Orillia's garbage bag program a clear success, City says

The City of Orillia says its clear garbage bag program reduced curbside waste by nearly 40 per cent since it launched one year ago.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
The program started in February last year, with the City requiring residents and businesses to use only clear plastic bags for garbage rather than black or green ones.
Mayor Don McIsaac says the program "significantly increased" composting and recycling efforts.
"Orillia's landfill space is limited, and finding new disposal capacity will be very expensive for Orillia taxpayers," said Greg Preston, environmental services manager.
Starting in 2024, the City plans to launch a pay-as-you-throw program, where households will only pay for the garbage they produce, meaning those who generate less waste will pay less for garbage disposal.
The City says each household could save about $31 in property taxes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada sticking with 2050 net zero targets, but progress may come faster than expected, minister says
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says the federal government is not ruling out finding ways to achieve net zero sooner than the existing 2050 goal, but would not say whether there would be a definitive commitment to move up the target.

Huda Mukbil, CSIS's first Black Arab-Canadian Muslim, spy opens up about her fight against terrorism and discrimination
Huda Mukbil, Canada's first Black Arab-Canadian Muslim spy, opens up in her new book about life in the world of espionage and the discrimination she faced within the CSIS.
Increase in mosquitoes 'a trend' across Canada this year. Here's why
Mosquitoes have always been pesky, but this spring it seems the bloodsuckers are thirstier than ever, a trend one expert says is increasing.
Four kids and one man drown after Quebec fishing accident: provincial police
A fishing excursion ended in tragedy on Saturday when four children died in a village in northeastern Quebec, provincial police said.
Indian railways official says error in signalling system led to crash that killed 275 people
The derailment in eastern India that killed 275 people and injured hundreds was caused by an error in the electronic signalling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks and crash into a freight train, officials said Sunday.
Ukrainian president says at least 500 children killed by war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia's war, now in its 16th month, has killed at least 500 Ukrainian children.
China rebukes U.S., Canadian navies for Taiwan Strait transit
China's military rebuked the United States and Canada for 'deliberately provoking risk' after the countries' navies staged a rare joint sailing through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
Alcohol policies in every province, territory receive failing grade in meeting public health standards: report
A new report has found that alcohol policies in all provinces and territories are failing to meet public health standards.
Antipsychotic drugs use increased in Canadian long-term care homes, pointing to possible quality-of-care issues: study
New study finds increase in antipsychotic drugs use in long-term care homes across Canada, despite no significant increase in behavioural symptoms – something that may expose a potential area of concern for quality of care, researchers say.