Rethink Waste

Reduce Electronic Waste

• Change your Buying Habits

  Instead of purchasing new electronics, consider if refurbished electronics may meet your needs. If you must buy new, buy from manufacturers or companies that offer recycling or trade-in programs, and take advantage of these programs.

• Use your Electronics for Longer

  The best way to reduce the impact we have on the environment is to make sure we can use the electronics we already own for as long as possible. Hold on to your device longer instead of upgrading to the latest version, and repair broken electronics whenever possible.

  See Repair Resources

• Recycle or Donate your Electronics

  The parts that make up your electronics (steel, glass, copper, aluminum, precious metals, etc.) can be recovered and made into new products. The City works to keep unauthorized donation bins for electronics out of the community. There are many options to recycle or donate your electronics and keep them out of Barrie's landfill.

  ALL E-Waste

  • The City's electronics recycling services include free disposal options at the landfill site, 272 Ferndale Drive North.
  • Recycle My Electronics™ programs include multiple drop-off locations in Barrie, and also offer e-waste pickup for businesses.
     

  Mobile Devices

  • Phone It Forward | CNIB: Donated smartphones are wiped to the highest data security standards, loaded with accessible apps, and provided to people with sight loss who need them, along with technical training, discounted maintenance, and data plan support.
     

  Batteries

  • Call2Recycle® is Canada's largest, most reliable battery recycling program.
  • Each November during Battery Collection Week—the first full week of November—batteries are accepted for curbside collection.
     

  Computers & Accessories

  • Computers for Schools Plus accepts donations from anyone: government, private businesses and individuals.
     

  Useable Household Electronics

  • Habitat for Humanity offers drop-off and pickup services for useable household electronics and more.
  • Stuff accepts drop-offs of small electronics.
  • Value Village accepts drop-offs of electronics.
     

  The above resources were compiled by City staff to provide helpful information to Barrie residents. Linked resources are not all affiliated with the corporation of the City of Barrie. Please refer to linked websites for full and accurate information. If you know of a resource you'd like added, please email RethinkWaste@barrie.ca for consideration.

• Bi-Weekly Garbage Pickup

  In January 2015, Barrie households serviced under the municipal curbside collection program started to receive two-bag/can garbage pickup every other week instead of 1 bag/can weekly. 

  This change, accompanied by City promotion and educational tools, encouraged residents to better sort materials and use their green bins, thereby reducing the amount of food waste placed in the garbage.

  A comparison of 2015 to 2014 revealed a 52% increase in curbside organics tonnages; 16% decrease in curbside garbage tonnages; and 3% increase in curbside recycling tonnages. Stats based on tonnage tracking at the landfill and reported diversion data from the collection contractor.

• Community Garden Program

  The City's community garden program provides City-owned land for community gardening, where Barrie residents meet to grow and care for select fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The food grown in these gardens bypasses the production, processing, distribution, and retail sectors, each of which produce food waste. People who participate in community gardens are passionate about what they are growing, and work to ensure that what they work to produce is used and not wasted.

• Curbside & Multi-Res Organics Collection Programs

  The City's organics collection programs helps divert everyday household organic waste from the landfill. Collection organics are transported to a specially designed processing facility where microscopic bacteria digest the material and the result is rich and valuable compost.  

  In January 2017, the City of Barrie began the implementation of a multi-residential organics collection program in apartments, condominiums, and townhouse complexes throughout Barrie. The program was phased into eligible multi-residential properties between 2017 and 2019.

• Use Your Green Bin!

  As of 2023, ~32% of the garbage stream was organics material that could have been diverted by using the green bin (Source: City of Barrie 2023 Waste Audit). Please place all food waste in your green bin so organics don't go to the landfill, where they produce methane gas.

• Grow Your Own Food

  Grow fruits and vegetables on your property or get involved in one of Barrie's community gardens! Help promote sustainable agriculture and reduce food transportation impacts while improving the ecology of the area.

• Consider a Backyard Compost

  Composting your food can provide many benefits to your garden soil, and can help reduces water demands of plants and trees.

  Learn About Composting

• Change Your Habits

  Habit changing tips:

  • Plan meals and make grocery lists. Buying foods you may already have at home can ultimately become another source of waste.
  • Store fruits and vegetables properly so they last longer.
  • Get creative with leftovers. See Recipes - Love Food Hate Waste Canada.
  • Help get food off grocery store shelves before expiration dates. Check out the Flashfood app.
     

  The above resources were compiled by City staff in an effort to provide helpful information to Barrie residents. Linked resources are not necessarily affiliated with the corporation of the City of Barrie.

