Timmins City Council has approved changes to waste management for rural areas, which will help mitigate illegal dumping, non-compliance waste disposal, and reduce landfill use. The changes are pending approval from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP), and follow a detailed review of landfill capacity, environmental regulations, and community feedback.

In early 2025, the City’s Environmental Services Department reported significant capacity and compliance challenges at rural landfill sites. Council directed staff to provide a detailed service delivery model for hybrid waste management that combines targeted curbside waste collection with transfer sites in rural areas.

The hybrid approach is designed to improve convenience, environmental compliance, and cost-efficiency by:

• Expanding curbside waste and recycling collection for 65% of properties currently using the German Township Landfill (133 of 205 homes).
• Transition the German Township Landfill, Evelyn Township Landfill, and Thornloe Township Landfill into transfer sites
• Enter into an agreement with Circular Materials to fund and manage community recycling depots, including depots at the Deloro Landfill and Tisdale Transfer Site.

“This hybrid model improves waste services for rural residents, making it easier to properly dispose of household waste and recycling,” said Ken Krcel, Director of Public Works and Environmental Services. “The plan balances environmental responsibility with service delivery to help eliminate illegal dumping, non-compliant materials, and reduce overall landfill use, all of which place a significant financial burden on taxpayers.”

Final operating conditions will depend on MECP approval. With approval, the Environmental Services Dept. will develop a communication and implementation plan for both the rollout of curbside collection and the transition of rural landfill sites to transfer sites.