Simcoe County to proceed with transfer stations estimated to cost $6 million

Waste Transfer Station

New Tecumseth Free Press Online

Simcoe County councillors approved in committee this morning pushing forward with designing three transfer stations at sites in Bradford, Midland, and Stayner at a cost of $185,000 to coincide with the move to biweekly garbage and recycling collection.

The transfer stations, which will include enclosed buildings, are estimated to cost approximately $2 million each and planned to be operating by November 2021 when the new collection contract takes effect.

The rotating collections – organics (green bin) remains weekly – are expected to generate double the quantity filling trucks up before they’re finished routes and will have to empty before resuming.

“Since the County is geographically large, using one central transfer station would cause significant off-route time; increasing costs for collections and possibly increasing the likelihood of the route not being completed,” according to the report to council. “To assist collections, transfer stations situated closer to where collections are occurring are required in order to support the collection contractor in discharging garbage, recycling and organics, and return to complete their route in a timely manner.”

Biweekly schedule begins the week of Feb. 3 and collectors will continue to off-load at the transfer station in Barrie.

Bradford Mayor Rob Keffer, who asked why buildings were required, was told garbage, recycling, and organics materials had to be covered at the end of each day.

“We want to be good neighbours,” said Rob McCullough, director of solid waste management.