Solid Waste Management Master Plan Survey

How informed do you feel about the City's current waste management programs and initiatives?

How can the City enhance communication with residents about waste management programs and initiatives? (Select all that apply)

Solid Waste By-Law Update and Enforcement Strategy - Update the Solid Waste By-Law and develop an enforcement strategy to support waste diversion.

Attract Circular Economy Businesses - Incentivize by establishing or supporting business incubators, innovation hubs, and/or waste exchange platforms by providing space, promotion, funding, etc.

Expand Community Engagement Partnerships - Engage schools, seniors, and community groups to help in waste diversion education.

Improve Promotion and Education Initiatives – Look at different ways to promote and educate customers on how to reduce and divert more waste away from the Mohawk Landfill and establish an annual budget for this per household.

Pilot Data-Driven Initiatives - Implement pilot programs to test Artificial Intelligence or sensor-based technologies and systems that can improve compaction rates, sorting, collection routes, and service efficiency.

Review Mohawk Landfill Fee Structure - Review and adjust tipping fees and the minimum load fee weight limit to ensure cost recovery and encourage diversion.

Pay-As-You-Throw - Charge partial or full waste management costs through bag tags for extra garbage or as a rate-based service (utility) to create a financially sustainable waste system and provide a financial incentive to minimize waste generation.

Expand Repair and Reuse Programs - Incentivize by establishing or supporting repair hubs and tool libraries to encourage fixing and repurposing items by providing space, promotion, funding, etc.

Establish a Reuse Area - Establish a reuse area at the Mohawk Landfill where residents can drop off and/or take gently used items. The City will consider a partnership(s) with a local non-profit organization to support operations.

Textile Recycling Network - Create a recycling network for gently used clothing and other textiles in partnership with a non-profit organization(s).

Reduce Bag Limit - With residents having access to the Green Bin program, reduce the garbage bag limit to encourage participation in the Green Bin and other recycling programs.

Clear Garbage Bag Program - To reduce collection worker health and safety concerns and increase participation in the Green Bin and other recycling programs, require that clear bags are used for garbage. Small opaque shopping-bag sized bags could be permitted within each clear bags for potential privacy concerns.

Bi-weekly Garbage Collection – Recognizing that the more odourous waste is organic materials which can go in the Green Bin, move garbage collection from weekly to bi-weekly to improve capture of Green Bin organic waste and other recyclable materials.

Landfill Bans – With an implemented Green Bin program now in the City, ban the disposal of organic waste at the Mohawk Landfill.

Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion - Expand the current diversion program for construction and demolition waste to include other materials for reuse and/or recycling.

Mattress Recycling - Establish curbside or depot recycling for mattresses and box springs.

Enhance City Enforcement Measures - Implement a gradual enforcement approach for curbside collection with real-time feedback, starting with visual curbside audits, education and warnings (e.g., stickers/notices), followed by financial penalties for ongoing non-compliance issues.

Reduce Bulky Item Collection Limit - Implement a collection limit or a tag or fee system for the City’s Bulk Item Pick Up program for items such as furniture and appliances to improve collection efficiency and waste diversion.

Household Hazardous Waste Permanent Depot - Enhance the Household Hazardous Waste pavilion and operate it as a permanent depot to increase capture of hazardous materials and reduce those materials from being landfilled.

Improve Diversion at Public Drop Off Area - Expand the materials accepted at the Public Drop Off Area (e.g., textiles, mattresses, construction and demolition waste) and improve enforcement so that materials are being separated and diverted in appropriate bins instead of being landfilled.

Improve Yard Waste Program – Review and adjust the yard waste collection schedule and materials accepted which could include the removal of grass clippings from the program.

Strengthen On-Site Multi-Residential Diversion Programs - Adopt targeted strategies to improve how waste is diverted and managed in apartment and condominium buildings. This could include closing garbage chutes so that all waste is brought to one area, having resident ambassadors to help with promotion and education and increasing awareness about the Green Bin and other recycling programs.

Industrial, Commercial and Industrial Diversion Strategy – Develop a waste diversion strategy to outline initiatives for the non-residential sector (e.g., carpet recycling, tipping fees, toolkits, landfill bans, etc.).

Are you using the waste system as a: 

What is your total personal annual income before taxes from all sources? 

What type of residence do you live in?

What is your age?