• Stouffville is set to end municipal waste collection for approximately 700 non-eligible properties, including many local businesses, by Dec. 31, 2025.
  • The change follows Ontario’s new Blue Box Regulation, which shifts responsibility for collecting recyclables from municipalities to the producers that generate them.
  • Non-eligible businesses and organizations will need to arrange private waste collection starting in 2026.
  • Councillor Sue Sherban introduced an amendment directing Town Staff to explore municipal waste collection options for Main Street businesses
  • Other Councillors raised concerns about fairness, noting that businesses outside of the Downtown would not receive similar accommodations should they be approved.
  • A Staff report due in Q2 2025 will present final collection recommendations for Main Street businesses.

 

Stouffville collects garbage, recycling, and organic waste from approximately 20,000 locations throughout the municipality. About 700 of those locations, roughly 3.5%, are considered non-eligible sources under Ontario’s new Blue Box Regulation.

That regulation will shift responsibility for collecting and processing blue bin materials from municipalities to the producers that generate them. Eligible sources that will receive collection include single-family homes, residential buildings, public and private schools, nonprofit retirement and long-term care homes, and public spaces such as parks and transit stations.

Institutional, commercial, and industrial (ICI) properties are considered non-eligible and will not receive collection services through the program. Non-eligible sources include businesses, daycares, nonprofit organizations, and municipal facilities such as community centres.

Following a Council decision on Feb. 5, most non-eligible properties currently receiving municipal collection will see all related services end on Dec. 31, 2025—including pickup of recycling, garbage, and organic waste. They will need to arrange private servicing for waste collection in 2026.

“The most common reason ICI locations received municipal waste collection was because these locations are located along residential collection routes,” the related Staff report explains. “Collection from ICI properties is not considered a best practice, and many Ontario municipalities either never provided collection for this group or are discontinuing the practice as the Province has deemed them ineligible for service.”

Waste collection issues have also arisen from some ICI properties over the years, including exceeding permitted waste collection limits, placing garbage out on incorrect days, and attempting to dispose of non-compliant items. Enforcing collection rules has been challenging, as Town Staff and contractors have been unable to determine offending units within industrial and commercial properties housing multiple sources.

Stouffville ended waste collection for new businesses in 2017, informing owners through the site plan application process that private services would be required.

However, an approved amendment from Councillor Sue Sherban, who represents the south side of Stouffville’s Downtown Main Street, has directed Town Staff to explore options for non-eligible waste collection for Village businesses.

The motion noted that eligible residential collection will continue for dwellings above Main Street businesses, suggesting there may be an opportunity for cost-effective collection services in an area set to face years of disruption due to upcoming reconstruction.

While speaking to her amendment, Sherban detailed correspondence from area business owners who expressed fear and concern over a mandated transition to private services. “We have a responsibility because, over at least three decades, we have serviced Main Street in picking up their garbage. It’s been a long legacy, and obviously this change is very significant to them,” she said.

“It’s very significant to them not just for costs, but the inconvenience or not knowing if they will be putting their garbage in the trunk of their car and bringing it home,” she continued. “I would like to see [us] spend time working with them to find solutions so we can be partners helping with this new change.”

The Staff report acknowledges potential concerns from other non-eligible property owners and residents should the Town move forward with such localized support.

“Continued recycling collection for non-eligible sources currently receiving collection would be negatively perceived by other non-eligible sources not receiving collection,” it states. “That could result in a demand for an equal level of service for all non-eligible sources, which could be very costly to the Town.”

Staff estimate that collecting blue bin materials from the 700 non-eligible properties currently being serviced could cost more than $800 per location every year. That expense is approximately 25 times higher than the average cost for an eligible residence.

Continuing collection services for non-eligible recyclables alone could therefore cost the Town more than $560,000 annually. If collected individually, blue bin service for the 98 at-grade units along Downtown Main Street could cost approximately $80,000 per year.

“Collection for non-eligible sources may generate increased complaints from residents, as they would be subsidizing…collection costs for commercial properties,” the report adds. “By eliminating waste collection permanently from non-eligible sources, it would allow the contractor more time to focus only on residential areas, which may result in earlier collection times.”

Councillors Hugo Kroon and Maurice Smith raised concerns that the amendment would set apart Downtown businesses by providing services not extended to other ICI properties across Stouffville.

“This is a very difficult decision that we’re going to have to make here. I think that it’s an obvious decision, but we have to remember that some businesses in this town are being treated differently than others simply because of geography,” Kroon said. “That, in itself, is not right.”

“We have done a lot of investment in the Downtown. It is an economic hub for us and one that will hopefully grow over time. I think it is distinct and unique from other areas,” Mayor Iain Lovatt said in response. “All we’re doing is asking Staff to come back with options. We’re not making any determination at this point about whether or not we will be treating [Village] businesses differently.”

Sherban’s amendment was adopted with only Councillor Smith opposed, and the amended item was then approved unanimously. Councillor Keith Acton abstained from voting after declaring a conflict of interest due to owning a local business.

A resulting Staff report, expected in Q2 2025, will present Main Street recommendations for future Council consideration.

For non-eligible ICI properties outside the Village of Stouffville, all municipal waste collection will end at the close of the year. The change mirrors similar service discontinuations coming to Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, and Newmarket.

“The Town should not be responsible for managing waste streams for these businesses,” the Staff report concluded.

A communications plan is in development to ensure non-eligible property owners and businesses are informed of the changes.