Nine ways you can help divert waste from Kawartha Lake’s landfills this summer
1. Take advantage of our woodchip (mulch) and compost giveaway:
Woodchip (mulch) and compost is available for pick-up at the Lindsay landfill on Wednesdays only, while supplies last. Please come empty to the landfill as you will be required to weigh in and weigh out to get accurate weights on the woodchips and compost that are going out. If you’re able to load the woodchips/compost yourself, it’s free. If you will require staff to load it for you with the loader, it is $100 per tonne of product.
Please keep in mind that our “woodchips” are made using a tub grinder, so they are not uniform chips; they’re closer to mulch. Residents should feel safe using our compost for their gardens as it is tested prior to it being released to the public.
Please note that, the Lindsay landfill is closed to receiving waste on Wednesdays but it is open for woodchip and compost pickup from 8am to 4pm.
2. Dispose of your household hazardous waste at the Lindsay or Fenelon landfills:
Are you in spring cleaning mode? Now is a great time to remove old or used hazardous materials from your household and dispose of them in an environmentally safe manner. Only the Lindsay Ops and Fenelon (re-opening for the summer on May 1) landfills are able to accept household hazardous waste materials. If you’re unable to make it to the Lindsay or Fenelon landfill, you can also dispose of household hazardous waste at one of our upcoming Round Up Days. See more information below or on the Round Up Day page on our website. Please note that the Round Up Day dates in your Municipal Calendar have changed, the dates further down and on the website are correct.
Household hazardous waste items include, but are not limited to, the following items: paints and stains, batteries, household cleaners, pharmaceuticals, propane tanks, antifreeze, fluorescent lights, fire extinguishers, aerosols, solvents, pool chemicals, used oil, oil filters, fertilizers and pesticides.
Please note that the municipality accepts 55lbs (25kgs) of each category of household hazardous waste per customer per day. Residents are asked to bring small loads of household hazardous waste to the depots as quantities greater than 55lbs may not be accepted in one trip if storage space is unavailable.
3. Use recycled paint from our Paint Reuse program for your next DIY (do it yourself) project:
Residents can take advantage of our Paint Reuse program again starting on May 1. The Paint Reuse program allows you to pick up or drop off used paint at the Fenelon Falls and Lindsay Ops landfill household hazardous waste depots free of charge while supplies last. Used paint (latex or oil), and stains will be available in one gallon and one quart cans for free.
When picking up paint through the program, be sure to see an attendant so that inventory can be tracked accordingly. Please note that for paint pick up, there is a five can per resident per day limit. Residents picking up paint at the Lindsay Ops landfill must cross the scales to let the attendant know they are there for paint. Aerosol spray paint cans and/or 20 litre pails of paint will not be included in the Paint Reuse program.
4. Getting a new mattress? Don't forget to recycle your old one through our mattress recycling program:
For residents looking to get rid of their old mattresses, we have a diversion program for you! Mattresses are recycled at the Lindsay Ops landfill only. They are not accepted for recycling at our four other landfills (Eldon, Fenelon, Laxton, and Somerville). If you didn’t want to bring your old mattress to the Lindsay Ops landfill yourself, you can always purchase a $16 mattress tag online using our Curbside Tag form. Tags are also available for purchase at our Municipal Service Centres. Once the mattress tag is purchased, all you have to do is contact the team at Miller Waste Services (1-888-557-4711 or kawarthalakes@millerwaste.ca) and they’ll arrange for pick-up on your regularly scheduled collection day.
We started recycling mattresses at Lindsay Ops landfill in September of 2018. In 2021, we banned mattresses from being disposed of anywhere but the Lindsay Ops landfill and in 2022 we added a second trailer in Lindsay to keep up with the demand. With your help, as of April 2024, we have diverted over 31,167 mattresses from going into our landfills!
5. Recycle your hard to dispose of bulky plastics using our Bulky Plastic recycling program at the Lindsay Ops landfill:
The Bulky Plastic recycling pilot program was established in 2022 and made permanent by Council in 2023. Over 131 tonnes of bulky plastic has been diverted from the Lindsay Ops landfill since 2022, freeing up approximately 3210m3 of landfill space that could hold up to 2407 tonnes of compacted residential waste. Staff estimate that the freed up space equates to an annual capital deferral savings of approximately $361,069 in equivalent landfill space.
