The collection of leaf and yard brush at the four Trent Lakes transfer stations increased by almost 800 per cent in 2025 as a result of the March ice storm.
This was one of the statistics that Matt Winjes, Supervisor of Waste /Public Works Coordinator, presented at his annual Waste and Recycling Summary to Council this week.
In 2024 2,680 square yards of leaf and yard brush were brought to the stations and that increased to 21,200 square yards in 2025.
Winjes said these numbers are difficult to calculate so the numbers are imprecise, but added that the ice storm was an anomaly.
“I don’t think this is anywhere near what we took in,” Mayor Terry Lambshead added. “I think it was a lot more than that and there is still more out there.”
Winjes told council that since the municipality has transitioned to the provincial Producer Responsibility Blue Box recycling program staff have not encountered any opposition from members of the public and overall cooperation has been strong.
Trent Lakes began transitioning to the new program in 2024 and the full program began running on January 1, 2026.
“It is anticipated that the effectiveness of this approach will be more fully tested during the summer months when seasonal population increases and short term rental activity rises,” he said. “Despite the changes brought on by the new regulation, Trent Lakes Transfer Stations continued to maintain a high level of service.”
Winjes said that while solid waste production per capital increased by two per cent in Peterborough County, Trent Lakes had a one per cent decrease in waste.
Waste deposits in Trent Lakes decreased by 11 per cent during the last three months of 2025, he added.
During 2025 there were two new semi-underground organics collection containers installed at the Bobcaygeon Transfer Station. The station began accepting organic material in October and 4.2 tonnes of material have been collected so far at the site.
Based on the success at Bobcaygeon, Winjes said staff plan to install organics collection containers at the Crystal Lake and Cavendish Transfer Stations later this year.
Other interesting statistics showing changes between 2024 and 2025 in the report show that there was a decrease of 56 per cent for car batteries, a 216 per cent increase in empty automobile plastics/antifreeze containers, and an increase of 36 per cent of household hazardous waste.The number of car tires brought to transfer stations increased from 783 in 2024 to 1125 in 2025, or by 44 per cent.
