the Township of Georgian Bay will be closed on November 3, 2025, in accordance with Township of Georgian Bay – Alternative Waste Management Scenario 3.

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 see depot facility below.


The District Municipality of Muskoka’s Bin Site Transition Plan was a multi-year initiative to transition Muskoka’s previously unstaffed and unsupervised dumpster sites to long-term, alternate waste collection services that are licensed and environmentally sustainable.

With guidance given by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), this transition involved 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.

The Final Annual Report (2025) for the project was presented to the Joint Engineering and Public Works and Finance and Corporate Services Committee in January 2026.

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.

12 Mile Depot Closure

12 Mile Depot located at 1200 Twelve Mile Bay Road in the Township of Georgian Bay will be closed on November 3, 2025, in accordance with Township of Georgian Bay – Alternative Waste Management Scenario 3.

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 see depot facility below.


  • Drop-off Depot Development 2026

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    Southwood Depot


    The District has received Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for the Southwood Depot. Development of the site started in 2025 as approved through the 2026 Rate Supported Budget.

    Due to annual half-load restrictions, development is progressing but the opening of Southwood Depot is delayed until sometime in June 2026.

    Lakeside Waste Collection will be provided in your community until such a time as the depot is opened and operational.

    Lake Muskoka Depot


    The District has received Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for the Lake Muskoka Depot. Development of the site started early 2026.

    Due to recent flooding and annual half-load restrictions, development is progressing but the opening of the Lake Muskoka Depot is delayed until sometime in June 2026.

    Lakeside Waste Collection will be provided in your community until such a time as the depot is opened and operational.

    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.

    Southwood Depot


    The District has received Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for the Southwood Depot. Development of the site started in 2025 as approved through the 2026 Rate Supported Budget.

    Due to annual half-load restrictions, development is progressing but the opening of Southwood Depot is delayed until sometime in June 2026.

    Lakeside Waste Collection will be provided in your community until such a time as the depot is opened and operational.

    Lake Muskoka Depot


    The District has received Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for the Lake Muskoka Depot. Development of the site started early 2026.

    Due to recent flooding and annual half-load restrictions, development is progressing but the opening of the Lake Muskoka Depot is delayed until sometime in June 2026.

    Lakeside Waste Collection will be provided in your community until such a time as the depot is opened and operational.

    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.

Page last updated: 24 Apr 2026, 09:26 AM