City of Kingston welcomes questions on new waste collection program

The City of Kingston will be moving to an automated garbage and green bin collection program starting in 2025, and is inviting the public to ask questions ahead of the rollout of the new system.

The so-called “cart-based waste collection system” will see the City use trucks to pick up dedicated carts (containing waste or compost) using a mechanical arm attached to the truck. No manual lifting will be required. According to the City, the waste industry as a whole has been undergoing significant changes in recent years and many cities and towns have begun collecting garbage and organics using automated trucks.

“We know many residents are wondering about the transition to cart-based waste collection and how it will work in Kingston. The City will be doing more engagement as the project progresses, but right now we wanted to offer an opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about what this change might look like,” said Adam Mueller, Solid Waste Supervisor with the City of Kingston.

According to the City, the transition will require that residents be provided with collection carts that are compatible with the automated truck and the City would provide these carts for solid waste and organics collection. The benefits of this program may include cleaner streets with less mess, impactful health and safety improvements for staff, and a more accessible solid waste collection system for all residents, the City said.

Residents are invited to submit questions related to the cart-based collection program coming to the city. According to a release from the City, questions will be answered by a City staff member and published on the project page to help all community members learn about the program. The question submission box will close on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at 4 p.m. and answered questions will remain online as a reference.

The City also suggests following the Get Involved Kingston project page to stay updated on progress and to learn more about other engagement opportunities, including in-person sessions coming soon. Questions and other feedback will be used to inform program options, which will also be presented for public input, the City stated

Feedback can also be shared by phone or email. Call 613-546-0000, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or contact the City at [email protected].