Waste Disposal – Major Changes

The Township of The Archipelago (TOA) has nine waste transfer stations, one waste site, and agreements with the Town of Parry Sound for TOA ratepayers to deposit waste at the Macfarlane Street waste site in Parry Sound, and agreements with the Township of Georgian Bay to use waste facilities in the Twelve Mile Bay area.

Our Association members generally use either the Sheep Head or Devil’s Elbow island waste transfer sites or the Macfarlane Street site.  A number of changes have occurred that you must be aware of.

In late 2009 the Ministry of the Environment mandated that all TOA waste sites be manned when open.  This has forced the TOA to close all sites which were previously open all day and night.  Unfortunately we now have to staff these sites, and consequently will be open and manned during the following times.

 

Note: On Holiday Mondays Sites will be open same hours as the preceding Sunday. 

Please note the sites will remain open 24/7 only until June 1, 2010. Beginning June 1 the sites will be fenced and only open during the posted times.  This is a dramatic change for us as we are used to unlimited access to the island waste sites.  However cumbersome this new process is, it will certainly greatly enhance proper waste management, a hallmark we have always endorsed.

As you know, the TOA rents property at the Macfarlane Street site and accepts waste (for free) from TOA ratepayers.  Unfortunately other municipalities charge a fee for all deposited waste, and this has caused a plethora of non TOA ratepayers to masquerade as TOA ratepayers and deposit their waste for free in TOA bins. It has become such a problem that you are now required to bring your Waste Disposal Pass to deposit at no charge into the TOA containers.  If you have lost your card or need a second one please contact Public Works @ 705-746-4243.

The TOA now has recycling containers at the Macfarlane Street site, so please continue your good efforts at recycling.  It is most important!

The Macfarlane Street site remains the only provincially approved site that accepts Household Hazardous Waste.  You are NOT permitted to deposit Household Hazardous Waste at the island transfer stations.

The Macfarlane Street site is open in 2010 from April 12^th to October 17^th on the following days: Mon, Wed & Fri. from 7:30am – 4:30pm, Sat. from 8:00am – 4:00pm & Sun. 12:00pm – 8:00pm.

Clear Bags Mandatory

It is now mandatory that users bringing bagged household garbage or recyclables to Township Waste Disposal Facilities use only clear plastic bags.  Open recycling containers are also acceptable. This comes from the fact that many ratepayers do not recycle, and instead include recycling in their household waste.  The use of clear bags allows the attendant to ensure all recycling material is deposited in the appropriate recycling bin. This ensures the TOA can meet Ministry of Environment regulations and legislation to divert more waste from landfill.  

Initially attendants will accept coloured garbage bags, but be advised they will slit open the bag prior to deposition to ensure there is no recycling material going into the normal waste stream. 

As you can imagine, the requirement to staff the sites is expensive, further so with the requirement of boat only access costs.  We will be studying usage patterns at the island waste sites at the end of this year, and may have to change the hours of operation for next year.  It’s a tedious balance to provide adequate service, at affordable costs and not jeopardize the ever present reality that waste may be deposited elsewhere (in the woods!!) if the sites are not conveniently available for use.

I believe the island waste sites will be manned by students who parents are ratepayers in the TOA.  Please work with them to achieve proper waste management.  Remember, it all starts at the cottage!  I appreciate your ongoing concerns with our precious Archipelago environment.  Your cooperation is vital if we are to be successful in maintaining our world as we know it.

Thanks

Rick Zanussi 

The following pages will help you sort your recycling.  You might want to save this page and bring it to the cottage!!! 
 

USING THE COLOUR CODED BINS