Locals navigate early hiccups in new Kawartha Lakes recycling program

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: On a chilly January morning, in Lindsay, Simone Watts stepped outside to find her usual blue box pickup hadn’t happened. A few empty beer bottles sat awkwardly beside the bin, reminders of a new rule she hadn’t quite wrapped her head around.

“I thought these went in the blue box, like before,” she said, picking them up. “Turns out, they have to go to a separate program now. It’s a bit confusing, especially the first week.”

She isn’t alone. Since the provincial recycling program launched in Kawartha Lakes, residents have been adjusting to new schedules, collection rules, and even the companies involved. Circular Materials manages the program provincially, while Emterra handles local collection.

Shawn Shelton, of Fenelon Falls, shared his own experience. “I put my bin out on my way to work, just before 7 a.m., just like usual, but the truck never came. They were still there when I got home. I called Emterra and was told to wait until the next week. It’s frustrating when you’re used to things happening on a set schedule.”

City staff stress patience, during this adjustment period, and encourage residents to reach out directly to Emterra for questions. Calls and emails may take longer than usual to be answered, due to high volumes. If issues aren’t resolved, Circular Materials is the next point of contact.

Some residents, however, say, even reaching elected representatives hasn’t been easy. Local MPP Laurie Scott is listed as another point of contact, for provincial concerns, but calls and emails aren’t always returned quickly, according to local residents. “I tried getting in touch with (MPP Scott) in the past and never heard back,” said Ms. Watts. “It makes you feel like you’re just stuck dealing with the confusion on your own.”

Other changes include separate collection for alcoholic beverage containers, through the Ontario Deposit Return Program. For longtime recyclers, like Ms. Watts, that’s a notable shift. “All of my neighbours had[n't] any idea wine and beer bottles weren’t supposed to be in the blue box anymore.”

Practical tips from the City include: making sure bins are clearly identified as recycling, are not overfilled or too heavy, and are optionally covered to prevent litter. Organics bins are off-limits for recycling, and residents can contact Emterra for new or additional bins if needed.