![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6970481.1721410166!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
Here's how the County of Simcoe proposes pushing residents to participate in organics program
The County of Simcoe is proposing introducing measures to ensure residents participate in its organics program after a recent audit revealed that nearly half of the waste tossed into garbage carts didn't belong there.
The audit also noted that one-quarter of residents are not participating in the organics program every week.
To address the shortfall, County staff are recommending a new policy: Garbage carts will only be collected if an organics cart is curbside as well.
Rob McCullough, the County's director of solid waste, explained that when organics end up in the landfill, they decompose. That decomposition process generates methane, and methane is "as much as 80 times more destructive as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas."
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Staff would like to see the program have a soft launch on November 1 and officially begin one month later.
The organics program aims to reduce waste dumped at the landfill. Since 2008, the County reports over 200,000 tonnes of organics have been diverted from the landfill.
Residents seeking to be exempt from the organics program, like those with composts, may have to undergo scrutiny from the County.
While the Council is prepared to consider exemptions, staff recommend visiting the property to determine whether there are any organic materials in their garbage. If approved for an exemption, those residents would be required to use clear garbage bags going forward.
To encourage everyone to participate in the organics program, the County is reducing the $50 fee for those without a cart to $25 from October 1 to the end of the year.
The new recommended measures are expected to yield an additional 3,000 tonnes of organics annually.
The County will officially vote on the proposal in the coming weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6970035.1721392588!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Canadian flights, hospitals, border disrupted during global technology outage
A global technology outage grounded flights, disrupted hospitals and backed up border crossings in Canada on Friday, as issues persisted hours after problems with Microsoft services were said to be getting fixed.
LIVE UPDATES Here's the latest on Canadian impacts of the global IT outage
The latest developments on the Canadian impacts of the global technology outage that is causing massive disruptions to companies and services around the world.
BREAKING LCBO reaches tentative agreement to end strike, stores could reopen Tuesday
The LCBO has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing approximately 10,000 of its employees, paving the way for stores to reopen as early as Tuesday.
'Do not use homemade sunscreen,' Health Canada warns
Health Canada warned the public in an official statement Friday against homemade sunscreen after viral posts showed social media influencers creating recipes for SPF.
opinion Trump's assassination attempt not a political winner
Danger and fear are so pervasive throughout the national political ethos it is now the norm, writes Washington political columnist Eric Ham.
Saskatchewan Party nominee Meghan Mayer withdraws, apologizes for putting child in blackface
A former Saskatchewan Party nominee has apologized for putting a student in blackface.
Ontario woman says she was sold 'crumbling' house despite home inspection
As an Ontario woman put away her China dishes after Christmas Dinner in 2018, she noticed her cabinet doors refused to shut.
How the CrowdStrike global IT outage affected Canadians
A global technology outage linked to a faulty software update has had a ripple effect on Canadians.
Cape Breton moose hunting suspended for 3 years due to 'significant' drop in population
Nova Scotia is suspending the licensed Cape Breton moose hunt for three years due to what the province is calling a “significant drop” in the population.