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Solid waste user fee study

Change is coming to Downtown waste collection! 

The provincial Blue Box Regulation has changed how recycling is operated and Guelph’s own Downtown Renewal Program will bring in enhanced waste infrastructure over the next decade. 

A Council-approved user fee Study is underway in 2025 to determine how industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) waste collection may continue and how it can be fairly and sustainably funded through these changes. 

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135 participants

Who's Listening

Roberston Reid, Project Manager Solid Waste Resources, rob.reid@guelph.ca

Tracy Suerich, Community Engagement Advisor, City of Guelph, tracy.suerich@guelph.ca

Phases

Phases overview
Background
Meeting with businesses
Downtown businesses: current waste needs
Working Group meetings
Local events and institutions: waste needs
Preferred options
Report to Council

Preferred options

July 25, 2025 - September 29, 2025

This survey is now closed

Thanks to everyone who shared their feedback in this round of engagement. We'll be back soon to report on what we've heard and where we are going from here.

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Hey Downtown Businesses!

We want to know your thoughts to help us finalize options under consideration for a Solid Waste User Fee system in Downtown.

As the City invests in better waste infrastructure Downtown, we’re also exploring introducing a waste user fee for businesses. This fee would help ensure the system is both fair and financially sustainable. At this stage, no decisions have been made about what the fee would look like, how much it would be, or when it would start. That’s why we want to hear from you. Your feedback will help shape how a potential user fee is developed—what it should include, and how it can respond to what matters most to you.

We need all business voices to be part of the study and reflected in our report going back to Council later this year. 

There are three ways to participate!

  • Take the online survey (see the "take the survey" button on this page - upper corner on desktop or bottom of our screen on mobile)
  • Our staff will be out in the Downtown with door-to-door visits to talk with businesses and walk through the survey together
  • We are hosting an Open House to share what we've learned and discuss the options being considered with the broader Downtown business community. Drop in on August 6, 2025 any time between 6 and 8 p.m. at Guelph City Hall


Hey Special Event organizers:

Our Survey for special event waste needs Is still open until September 7 Check out Phase four of this project for more details.

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