Georgian Bluffs is apologizing to its residents over issues with waste collection.
Mayor Sue Carleton read a statement apologizing for the service during a council meeting on Jan. 15 after receiving complaints from residents.
“We would like to sincerely apologize for the repeated challenges faced with garbage and recycling collections and the inconvenience this has caused. We agree the current frequency of incomplete, missed and failed collections is not acceptable and we are seeking to address this to the fullest extent possible under the terms of the contract we currently have,” says Carleton.
During a closed session, council discussed legal advise on how the municipality can address the issue.
“We have shared the significance of these concerns with our contractor and further highlighted the need for immediate service improvements,” says Carleton. “The township’s existing agreement with Waste Management will be ending in 2026. Securing a new contract for garbage collection is a priority for council.”
She says while council undergoes this process, they aim to address issues residents have experienced with waste collection over recent years.
“Township staff have issued a request for proposal last Friday (Jan. 10) to identify potential contractors to provide waste collection services to the township from 2026 to 2031,” says Carleton.
Once applications are sent in, staff will bring a report back to council on which contractor to move ahead with. Negotiations will then take place to start waste collection services in 2026.
“In the meantime, staff and council will continue to work within the existing contract to address performance issues and concerns and will continuously seek to provide and improve service to residents who have faced unacceptable issues with their garbage and recycling collection,” says Carleton.
