Did Council approve a one-bag limit starting in January?

No. Perth households can now put out two (2) bags of garbage every two (2) weeks, with no further change planned in the new year.

We’ve heard some confusion in the community about changes to garbage collection—and we’re here to clear things up.

As of August 26, the Town has officially transitioned from a bag tag system to a (mostly) tag-less system. That means households no longer need to attach tags to their regular garbage—instead, you can now place two bags of garbage out every two weeks on your scheduled collection day, no tags required. It’s important to note however that if you need to put out more garbage than this, bag tags will still be required  –-you can use ones you already have, or they can be purchased from Town Hall.

Where did the confusion come from?

A recent newspaper article referenced an earlier discussion at the Committee of the Whole meeting on August 12. At that time, a proposal was put forward to allow two bags bi-weekly until the end of 2025, and then reduce to one bag in 2026.

But…Council decisions only become official when passed at a Town Council meeting.

On Tuesday, August 26, Council amended and approved the motion to move to a permanent two-bag limit every two weeks, with no future change to one bag.

Here’s what you need to know:

• No more tags required for your regular limit of two bags. Bag tags will still be required for any bags set out over the two bag limit.
• Still have leftover tags? You can use them for any additional bags, no matter the colour of the tag (they don’t expire).
• Extra tags are still available at Town Hall for $3.30 each (pending a future fee reduction to $2.00 once the by-law is updated).
• Recycling and green bin collection continue as usual.

Looking for more information? Visit Perth.ca/Garbage.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always check our website and official social media pages. If you ever have a question about what you’ve read or heard, we’re happy to help.