Reduce Single-Use Plastics

• Facts about Plastics

  • Plastic straws can take up to 200 years to decompose.
  • Plastic cups can take up to 450 years to break down. Over time, these cups release toxic chemicals into the environment and are more likely to be ingested by vulnerable marine wildlife.
  • Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion tons of plastic has been generated around the world and only 23% of those plastics have been recovered or recycled.*                      
  • Some shampoo bottles, shoes and other materials are being produced using plastic waste recovered from oceans.*
  • You can build a deck with recycled plastic lumber and buy boots made from plastic water bottles.*
    
    *Source: Recycling Council of Ontario 
• Ways to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Waste

  Every action counts! Making simple changes in your everyday life can help you reduce your plastic footprint and contribute to the movement towards a circular economy. Making informed decisions about products you consume can also impact change. Highlighted tips:

  • Purchase reusable bags, straws, cutlery, water bottles, mugs, containers, etc. and remember to bring them with you whenever possible.
  • Try natural beeswax coated cloth wraps instead of plastic wrap.
  • Make your own snacks and energy bars.
  • Shop at bulk bins and bring your own reusable containers.
  • Reuse containers.
  • Purchase products from companies and manufacturers who are dedicated to reducing their plastic footprint.
  • When hosting parties, avoid decorations like balloons and switch to decor that is natural or reusable (real flowers/plants, reusable tablecloths, paper streamers/banners, and creative DIY decorations).

  Check out  the 10,000 Changes Campaign for more tips, and to commit to making changes in your life that will reduce your plastic footprint.

• Plastic Action Centre

  The Canadian Plastic Action Centre is a platform where you can learn about plastics, make connections, and receive useful information that can help you take action. Take advantage of their Ask an Expert option if you have questions that aren't answered by the site's information and resources.

Reduce Textile Waste

• Donate Your Textiles

  There are multiple options for donating your textiles in Barrie. Refer to Reusable Clothing & Textiles for information on textile bins.

• Change Your Buying Patterns

  • Consider purchasing fewer items and ensuring those items are good quality and designed to last for many years. Quality over quantity!
  • Think about whether you already have a similar item in your closet, and make purchases based on needs instead of wants.
  • Unsubscribe from clothing store e-newsletters. These can urge impulsive purchases of clothing you may not need.
  • Buy used at thrift stores.
  • Look for environmental certifications like fair trade, certified organic, or bluesign. These labels indicate consideration for the environmental and impacts of the garments' manufacture.
  • If you must buy something new, try and buy something made entirely or partly from recycled materials, or make sure what you're buying is something you will want for years to come. It's hard to know for sure, but it's probably not whatever the passing fad of the day is. Foster your own style, because that's what you'll want to wear long term!
• Reuse Your Clothing Items

  Below are some ways to reuse clothing items, along with helpful resources sourced by City staff:

  The above resources were compiled by City staff to provide helpful information to Barrie residents. Linked resources are not necessarily affiliated with the corporation of the City of Barrie. If you know of have a resource you'd like added, please email RethinkWaste@barrie.ca for consideration.

  Tip	Resources
  Follow the label to wash and dry your items properly to ensure they last as log as possible.	Guide to Apparel and Textile Care Symbols (Office of Consumer Affairs)
  Repair clothes instead of purchasing new.	Stain removal guide (American Cleaning Institute)
  Repurpose clothes into new outfits, accessories, or other items.	27 Creative Ways To Reuse Old Clothing (lifehack.org) Upcycling Clothes: 7 Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Old Clothes (Good On You)
  Create rags from clothing items to use for cleaning purposes and much more.	Cloth rags (Appropedia: The sustainability wiki)
  Refresh your wardrobe by sewing your own items and reduce your clothing footprint.	Video: Sew a one hour top (Barrie Public Library)

• Curbside Giveaways Days

  The City's Curbside Giveaways Days (previously New to Me Day) take place twice per year, and are a chance for residents to get rid of used items that others might like. It's like a garage sale, but without the money or hassle. Everything you place at the end of your driveway or lawn on the specified day is free for others to pick up. Clearly label items you wish to give away as “FREE” and place them at the curb. Anything that does not find a new home must be taken back in by 9pm.  

• Become Part of the Swap & Share Community

  Here are some ways to participate:

  • Freecycle Network: Grassroots, non-profit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and neighborhoods. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
  • Swapsity: Swapsity is Canada's leading swapping community.
  • Barrie Urban Gardeners: Visit Barrie Urban Gardeners on Facebook for seed-sharing information and gardening advice.
  • Facebook: Search for buy, sell, and swap groups in Barrie.
     

  The above resources were compiled by City staff in an effort to provide helpful information to Barrie residents. Linked resources are not necessarily affiliated with the corporation of the City of Barrie.

• Repair Resources

  • Barrie Public Library: The library provides many resources to learn how to repair a range of items.
  • iFixit: iFixit is a wiki-based site that teaches people how to fix almost anything.
     

  The above resources were compiled by City staff in an effort to provide helpful information to Barrie residents. Linked resources are not necessarily affiliated with the corporation of the City of Barrie.