Tonnes of waste kept out of landfill thanks to diversion programs in Oakville, Burlington, Milton

A final look at the 2023 garbage statistics in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills showed more than half of Halton Region’s waste was successfully diverted from the landfill.

According to the report released by the region, last year 136,285 tonnes of residential waste was diverted from the landfill, about 58 per cent of the community’s trash.

The total garbage landfilled at the Halton Waste Management Site was 69,315 tonnes. Waste diversion was maximized by re-using material and re-directing it through various programs.

Here is how waste was diverted in 2023 by local residents:

• blue box: 47,983 tonnes
• green cart: 33,176 tonnes
• yard waste: 30,016 tonnes
• household hazardous waste: 748 tonnes
• electronic easte: 325 tonnes
• other waste: 24,037 tonnes

“Our Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee also plays an important role in promotion of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) to minimize waste going to the landfill,” said a regional spokesperson.

“Through collaboration with our municipal partners, provincial legislation was updated, enabling increased industry support for the proper recycling and disposal of materials.”

In 2023, the Halton Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee helped raise awareness of changes to the region’s waste collection programs, Extended Producer Responsibility programs under the Waste Free Ontario Act, and Halton’s Solid Waste Management Strategy.

The Committee includes members from the local municipalities and was established as when the Halton Waste Management Site opened in 1992.

“Halton Region’s waste programs and services play a central role in our waste diversion efforts, along with the participation of our community.”

Our programs and services include:

• weekly curbside blue box and green cart collection
• bi-weekly curbside garbage collection
• bi-weekly curbside yard waste collection (April to December, urban only)
• metal and appliance collection (by appointment)
• backyard composter sales
• drop-off of materials for recycling
• recycling depots for batteries and household hazardous waste
• delivery of blue boxes and green carts to new subdivisions and free replacements for broken containers
• green cart program in apartments and condominiums
• using GPS technology to optimize space at the landfill
• space-saving reusable tarps as an alternative daily cover at the landfill