New operator leaves recycling at the curb

Recycling bins, overflowing after the holidays, were left at the curb Wednesday.

It was the first scheduled pick-up under the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework implemented by the province of Ontario that shifted recycling collection from the County of Simcoe.

This province-wide transition shifts responsibility for the collection and processing of blue box materials from municipalities to producers of recyclable products.

Effective Jan. 1, residential recycling collection in Simcoe County is now managed by Circular Materials, a not-for-profit organization appointed by producers.

Information on the Simcoe County website indicated that recycling would be collected on the same day as previously scheduled, using the same carts in trucks operated by Emterra Environmental Inc.

A posting on the Emterra website indicated that missed pick-ups in the north end of Simcoe county earlier in the week were weather related.

There is no reference to the Creemore area and no one from Emterra or Circular Materials could be reached prior to press time.

A New Lowell resident who was able to get through to a customer service representative said she too was told inclement weather was the reason for the service disruption. She was instructed to leave her recycling bin at the curb and it would be emptied by end of day Thursday.

By Thursday afternoon parts of Clearview Township had been serviced.

For updated recycling information, visit www.circularmaterials.ca.

The County of Simcoe continues to manage garbage and organics collection, as well as operate waste- drop off facilities as usual.

Update: After press time The Echo received the following statement from Allen Langdon, CEO, Circular Materials.

“Minor delays to recycling collection on certain streets in Simcoe County were caused this week by heavy snowfall and freezing rain. Residents have been notified using our regular weather service alerts. Our service provider, Emterra Environmental, has deployed additional trucks to support recycling collection in the midst of this inclement weather and expects to complete collection by the end of the week. Residents are asked to please leave their recycling out to support pick up. We understand how challenging service disruptions can and we thank residents for their patience.”