The City of Peterborough is rolling out a series of new measures aimed at making waste disposal easier, reducing illegal dumping and improving cleanliness in parks, streets and public spaces through its Clean Streets Peterborough program.
The initiative was developed in response to concerns raised through a public survey, community feedback and operational experience, with residents citing issues such as overflowing bins, improper waste set-outs, bulky items left at the curb and waste accumulation in parks and neighbourhoods.
“We’ve heard from residents that illegal dumping, overflowing bins and waste in public spaces are concerns,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This program responds by making proper disposal easier, improving education and reporting tools, and strengthening our ability to keep public spaces clean and welcoming for everyone.”
The program includes several service and policy changes designed to reduce barriers to proper waste disposal. Among them, the city will waive large article collection fees in 2026 and reduce the cost of a replacement green bin cart from $88.49 to $35.40.
Residential garbage bag limits will also be temporarily increased from four bags to eight bags until Dec. 31, 2027.
City officials say the program also includes enhanced public education and outreach, targeted engagement with landlords, property managers, businesses and multi-residential properties, and improvements to waste reporting tools for residents.
Additional measures include increased park cleanup support, a targeted surveillance camera pilot in selected parks and public spaces, and expanded monitoring and enforcement in areas identified as problem spots.
Waste-related concerns have been rising across Peterborough, particularly in parks, downtown areas and locations where public bins are frequently used for household garbage. The city says contributing factors include missed collection days, disposal fees, bag limits and limited options for some residents.
The Clean Streets program combines education, service adjustments, enforcement and monitoring in an effort to improve compliance and reduce littering and dumping across the city.
City staff will track results through waste collection data, tonnage reports, large article pickup volumes, park and bin waste levels, complaint trends and enforcement activity. That data will be used to inform future decisions on waste services, organics participation, multi-residential collection and long-term landfill planning.
