Waste Diversion

• Monday, April 26, 2021: All areas east of Centre St. from Highway 401 to County Road 8 at the golf course hill
• Wednesday, April 28, 2021: All areas west of Centre St. from Highway 401 to County Road 8 at the golf course hill
• Monday, May 3, 2021: Rural area residents must call 613-776-1152 prior to April 30 to arrange for pickup on May 3

Please check back later in 2021 for information on the 2021 Household Hazardous Waste Day Event.

In 2020, 651 vehicles (782 households) participated in the Household Hazardous Waste Day Event. A total of 48,278 litres and 2700 kg of hazardous waste was diverted from the community to a licensed facility for proper treatment. In addition, 76 car batteries and 740 propane tanks were collected and 940 kg of plastic was recycled!

The annual event allows for the proper disposal of items such as:

• Paints
• Solvents
• Batteries
• Old prescriptions and medicines
• Waste oil
• Pesticides, Insecticides, and Herbicides
• Cleaners and disinfectants
• Propane tanks and aerosols.

Products collected during the household hazardous waste event are categorized and sorted to either be reused, recycled or packed for safe, proper disposal. Depending on the types and physical state of the hazardous waste, treatment and/or solidification processes may take place.

Place a 4" to 6" bottom layer of coarse material such as dead plant stalks and small branches in your composter. Alternate layers of yard waste and kitchen waste in 4" to 6" increments. Top off the compost pile with 1" of soil or finished waste.

Make sure your composter is on ground level in the sun. The warmer the material, the faster the process. If you only have shady areas, it will still work, just not as quickly. The unit should be in contact with the earth, rather than on patio stones or paved areas to allow organisms to work into the pile and speed up the composting process. Place the unit approximately 8" to 12" away from fences, decks or buildings to discourage animals. Composting is an excellent soil enhancer; it can be used as an additive to existing soil. Ensure that the soil and compost are mixed in equal parts (50/50). 

• Chop materials into small pieces (the smaller the better)
• Put materials in layers - alternate 'browns' (dry leaves, straw, wood chips) and 'greens' (kitchen scraps, grass clippings)
• Add water if necessary - the compost needs to be slightly damp (like a wrung out sponge)
• During Spring and Summer, turn the pile with a pitchfork, shovel or compost turner

• Leaves and grass clippings
• Plants and weeds
• Used potting soil
• Fruit scraps and vegetable peels
• Crushed egg shells
• Coffee grounds with filters and tea bags
• Paper (shredded, not glossy)

Unacceptable items:

• Pet waste
• Meat, fish and bones
• Dairy products
• Fats or oils

You can use compost as mulch around plants and trees. This will help retain moisture and smother weeds. Compost can also be used in your lawn or garden. Make sure to dig compost into the earth before planting flowers and vegetables. 

Finished compost is dark and crumbly in texture and will have a pleasant earth-like smell. If you follow the instructions that came with your unit, you could have results in as little as 3 to 6 months. To remove the compost, scoop it through the trap door on your unit. Pick or screen out any lumps or bits of uncomposted material and put them back in the composter.