Because You Asked is an opportunity to provide helpful context and information about issues the community is asking about. Got a question? Email Jillian Follert at follertj@whitby.ca
Spring is when I most often receive questions about waste containers and litter, as the snow melts and reveals debris that has accumulated over the winter.
The Town collects over 320 metric tonnes of parks waste each year with our Roads and Parks teams conducting regular litter collection year-round in parks, trails, parking lots, traffic islands, roadsides and in Downtown Whitby and Brooklin.
In the summer, garbage is collected from waste receptacles in parks seven days a week, 10 hours per day by two crews that also pick up litter and debris in and around parks. This level of service is reduced in the winter to coincide with lower park usage.
There are over 400 waste receptacles located in Whitby’s parks and trails. The Town is moving towards the installation of more in-ground waste receptacles with almost 100 of these units currently installed in our parks.
The in-ground containers greatly increase capacity -- they can hold up to 1,100 litres of garbage and need to be emptied less frequently.
They have also proven to greatly reduce public dumping, due to the small round opening as opposed to an open top. The in-ground containers also reduce odour and are more pest and animal resistant.
The Town has close to 100 streetside waste and recycling containers located in Downtown Whitby and Downtown Brooklin, which are serviced twice weekly. There are also dozens of waste and recycling containers installed at high visibility locations throughout the town that are maintained by a third party at no cost to the taxpayer.
Waste containers at bus stops and in bus shelters are the responsibility of Durham Region Transit.
We’re also incredibly grateful that many members of our community volunteer to help keep our Town beautiful.
Every year, dozens of groups volunteer to complete community cleanups though the Town’s Anti-Litter Cleanup Program.
Click for more information if you’re a resident, business or community group looking to schedule a one-time clean-up, or adopt a park, trail or road to keep clean for a minimum of two years.
The Town will provide those who register with a free cleanup kit that includes bags and gloves and will also collect the waste following the event.
In an effort to reduce blowing debris, the Town also sends out alerts on the Waste Buddy App reminding residents to secure loose items in their blue bins or consider holding onto blue box material until the next collection.
The Town also works year-round to discourage illegal dumping by enforcing bylaws and issuing fines when violations occur. Staff monitor trouble spots and often partner with Durham Region Police Service for help with surveillance.
Town staff also collaborate with local retailers to remove shopping carts from public right of ways and proactively remove marketing signs from roadsides.
