A lot of Simcoe County residents cleaned out their closets last year.
As part of the County of Simcoe’s committee of the whole meeting this week, councillors received an update on the 2021 textile and electronics collection results, which showed a 144 per cent spike in textile collection volumes over 2019 numbers.
The program was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Approximately 293 tonnes of used clothing, linens, shoes and accessories were collected last year.
“The amount of material collected curbside was significantly greater than estimated, and this is attributed to a variety of factors, including but not limited to 2020’s cancelled collection activities, disrupted donation opportunities and closures throughout the county due to the COVID pandemic, as well as growth in the program,” John Williams, the county's contracts and collections supervisor, noted in his report to council.
The electronics curbside collection program netted more than 160 tonnes of electronics and small electrical equipment in 2021, which is up by 107 per cent compared to the last electronics collection. The program was cancelled in 2019 and 2020, but in 2018, 77 tonnes were collected.
Miller Waste, which also provides regular curbside collection for the county, is responsible for collection services related to both textiles and electronics. A new two-year contract between the county and Miller starting in April 2022, will see Miller continue special collections that also include leaf and yard waste and Christmas tree collection.
Total costs of this program in 2021 — including collections, operations, promotion and education — was $375,954, however the revenue generated was $190,984 for a net cost of $184,970.
“While the growth of this program is very positive, the significant increase in a fixed amount of time did introduce some challenges related to collection, as well as handling, haulage and processing of textiles,” wrote Williams.
