Labourer – Waste Management

How Peel Region mastered multi-res organics engagement. In the world of municipal waste management, high-density residential properties have long been the 'final frontier' for organics diversion. But as Ontario's waste reduction targets tighten, Peel Region isn't just checking boxes - they're rewriting the engagement playbook. By prioritizing a resident-first strategy, Peel Region successfully piloted organic waste collection across several multi-residential buildings, earning the Gold Award for Community Engagement & Outreach at the Municipal Waste Association's (MWA) 2026 Spring Workshop. Here is how they turned a persistent challenge into a scalable model for success. Testing two collection streams across 16 buildings (over 3,300 households) since January 2025, Peel demonstrated how structured communication and practical tools drive lasting behavior change. "These pilots were about more than testing collection methods. They gave Waste & Recycling Magazine an opportunity to better understand how infrastructure, resident experience and consistent, targeted engagement work together to drive diversion outcomes, even in some of the most challenging residential environments, says Ashley Ivanovs, Project Manager, Multi-Residential Policies and Programs for Peel Region's Waste Management division. "What I'm most proud of is that we put residents at the centre of program design from the very beginning while bringing together property management companies and teams across Waste Planning, Waste Collections and Marketing & Communications to deliver a carefully phased engagement strategy," Ashley shares. "From early awareness and clear instructions to starter kits and ongoing reinforcement, each phase was intentionally timed to provide residents with the right information, tools and support at the moment they needed them most. The strong participation rates and positive feedback from residents show that when you support people throughout the process, residents are ready to do their part." Convenient organics collection through existing chute systems To fit varied building designs, Peel deployed two collection models: * Front-End Tri-Sorter Pilot: In buildings with three-way chutes, residents sorted organic waste into kitchen containers with plastic liners and disposed of them down dedicated organics chutes. * Coloured Bag Pilot: In buildings with single garbage chutes, residents placed organics into Peel-supplied green bags, double-knotted them, and dropped them down the standard garbage chute. Both methods maximized convenience by leveraging existing chute systems, avoiding outdoor trips to central bins. A predictable 5-phase engagement model Peel's Waste Planning and Waste Collection teams, in collaboration with Marketing & Communications, structured resident outreach into five sequential phases: * Early Notice (It's Coming): Property managers and residents were engaged early through lobby digital screens, bulletin boards, and email blasts to introduce program goals. * System Instructions (Get Ready): Customized door hangers delivered explicit "what goes where" rules specific to each building's chute stream. * Countdowns (Reminder): Prominent signage built pre-launch awareness and outlined starter kit collection dates. * Hands-On Tools (Starter Kits): Every unit received a free kitchen container, visual "Acceptable Items" fridge magnet, instructional postcard, and green bags (where applicable). Delivery reached 90 per cent plus of households prior to launch. * Reinforcement & Feedback: Monthly communications shared practical tips (e.g., freezing odorous scraps) alongside building waste audit results to track continuous progress. Measurable results and impact Mid-pilot resident surveys (215 responses) and physical waste audits demonstrated high adoption and sorting accuracy: These capture rates support compliance targets under Ontario's Food and Organic Waste Policy Statement, which mandates 50 per cent waste reduction and resource recovery for multi-residential properties. Key takeaways for municipal waste leaders * In-Building Convenience Is Essential: Chute-based disposal was the primary driver of high, consistent resident participation. * Phased Messaging Drives Habit Formation: Moving predictably from awareness to instruction, tool delivery, and regular nudges outperforms one-off ad campaigns. * Starter Kits Remove Friction: Providing countertop bins and visual fridge magnets equips residents to sort correctly from day one. * Feedback Loops Maintain Quality: Sharing audit data back with residents reinforces good habits and keeps stream contamination low. * Scalability Is the Goal: The beauty of Peel's model is its replicability. Whether your municipality handles three-way chutes or single-chute systems, these five phases offer a customizable roadmap to help you meet Ontario's 50 per cent mandate.

