Thunder Bay will be opting out of providing residential recycling services.

Council voted in favour of the recommendation from administration during the transition period of July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025 on behalf of Producers.

“Service will be maintained during that year and a half window, so material will still be collected at the curb,” said Solid Waste and Recycling Services Manager Jason Sherband. “They will still have to maintain three recycling depots in the community, and then in 2026 once that transition period is complete, then Producers will have the ability or authority to make changes how they see fit.”

The ask was made to save the city money, as much as $900,000 in the 2024 budget and as much as $3 million in 2025.

The city estimates that $120,000 is still required in the 2023 Solid Waste and Recycling Services Operating Budget for resources to support transition of services.

Sherband was also asked about negotiating the termination of the current service provider contract with GFL Environmental Incorporated.

“We knew that when we signed that agreement with GFL in 2020, in fact we built the contract knowing that we would be transitioning here at this point. We do have out clauses built in the contract so that is accounted for,” reassured Sherband.

The current provincial Blue Box (blue bag) program funds approximately 50% of municipal costs.

Staff is now tasked with ways to support the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional sector with recycling services and are scheduled to be back before Council on or before December 4th, 2023.