Category Archives: Garbage and recycling

On March 25, 2025, Council approved changes to the Single Use Items Bylaw. Starting September 1, 2025, businesses in Guelph must accept customers’ reusable containers for food orders, whether the food is eaten on-site or taken away. Alternatively, businesses can provide their own reusable containers instead. Key Points:  This rule does not apply to food served through drive-through windows or delivered. A “reusable food container” is a durable container that can be washed, sanitized, and reused many times. Exemptions: Exemption from this bylaw applies to the following: Charitable or non-profit organizations Hospitals and community care facilities Special events Self-service restaurants such as buffets, salad bars, and all-you-can-eat restaurants Food-service businesses that have written their own reusable-container policy may outline specific and limited conditions under which… Continue reading Reusable container amendment to Single-Use Items Bylaw

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Recycling Mattresses Services at Waste Resource Innovation Centre Starting Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the City of Guelph is launching a Mattress Recycling Program. This initiative aims to reduce landfill waste by recycling as much material as possible from discarded mattresses. Key Highlights: Launch date: April 2, 2025 Annual Impact: Diverting approximately 3,000 mattresses (65,000 kg) from the landfill each year Environmental Benefit: Mattresses can take up to 120 years to decompose due to materials like foam, springs, and fabric. Recycling helps mitigate this long-term environmental impact. Collection Points: Every mattress dropped off at the Waste Resource Innovation Centre or picked up from the curb from April 2 onwards will be collected and recycled. Commitment to Sustainability: As outlined in Guelph’s Waste Management Master Plan, the… Continue reading Keep Mattresses out of The Landfill

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FCM Green Municipal Fund (GMF) grant will help reduce food waste in Guelph Guelph, Ont., March 10, 2025 – Guelph has received a $500,000 grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF) to reduce food waste. The funding will support three pilot programs: Food Redistribution: Starting this month, this project will capture surplus edible food and redistribute it to charity organizations using the B12Give app. Organics Collection: This ongoing project expands a cooperative model for organics collection in the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (IC&I) sector to divert food waste from landfills. Energy Generation: This project explores the feasibility of generating energy from organics processing through anaerobic digestion. Implementation This funding will offer the City of Guelph the tools to implement a… Continue reading City of Guelph receives $500,000 from Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to support circular food economy

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Shopping sustainably in Guelph just got easier! On March 1, 2025, changes to Guelph’s Single-Use Items By-law (2024) – 20938 came into effect. When visiting applicable businesses and retailers in Guelph, you should be aware of the following: You can bring a clean reusable drink cup for in-store beverage orders. Single-use accessory food ware items will only be available by request or at self-serve stations (e.g., beverage cup sleeves and trays, condiments, utensils, and stir sticks; straws are exempt). Paper shopping bags must contain 40% post-consumer recycled content. These changes are part of Phase 2 of Guelph’s Single-Use Items Reduction Strategy, which is included in the Solid Waste Management Master Plan (SWMMP). During the development of Phase 2, the City consulted with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health… Continue reading Single-use items reduction strategy: phase two now in effect

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The City of Guelph is recruiting Downtown property owners and managers, businesses and institutions, and organizations with potential interest in coordinating waste management to join the Downtown Solid Waste User Fee Working Group. The group will collaborate with City staff throughout 2025 to: Help plan a new downtown solid waste user fee program in 2026 and beyond. Explore options and impacts of various programs. Provide feedback to inform the next steps for waste services. How to Get Involved City staff will be going door to door this February to speak with businesses, understand their needs and recruit those interested to join the working group. You can also get involved by: Visiting Have Your Say to submit an application. Contacting Robertson Reid at 519-822-1260×2104 or [email protected]… Continue reading The City of Guelph is recruiting for the Downtown Solid Waste User Fee Working Group

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Guelph, Ont., December 23, 2024 – On January 1, 2025, rates and fees for some City services and programs will increase. Check the 2025 rates, fees and charges guide for a full list of the rates and the changes with the effective date of change. The changes are part of the Council-adopted 2025 Budget Confirmation.  Water, wastewater and stormwater rates The volume charges for water will increase by nine cents to $2.21 per cubic metre, and the volume charges for wastewater will increase by 8 cents to $2.32 per cubic metre. Daily basic service charges are also changing, with the magnitude of the change depending on the size of the meter. Monthly stormwater fees will increase to $10.00—an increase of $1.20 per month.   Parking… Continue reading Some City rates and fees changing January 1

