Sarnia City Council is set to award new waste collection and processing contracts that include a provincially mandated organics program and a significant hit to the municipal budget.
Sarnia City Council is preparing to overhaul the city’s waste management system with the introduction of a green bin organics program that comes with a substantial price tag. A staff report recommends awarding a seven-year curbside collection contract to Marcotte Disposal Inc. and an organics processing contract to Convertus Canada Ltd.
The new program is driven by provincial regulations that require municipalities of Sarnia’s size to divert organic waste from landfills. To accommodate this, the proposed service level includes weekly collection of green bins and yard waste, but reduces garbage collection to every other week.
Staff estimate the new contracts will increase the city’s solid waste management costs by approximately $1.136 million annually. This represents a 1.25 per cent increase to the municipal property tax rate.
The total value of the curbside collection contract with Marcotte Disposal is approximately $18.2 million over the seven-year term. The organics processing deal with Convertus Canada is valued at roughly $5.1 million.
The proposed system allows residents to place a wide range of materials in the green bin, including food waste, pet waste, and diapers. By co-mingling yard waste with organic waste, the city aims to save approximately $630,000 annually by eliminating separate yard waste collection cycles.
Implementation of the new service is targeted for the spring of 2027. The delayed start is intended to allow the contractors sufficient time to procure the necessary trucks and equipment.
The city also faces an estimated $1.5 million cost to purchase the green carts required for the program. Staff noted that Sarnia is the only lower-tier municipality in Lambton County obligated to implement this program and plan to discuss cost-sharing with the County, which will see savings from reduced landfill usage.
