Huron East is removing seven community recycling dumpsters in Seaforth after the municipality determined keeping them would cost more than $20,000 a year.
The bins, located at several public and community sites around Seaforth, are being taken out of service after September 15.
The municipality says the move is connected to Ontario's transition to an Extended Producer Responsibility recycling model, which shifts the cost of residential recycling collection and processing from municipalities to the companies that produce packaging and paper products.
But Huron East says community recycling dumpsters located at industrial, commercial, and institutional properties are not included in the new system.
That means the municipality would have to pay the collection costs if it chose to keep the seven Seaforth bins in place.
Huron East says the estimated cost would be "more than $20,000 annually," leading council to approve their removal.
The affected locations include the Seaforth Arena, Huron East Municipal Office, Seaforth Agricultural Society, UPI Energy, and the Information Booth.
The municipality says the change will have "no impact on existing curbside residential recycling collection or wheelie bins."
Only the community dumpsters are being removed.
A similar change was made in Brussels in the spring of 2025, when community recycling bins there were removed as Ontario moved toward the new producer-funded recycling system.
Residents and businesses looking for additional recycling options are being directed to the Bluewater Recycling Association for information on residential and commercial collection services.