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Commencing January 1, 2025 Guelph, Ont., December 19, 2024 – Beginning January 1, 2025, the self-service paper shredder at the Waste Resource Innovation Centre (WRIC) will no longer operate due to changes from the provincial Blue Box Regulation. Shredded and un-shredded paper is still being collected using the following options: Drop off shredded paper in clear plastic bags at Gate 1 of the WRIC (public drop off), free of charge. Put shredded paper in clear plastic bags and place it in your blue cart. Drop off un-shredded paper and recycling at Gate 1 of the WRIC (public drop off), free of charge. If you need to shred paper, services are available from local paper shredding services and office supply and print shops, or you can… Continue reading Paper shredder will no longer be available at the Waste Resource Innovation Centre

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This fall, Guelph residents have four ways to get rid of their leaves and yard waste: Mulch leaves and leave them on your lawn for healthy grass next spring or use leaves – whole or mulched – to insulate and protect your garden beds over winter. From now until December 1, bag leaves or put them in an appropriate container labelled “yard waste” and place them at the curb on your grey cart collection day. Learn more about getting your yard waste ready for curbside collection at guelph.ca/yardwaste, and remember: leaves, grass clippings, and yard waste can’t go in your green cart. If you live in a neighbourhood with mature trees, rake your loose leaves to the curb no earlier than November 8, 2024 for pick up… Continue reading Tips for managing fall yard waste in Guelph

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Curbside collection will be maintained Guelph, Ont., October 21, 2024 – Starting January 1, 2025, Waste Management Corporation of Canada (WM) will be responsible for collecting blue box recycling including blue carts in Guelph. The City of Guelph will still collect garbage, organics, and yard waste as usual. WM has confirmed to the City that it plans to keep the collection days and carts for recycling the same, but pick-up times for recyclables might change. The City will continue to accept residents and businesses’ recycling at the public drop-off area of the Waste Resource Innovation Centre at 110 Dunlop Drive in 2025. Prior to the transition, WM will launch a customer service phone line, email, and customer service website with a chat feature to assist… Continue reading Blue box recycling collection in Guelph to transition to Waste Management Corporation of Canada in January 2025

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The City of Guelph with Guelph Tool Library are delivering opportunities to participate in Circular Economy Month Guelph, Ont., October 1, 2024 – This October, the City of Guelph is again participating in the nationwide campaign, Circular Economy Month, to educate and inspire action toward reducing waste and diverting materials from landfills. By minimizing single-use items and maximizing repair and reuse efforts, materials are being used for as long as possible before disposal. Circular Economy Month also encourages communities to promote environmental sustainability and positive climate change actions, like repairing items to extend their lifespan!  The City of Guelph is proud to participate in these initiatives, partnering with local organizations such as the Guelph Tool Library to host a variety of activities and events throughout… Continue reading Participate in Circular Economy Month events!

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Guelph, Ont., September 23, 2024 – To kick off Circular Economy Month, you’re invited to an open house at the Waste Resource Innovation Centre to learn how Guelph processes and diverts garbage, recycling, and organics. Circular Economy Month is an annual campaign that encourages communities to support local economic initiatives that assist environmental sustainability and positive climate change actions. During the open house, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the people working behind the scenes in waste management around Guelph, tour the facility, view the collection vehicles and equipment, and explore various environmental programs offered by the City. Date: Saturday, October 5 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Location: Waste Resource Innovation Centre (110 Dunlop Drive, Guelph). Please enter Gate 2. Tours: Every 30 minutes… Continue reading Let’s talk trash – Join us for an open house at the Waste Resource Innovation Centre!

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City Council gave preliminary approval to three recommendations for Phase 2 of the City of Guelph’s Single-Use Items Reduction Strategy as part of the Solid Waste Management Master Plan (SWMMP). Continue reading Guelph set to further reduce single-use items

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In 2022, Guelph Council approved a single-use items bylaw that banned plastic shopping bags and polystyrene foam containers and cups. At that time, Council also asked us to collect feedback from the community about paying fees for disposable cups and reusable bags. We appreciated the community feedback and having heard that some community members supported paying fees, we’re focusing on changes businesses and customers can make to reduce the amount of single-use item waste they generate.   We’re asking local food-service businesses to provide feedback on how they can support our waste reduction strategy. Specifically, how easy, or difficult it would be for businesses to:  accept a customer’s clean reusable cup and container,  offer in-restaurant dishware for dine-in drinks and food,  offer foodware accessories (e.g.,… Continue reading City of Guelph asks businesses to support waste reduction strategy

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