Residents are encouraged to continue to take advantage of the program by dropping off their bulky plastic recycling at the Lindsay Ops landfill for free! Please keep in mind that the program is only available at the Lindsay Ops landfill. Bulky plastics will be considered waste and it will be chargeable at all of our other landfills. Details of the program below:
Items accepted include plastic beverage crates (milk crates), clean plastic drums, totes, empty garbage cans, recycling bins, plastic lawn furniture and clean plastic buckets/pails. No metal attachments can be excepted in the bin.
Items must be greater than 10 litres or 10 kilograms capacity (2.5 gallon), up to and including the size of our largest recycling bin (95 gallon).
6. Save the drive to the landfill and have your leaf and yard waste picked up curbside:
Spring curbside leaf and yard waste collection returns in June. Residents are asked to please place leaf and yard material in dry paper bags curbside before 7am on their designated dates.
For residents who have waste and recycling collection on Mondays or Wednesdays, curbside collection will take place on Friday June 7.
For residents who have waste and recycling collection on Tuesdays or Thursdays, curbside collection will take place on Friday June 14.
For best practices and tips on what can or can’t be included in curbside leaf and yard waste, visit the Residential Collection page of our website and look for the “Curbside leaf and yard waste collection” tab.
7. Keep clothing, footwear and linen out of our landfills by having your textile recycling picked up at your curb in June:
Curbside textile (clothing, footwear, linen) recycling will return for Kawartha Lakes residents in June. You’ll have the opportunity to arrange for textile curbside pick up through Recycling Rewards on your designated date outlined below:
If your regular waste collection day is a Thursday – you can book your textile pickup for Monday June 17
If your regular waste collection day is a Monday – you can book your textile pickup for Tuesday June 18
If your regular waste collection day is a Tuesday – you can book your textile pickup for Wednesday June 19
If your regular waste collection day is a Wednesday – you can book your textile pickup for Thursday June 20
Reminder: you must call or email in advance to confirm textile pick up. Please contact Recycling Rewards no later than Thursday June 13 at 4pm to put your address on the list for collection.
For more information on how to contact Recycling Rewards, and to learn more about what textile items can be recycled, visit the Diversion Programs page on our website and look for the “Textile (clothing, footwear, linen) Recycling” tab.
8. Take advantage of our free Round Up Day events this summer. Please note that some of the Round Up Day dates in the 2024 Municipal Calendar have changed:
At Round Up Day events, you're able to drop off your household hazardous waste, textiles, bulky plastics and electronics for recycling free of charge.
Please note that three of the Round Up Day dates in your 2024 Municipal Calendar have been changed. The new dates are as follows:
Carden Round Up Day, Saturday June 29 (same date in calendar):
Carden Recreation Centre, 258 Lake Dalrymple Road, Sebright
Manvers Round Up Day, Saturday July 6 (new date):
Rolling Hills Public School, 694 ON-7A, Bethany
Coboconk Round Up Day, Saturday July 20 (new date):
Coboconk Road’s Depot, 2863 CKL #48, Coboconk
Bobcaygeon Round Up Day, Saturday August 24 (new date):
Bobcaygeon Public School, 30 Balaclava Street, Bobcaygeon
The following items will not be accepted: toys, furniture, pipes, carpet, liners, pool covers, dock barrels or vinyl siding.
For a full list of what will and won’t be accepted at a Round Up Day event, visit the Round Up Days page on our website.
9. Download the Recycle Coach app to learn how to better sort your recycling and to stay up-to-date on the upcoming special collection days or events listed above:
The Recycle Coach app provides residents with a personalized waste and recycling schedule right at their fingertips. Residents with the app will receive notifications for collection changes, delays, upcoming special collection days and recycling tips right to their mobile devices. The app also features a handy “What Goes Where” tool to help residents better sort their waste and recycling.
Become a better recycler by downloading the Recycle Coach app on your mobile device today.
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