Halton is committed to diverting waste from our landfill and keeping Halton a sustainable place to live. As part of this commitment, this spring, Halton Region will once again offer its popular spring waste events. The Region offers these services to help divert waste from Halton’s landfill by making it easy for residents to properly dispose of waste, helping Halton become a more sustainable place to live.
Regional Council is committed to protecting and enhancing our rich, natural environment by continuing to work with residents to increase the Region’s waste diversion rate. Our spring events not only provide residents with an opportunity to properly dispose of waste, but it also gives Halton an opportunity to give back to the community.
The compost program was created in 1996 from yard waste, and the green cart program in 2008. The Yard Waste Program provides the material for the Compost Giveaway, and the Green Cart Programs is produces Compost used by the Region. In 2014, 39,000 tonnes of compost was created from yard waste and 28,556 tonnes of Green Cart organics were converted into compost.
Material that is placed in the landfill stays there forever. It never goes away, and the cost involved in building a new site is significant. Residential participation in Halton Region’s recycling and composting programs have helped extend the lifespan of the Halton Waste Management Site from 2012 to 2044 and will save taxpayers over $15 million by deferring the significant cost of building a new landfill.
Spring Compost Giveaway
During the 2016 Spring Compost Giveaway, residents are given an opportunity to stop by the Halton Waste Management Site (HWMS), located at 5400 Regional Road 25 in Milton, to pick up high-quality compost free of charge. Residents are reminded to bring their own bags or containers (maximum seven garbage bags or equivalent per household) and a shovel in order to bag their compost.
Residents are invited to attend the event during the following hours from Monday, May 9, 2016 to Saturday, May 14, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 15 ,2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m..
Residents attending the event are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation, which will be distributed to Halton area food banks. During last year’s Compost Giveaway events, 4,400 residents picked up approximately 2,000 tonnes of compost. Residents also donated $9,784 and close to 4,500 kilograms of food to local food banks as part of the event. For a complete list of event details, please visit halton.ca/compost.
Compost produced but not given away at the Halton Waste Management Site is used in bulk applications for landscaping projects, potting mixes, blown compost, and community and rooftop gardens around the region.