Essex County Council recently reviewed the ongoing costs and future contingency plans associated with the regional green bin organics program. The update provided clarity on current processing expenses and how the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority might respond if the provincial government moves forward with a ban on organic waste in landfills.
The County of Essex paid Seacliff Energy Corp. $135 per tonne in 2025 for organic waste processing, with the rate rising to $140 per tonne in 2026 under a five-year contract that includes optional three-year extensions, reaching $172 per tonne by 2032 if extended. The Leamington-based facility utilizes anaerobic digestion to convert this organic material into fertilizer and renewable energy. The program, which launched in October 2025 for residents in Phase 1 municipalities like Tecumseh, has already diverted nearly 5,000 tonnes of waste, a necessary step to extend the lifespan of the regional landfill until 2040.
Should the Province of Ontario implement a formal ban on sending organics to landfills, local waste management authorities are preparing potential enforcement measures. The waste authority indicated that it would review provincial requirements and potentially recommend the adoption of bag limits or clear bag requirements for residential trash. Any such changes would require approval from the regional board, with notification provided to both the City of Windsor and County councils.
The organic waste collection service is managed by the authority, which was established by the County and the City of Windsor in 1994. While Phase 1 communities are already participating, the program will expand to Phase 2 municipalities, including Amherstburg, Kingsville, and Leamington, in November 2026.