SPONSORED: Mobile pop-ups drive big municipal waste diversion. When it comes to diverting Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), municipal waste managers share a common headache: getting residents to actually haul their half-used paint cans, leftover motor oil, and old aerosols to a Community Recycling Centre (CRC). Asking busy families to make a dedicated trip out of their way is a tough sell. So, Peel Region decided to flip the script. Instead of waiting for residents to come to the infrastructure, they brought the infrastructure directly to the residents. By turning their mobile HHW Reuse Trailer into a vibrant, interactive free market at major local events, Peel didn't just boost program visibility - they earned a Bronze Award in Special Events at the 2026 Municipal Waste Association (MWA) Promotion and Education Awards. More importantly, they built a blueprint for how municipalities can turn passive outreach into active, measurable material diversion. The concept: A mobile pop-up. In June 2025, Peel's CRC Operations, with support from their Public Education & Outreach team, brought their mobile trailer out to two massive community gatherings: the Bread and Honey Festival in Mississauga and Caledon Day. The setup was simple yet impactful. The trailer was stocked with safely screened, reclaimed household products dropped off year-round by residents at local CRCs. Festival-goers could walk up and take home free, ready-to-use items - ranging from recycled latex paint and motor oil to lawn fertilizers and small propane tanks. Grace McKenzie, Manager, CRC Operations for Peel Region, points out that the success came down to breaking down traditional operational silos: "The HHW Free Market Pop-Up Activation brought reuse directly into the community. By creating accessible opportunities for residents to take home reusable items, the initiative diverted significant material from landfill while raising awareness of our CRC services. From strategy and planning to frontline delivery, this recognition reflects our team's commitment, collaboration, and passion for serving our community." Overcoming free stuff skepticism. Interestingly, the biggest operational hurdle wasn't logistics, it was public psychology. When festival-goers first saw tables loaded with free goods and signs reading "FREE to take!", many walked right past, assuming there was a hidden catch. Staff quickly pivoted their pitch. By framing the setup around a practical dual benefit ("Help keep these products out of the landfill while keeping more money in your pockets") hesitant onlookers quickly turned into enthusiastic shoppers. Once people realized the products were inspected, safe, and completely free, the booth became a hotspot. Many residents admitted they had no idea these items were available through Peel's ongoing CRC reuse programs and asked why more municipalities weren't doing the exact same thing. Small budget, big diversion. With a lean budget of just over $8,000 (which covered staff hours, branded reusable bags, and print materials, while leveraging an existing trailer asset), Peel engaged with nearly 800 residents one-on-one across the two weekends and moved serious volumes of material: - Latex Paint - 1,050 Litres - Caustics & Flammables - 500 Litres - Aerosol Cans. - 335 Cans - Small Propane Cylinders. - 44 Cylinders - Motor Oil, Acid & Oxidizers. - 250 Litres (combined) Lessons learned. If you're looking to replicate this kind of hands-on engagement in your own region, Peel's experience offers a few key takeaways: * Leverage financial incentives: Environmental responsibility is a great message, but tangible cost savings are what capture immediate attention. Highlighting how much money residents save by grabbing free paint or supplies acts as the ultimate hook. * Pair operations with education on the frontlines: Put operational staff (who know technical product safety) right alongside outreach staff (who excel at resident engagement). That cross-team pairing builds instant trust when answering technical safety questions about reclaimed chemicals or paint. * Bring the CRC beyond facility gates: Mobile pop-ups remove friction. Reaching residents in relaxed, family-friendly event settings lets you connect with demographics who might never take the time to drive out to a municipal waste drop-off site. What's next for Peel? Building on the success of the pilot pop-ups, Peel Region is already refining the model for 2026 and future seasons - focusing on booking event space earlier in the municipal planning calendar and designing side-by-side booth layouts to streamline data tracking and literature distribution even further. To learn more about Peel Region's waste diversion programs, local Community Recycling Centres, and HHW services, visit peelregion.ca/waste.