City of Guelph
Menu
Home » Plans and strategies » Solid Waste Management Master Plan

Solid Waste Management Master Plan

The City recently updated the 2014 Solid Waste Management Master Plan (SWMMP) to explore new and innovative ways of supporting our growing community’s waste management needs. The updated plan was approved by Council in 2022.  

The Solid Waste Management Master Plan guides how Guelph manages waste today and provides strategic direction for the next 25 years. It outlines recommendations to reduce waste, improve recycling, support the circular economy and plan long-term infrastructure. 

Read the Executive Summary [PDF]
Read the full Solid Waste Management Master Plan [PDF]

Key focus areas and recommendations 

The City completed extensive engagement to ensure the updated Solid Waste Management Master Plan is reflective of Guelph residents, businesses, City staff and key stakeholders. 

The SWMMP provides a roadmap for Guelph’s waste management through the identification of 29 strategic recommendations across 12 focus areas: 

Last update: April 2026 

Recommendation  Status  Notes 
Residual waste management   Deferred

Conducted research into alternative methods of waste disposal and will be exploring further.

Deferred to 2029 due to budget constraints.
Monitoring and updating the plan   Deferred  Deferred until 2029 
Blue Box transition  On track  Blue box changes

Recommendation  Status  Notes 
Phase 1, targeted program  Complete  Single-use items reduction strategy and ban
Phase 2, expanded program  Complete  Single-use items reduction strategy and ban

Recommendation  Status  Notes 
Downtown waste collection service   On track Have Your Say – Downtown Waste Project 
Downtown public space containers   On track Have Your Say – Downtown Shared Waste Container Pilot 

Recommendation  Status  Notes 
Small, mixed-use buildings   Complete Waste collection for businesses 
Institutional facilities   Complete Waste collection for businesses 
Schools   Deferred Work has been initiated

Recommendation  Status  Notes 
Circular Economy Policy   On track Circular Economy webpage 
Attract circular economy businesses    Complete/on track Work completed through COIL.

Currently working with Boundless Accelerator; the City of Guelph is providing in-kind value to support the training and networking of circular businesses in their Southern Ontario Environmental Impact Fund and program cohorts therein.
Waste exchange programs       Complete/on track Work completed through COIL.
Zero Waste Economy Transformation Lab     Complete Zero Waste Economic Transformation Lab 

Recommendation  Status  Notes 
Increase the annual promotion and education budget to $4/household   Deferred This initiative is not currently funded as part of the City’s 2024-2027 multi-year budget.
Enhance support for outreach and communication      On track Two consultants were retained to conduct market research and develop an outreach strategy.

Work completed in 2024.

Recommendations will be incorporated into the Solid Waste Programs work plan.
Youth promotion and education     Deferred This initiative is not currently funded as part of the City’s 2024-2027 multi-year budget.

Recommendation  Status  Notes 
Community sharing and repair      On track The 2026 draft budget includes a Community Benefit Agreement with the Guelph Tool Library.  
Support community organizations        On track The 2026 draft budget includes a Community Benefit Agreement with the Guelph Tool Library.  
Waste recovery “shopping”     Deferred This initiative is not currently funded as part of the City’s 2024-2027 multi-year budget.
Textile reuse and recycling    Complete Textile reuse and recycling initiatives completed through the City’s collaboration with the Guelph Tool Library, including repair cafes and third-party recyclers for items not recycled through municipal programs.

Clothing donation locations

Recommendation  Status  Notes 
Collect more waste streams at the public drop-off and/or options for public access     Mattress recycling implemented – Complete and future work TBD. Pilot completed in 2023.

Officially launched program in 2025.

4879 units (mattresses and boxsprings) diverted as of October 7, 2025.
Second public drop-off and/or options for public access     Deferred This initiative is not currently funded as part of the City’s 2024-2027 multi-year budget.
Collect more residential waste     On track  Work has been initiated.
Improve diversion in apartment and condominium buildings    Deferred The focus has been on transitioning multi-residential properties.

No ambassador program at this time.

Recommendation  Status  Notes 
Process yard waste     Deferred This initiative is not currently funded as part of the 2024-2027 multi-year budget.
On-site composting    Ongoing – at risk Compost at home or at work

Recommendation Status Notes
Community-based social marketing     Complete The Gold Star program was piloted in 2023 as part of the Curbside Inspection Program. No longer funded.
Conduct regular waste composition audits    Deferred Completed seasonally since 2021-2025, but not currently funded as part of the 2024-2027 multi-year budget.

Recommendation Status Notes
Implement disposable bans     To be scheduled  
Enhance education and enforcement mechanisms    Deferred Curbside inspections conducted between 2021-2024, but not currently funded as part of the 2024-2027 multi-year budget. 

AI initiative deferred due to budget constraints.

Recommendation Status Notes
Assess user fee structure and subsidization levels      On track Downtown User Fee Study
Learn more about the Solid Waste Master Plan recommendations [PDF]

For more information

Solid Waste Resources 
519-767-0598; TTY: 519-826-9771 
[email protected] 

Resources