Aurora residents: don't be alarmed if you see people spying on your garbage

Town conducting blue box, garbage bag limit audits until Dec. 15

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 28, 2020
Lisa Queen

Don’t be surprised if you find people peeking at your garbage during the next couple of months.

The town is conducting visual audits of residents’ blue boxes and garbage bags until Dec. 15.

The blue box audit is aimed at seeing if residents are throwing in items that aren’t meant for recycling bins.

The solid waste audit will see if residents are throwing out more than the allowable limit.

According to the town’s website, residents can place up to three bags or containers and up to five bulky items out for pick up every other week on regularly scheduled collection days.

Those not following the rules during the audit period will receive a door knocker providing them with information on the town’s waste programs and how to be in compliance.

As of January, garbage bags will not be collected beyond the three-bag limit.

Additional waste beyond the limit will have a non-compliant sticker placed on it and will be left behind.

If you have additional waste, hold onto the items until the next waste collection week or drop off at the closest waste depot transfer station.

Reaction to the audits appears to be mixed, according to posts on the town’s Facebook page.

“This is a great initiative. I know personally I would value some tips on how to make sure I’m recycling right -- and what the impacts are of recycling contamination,” one post said.

But one person said the audits will discourage recycling.

“It’s bad enough you can’t use recycling bags when the bins are full,” the post said.

“Make it easier, not harder or embarrassing or expect the opposite result of what you were looking to achieve.”

For more information, visit aurora.ca/wasteandrecycling.