Stayner landfill open for essential use
The County of Simcoe has opened select landfill sites to the public, including the Nottawasaga Landfill Site in Stayner, to allow for urgent and essential waste disposal.
“We made the initial decision to close these sites to the public in order to comply with public health and safety recommendations, as well as in response to an alarming number of non-essential visits to the sites by residents who were in clear violation of public health recommendations to stay home,” said Warden George Cornell. “We can’t stress enough how important it is for residents to stay at home to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 by limiting the spread of this virus. If you are self-isolating due to any symptoms or have recently returned from travel outside the country, please don’t put our staff, other residents and our communities at risk. Stay home, utilize our continuing curbside collections and do your best to find a place to store non-urgent household items that require diverting or disposal until we return to regular operations.”
The County says it has significantly enhanced procedures at four sites to provide additional safety and physical distancing measures for staff and customers. In addition, the County is responding to provincial requests to maintain essential services, especially those for small and vulnerable businesses.
The Stayner site is only open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday, until further Government restrictions occur or staffing challenges arise.
Residents are asked to follow all public health recommendations and use the landfill for critical or essential drop-offs only. People are encouraged to store materials at home if possible and not to make any unnecessary visits to the sites.
To increase the safety of employees the county is implementing a $10 minimum flat fee limit for all residential car and truck drop-offs to reduce scale contact with customers and discourage small, non-urgent loads (mattresses and fridges will be charged separately); Limiting vehicles entering the facility at any given time to reduce contact among customers and employees - this could lead to longer wait times; Speaker systems have been installed at weigh scales to allow for staff/customer transaction through a closed window; Removing split load charges, thus reducing multiple interactions between customers and staff at the weigh scale; however, customers must separate materials into designated areas; Debit and credit only from an exterior terminal - tap being the preferred option; and Increased sanitization and personal protective equipment required for staff. Staff will no longer support individuals with unloading items from customers’ vehicles.
Residents are reminded to utilize curbside organics and recycling, and the two-bag garbage limit on garbage collection weeks as the best means to dispose of their usual household materials. Organics and recycling quantities for curbside collection are unlimited. Please continue to use the green bin as much as possible, and bag and seal organics and garbage to protect the well-being of collection crews. Diapers can be set out in sealed clear bags on garbage weeks and won’t be counted against garbage bag limits.
We encourage residents to download the Simcoe County Collects app, as hours and operations may fluctuate based on staffing levels. Service Simcoe is also open to field inquiries by phone and email Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 705-735-6901 or serivce@simcoe.ca.
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
County of Simcoe photo: Creemore showed waste collection crews some love last week, placing notes on their bins.
