From the District of Muskoka:
The District of Muskoka has been advancing the Solid Waste Master Plan (SWMP) to keep Muskoka on track to meet its waste reduction and diversion targets over the next 30 years. The SWMP is a bold, long-term strategy that will guide how Muskoka manages waste, well beyond the life of the current landfill.
The District is seeking public input on draft options to guide the future of waste management in Muskoka and ultimately reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill. Options include looking at Energy-from-Waste (EfW), different funding models for waste services, and expanded public education campaigns. The District has set ambitious goals to protect the environment for future generations by keeping more than 80% of our waste out of the landfill by 2050.
Residents can share feedback through several options this month:
In-Person Pop-Up Open Houses
- Huntsville Harvest Feast – Saturday, September 13, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Gravenhurst Opera House – Tuesday, September 16, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Each session will be a low-waste, family-friendly event that will allow residents to directly engage with the Solid Waste Master Plan team and provide feedback through interactive activities.
Virtual Lunch and Learn
- Wednesday, September 24, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (registration required)
This online session will offer an overview of the SWMP and include a Q&A platform. A recording will be available following the session.
Online Survey
An online survey is open starting September 10th to gather feedback on draft waste management options, including potential changes to waste collection and waste reduction initiatives.
For more information, to register for the Virtual Lunch and Learn, or to catch up on what has been done over the past year, visit www.engagemuskoka.ca/solid-waste-master-plan.
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Consultation???? They are a waste of the taxpayer’s time. The decisions have already been made. Clear bags, one bag of garbage, much reduced or non existent pickups and drop off points especially for seasonal residents and island taxpayers (who pay the most) . Green bins that are great as snack stops for wildlife (easy to open – lessons not learned from Toronto’s redesigned bins.) Garbage illegally dumped on roadsides. All to save landfill space for massive new developments, 10 storey buildings in Bracebridge.. Who profits – developers & speculators! Who suffers ? You the taxpayer.
Lila, not everyone goes on a computer or uses social media. The district sends a water bill every month. They could easily include info about other district functions on a separate piece of paper. In person sessions are by far the best way to inform and get the opinions and views of all the tax payers. It is much better for people to meet face to face on important issues.
It may be worthwhile ensuring that people are aware that there are numerous contact points with the team managing this project, these just seem to be the most recent and formal (also noting that there is a virtual session that’s recorded).
Check out https://www.engagemuskoka.ca/solid-waste-master-plan
There is lots of information about the work on that site.
Why are there only two in person sessions? Seems like most of the district is being ignored. Online surveys are usually designed to guide a person to a certain answer/result. There should be an in person session held on a weekend in each of the districts lower tier municipalities. In person session will bring forward options that the district may not have considered.