Changes are coming to build a better waste management system for Muskoka.
During consultation on the District’s Waste Strategy, residents consistently relayed messages regarding the importance of caring for Muskoka’s environment and support for reducing garbage.
Changes in the way we manage waste and divert materials from the Rosewarne Landfill – including food and organic waste – will bring long-lasting benefits to our community.
Every item you place in your garbage bag can significantly impact Muskoka's environment - stay tuned for enhancements to Muskoka's waste management programs and opportunities to get involved.
What’s Changing?
We're making strategic improvements to ensure only the right materials make it into our garbage bags, supporting our goal to extend the lifespan of our only landfill.
- Stay tuned for changes and updates, we’re working quickly to make changes that will have immediate impacts for Muskoka, including investments at Waste Facilities to enhance our capacity to manage the material we receive.
Recycling and the Provincial Blue Box Transition
All recyclable materials accepted in the blue box that previously needed to be sorted into “papers” and “containers,” can be mixed together in the same blue box or similar container.
Currently, the District sends recyclables to a state-of-the-art facility that can effectively sort this material. For more information on District recycling, visit our Recycle Right page.
Provincial Blue Box Transition
- What’s Changing? Starting November 19, 2024, the responsibility for blue box recycling collection and management will transition to Circular Materials Ontario (CMO), in line with provincial mandates requiring producers to take responsibility for their products’ end-of-life recycling. This is happening across Ontario, not just for Muskoka.
- Your recycling services will continue – the District will no longer manage the collection and management of recycling – it will be under the new management of CMO.
- Businesses will need to adjust to new recycling standards under CMO’s management, which will no longer be handled by the District either. We will share more news as we receive it.
Stay Updated: We will continue to provide detailed updates as this transition approaches.
Garbage and Limits
Curbside collection
If you reside in an area with green bin collection your limit is two (2) garbage bags bi-weekly (1 bag weekly in the summer).
If you don't live in an area with green bin collection your limit will be four (4) garbage bags bi-weekly (2 bags weekly in the summer) .
To learn more about curbside garbage including setout instructions, weight limits, and what we collect at the curb, please visit our curbside garbage collection page.
Drop-off garbage
To learn more about our drop-off locations and fees please visit our drop-off and locations page.
Green Bin Organics
Curbside Green Bin Collection is Expanding!
- What’s Expanding? More households across Muskoka will soon see green bins at their doorsteps as we extend our organics collection services. We're expanding to more neighbourhoods in Bala, Gravenhurst and Port Carling.
- Why It Matters: Diverting food waste to your Green Bin instead of the garbage is a simple step that dramatically benefits our environment in Muskoka. It will reduce the amount of waste going into our only landfill, and prevent harmful greenhouse gases.
- Collection Details: Green Bin collection occurs weekly, year-round, maintaining frequency even when bi-weekly garbage collection takes effect during winter.
Look Out: If you haven't received a Green Bin yet, you might find one on your doorstep soon! For more information on our curbside green bin program, visit the green bin organics collection page.
Drop-Off Organics
All transfer stations in the District have innovative in-ground organics collection containers. Residents without curbside green bin / organic collection are encouraged to bring their organic material to any transfer station to help keep this divertible material out of the landfill.
For more information on what can and can't go in the organic waste stream visit our green bin organics collection page.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Why are there garbage bag limits? |
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Every item you place in your garbage bag can significantly impact Muskoka's environment. It’s important to make informed decisions about where things go. Small actions at home lead to big impacts.
Reducing what we throw away today will be critical to extending the life of Muskoka’s one remaining landfill and ensuring secure, long-term disposal. If you’re not sure where something goes, try our online Waste Wizard to learn what goes where or download the Muskoka Waste App. |
| Why do we need to save landfill space? |
| Landfill capacity is declining in Ontario. The Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA) estimates that Ontario’s landfills will reach capacity by 2034. Municipalities throughout the province are diligently focused on minimizing garbage, diverting food and organic waste, and seeking new ways to divert materials to extend this capacity and secure future disposal. Changes we make today in Muskoka will increase the life of our last local landfill – and ensure we have disposal capacity. |
| How can I reduce my weekly garbage? |
| Participating in Muskoka’s many waste diversion programs – including blue box recycling, green bin organics, e-waste recycling and re-use – is an important way to reduce garbage and help us meet our 60 per cent diversion goal. Food waste makes up a lot of what we throw out and by using the green bin program, we can reduce our garbage significantly. Watching what we buy is also important – remember to look for reduced packaging and goods that are recyclable. If you’re not sure where something goes, try our online Waste Wizard to learn what goes where or download the Muskoka Waste App. The app is also a great tool for collection updates and special event day reminders including leaf and yard waste and household hazardous waste days. |
| Won’t this just increase illegal dumping in Muskoka? |
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Illegal dumping is a frustrating behaviour and, unfortunately, is not isolated to Muskoka. There is simply no excuse for it – and the District encourages anyone who encounters dumping to report it. The District offers one of Ontario's most convenient and comprehensive waste collection programs that includes extensive curbside collection, 10 transfer stations (with most open seven days/week, year-round), three waste depots and Lakeside Waste Collection events. In addition to the generous collection opportunities, there are no tipping fees associated with two bags of drop-off household garbage each week or the delivery of divertible items such as blue box recycling, food and organic waste, leaf and yard trimmings, scrap metal, tires, e-waste or appliances. |
| Doesn’t food waste just compost in the landfill? |
| No. Organic materials such as food waste and leaves do not compost in the landfill but eventually rot and produce methane. Methane is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Keeping organic material out of the landfill not only helps us meet our climate change goals but we can produce a valuable soil amendment right here in Muskoka at two local composting facilities. |
| Does recycling still need to be sorted into two boxes? |
| No. Recycling in Muskoka no longer needs to be sorted into paper and containers. Our recyclable materials are now sent to a state-of-the-art processing facility that can effectively sort mixed recycling. Paper and containers can now be placed in the same box or similar container. Using just one box or container for all your recyclable items increases the ease and convenience of recycling and allows it to be collected efficiently. |
| I see garbage, recycling and/or green bin material going into one truck. Is it all going to landfill? |
| No. Our curbside contractor has some collection trucks with two compartments. Often, you will see drivers place garbage in one compartment and divertible materials (recycling or green bin organics) in another. These materials are dropped off separately at the end of the day. Garbage is brought to the landfill, recycling to our transfer station and organics to one of our two composting facilities. |
| Do I receive curbside green bin organics collection? |
| Please visit our Find Your Collection Schedule – if your collection day indicates “Green Bin,” you are within the green bin service area and receive weekly curbside green bin organics collection.
In the meantime, green bin organics can be delivered to any District transfer station at no charge. Stay tuned for more information as we expand Green Bin organics collection to curbsides across Muskoka. |