Council committee supports increased tipping fees

Community Landfill By Evan Demicoli-Free Use Domain-Unsplash

By Cecilia Nasmith

If Northumberland County council agrees at its January meeting to a recommendation made this week at its Public Works Committee meeting, tipping fees will increase at Community Recycling Centres in Bewdley, Brighton and Seymour as of April 1.

The changes were presented in a report from Associate Director of Operations Adam McCue that the committee accepted without comment or debate, passing a motion to recommend that county council approve the changes.

McCue's report stated that rates have remained unchanged since 2020 (with the exception of a surcharge for mattresses and box springs). The current tipping fee cost is $130 per tonne or $13 minimum for loads under 100 kg. compared to $15 minimum ($140/tonne) for the City of Kawartha Lakes, $12 minimum ($150/tonne) for the County and City of Peterborough and $27.29 ($156/tonne) for the Waste Management Transfer Station in Colborne.

At the three Northumberland CRC’s, it’s also $130/tonne for leaf and yard waste, though the first 500 kg. received is currently free.

Mattresses and box springs have a $20 unit surcharge on top of the standard tipping fee.

Blue- and grey-box recycling items – along with used clothing, tires, household hazardous waste and e-waste items – are accepted free.

Proposed changes call for garbage, drywall, scrap metal and white goods, bulky plastics and commercial recyclables to increase to $150/tonne or a minimum $15 for loads under 100 kg.

Leaf and yard waste will be $75/tonne or $7.50 for loads under 100 kg., and the mattresses and box springs surcharge remains at $20.

If implemented April 1, the report gives a conservative estimate that tipping-fee revenue could increase by approximately $190,000 in 2026 and $250,000 annually thereafter.