Revolutionizing Recycling: Your Guide to Windsor-Essex's New Automated Cart System

Get ready, Windsor-Essex! The way you recycle is about to get a major upgrade with the introduction of new, user-friendly automated recycling carts. These sleek blue and green bins are designed to boost efficiency, enhance worker safety, and make your recycling efforts even easier. Starting this August and continuing through December, over 80,000 residential homes in Windsor and Essex County will receive these new carts, marking a significant step forward in the region's waste management strategy.

The rollout will begin in Windsor, with residents expected to receive their carts between August and October.

Following that, Essex County residents will see their new bins delivered from October through December. This phased approach ensures a smooth transition for everyone. By January 2025, these new carts will be the only accepted containers for curbside recycling, so it's essential to get familiar with them!

What's new? Each single-family home will automatically receive two carts: a blue cart for containers and a green cart for paper products.

You'll have the option to choose between a 240-litre (standard) or a smaller 120-litre size for each cart. For those who need more capacity, additional carts can be purchased for a fee, or you can opt for a larger 360-litre blue cart and a 240-litre green cart at no extra cost, simply by registering online.

This flexibility ensures that every household can find a solution that fits their recycling needs.

This isn't just about new bins; it's about a fundamental shift to an automated collection system. Gone are the days of manual lifting of individual bins, which posed significant health and safety risks for collection workers.

The new system allows automated trucks to pick up and empty the carts, making the process faster, safer, and more consistent. This change is also expected to reduce litter from blowing materials and improve the overall aesthetics of collection day.

So, what goes where? The blue cart is designated for containers: think plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, metal cans, glass jars, and cartons (milk, juice, soup).

The green cart is for all your paper and cardboard items, including newspapers, magazines, flyers, boxboard, and corrugated cardboard. It's crucial to place items loosely in the carts – no plastic bags for your recyclables! A detailed 'how-to' guide will be included with your new carts.

For residents in multi-residential buildings or those with specific physical limitations, alternative solutions are being developed.

Property managers of multi-residential buildings will be contacted directly to discuss their options, which may include shared carts or specialized collection services. An exemption process will also be in place for residents who cannot physically manage the carts due to accessibility concerns, ensuring no one is left behind in this new system.

This initiative is part of a larger, long-term waste management contract awarded by the City of Windsor and Essex County to GFL Environmental, valued at $185 million over ten years.

While the cost of the carts themselves is integrated into this contract, the overall goal is to create a more sustainable and efficient recycling program for the entire region. Embrace the change, get ready for your new carts, and let's make Windsor-Essex a leader in responsible recycling!