The District advises that Muskoka residents will soon be adopting a Clear Bag Program for curbside collection starting March 2025.

The initiative requires garbage to be placed in clear plastic bags instead of black or green ones. The goal is to encourage better waste sorting and reduce the amount of recyclables and organics ending up in the Rosewarne Landfill, which has less than 15 years of capacity left.

District Chair Jeff Lehman emphasizes that this program is crucial for protecting Muskoka's environment and avoiding costly landfill expansion. Over half of the waste currently thrown out could be composted or recycled.

The District will work with local retailers to ensure clear bags are readily available and allows residents to use small "privacy bags" for personal items within the larger bags.

The District stresses that only the color of your garbage bag is changing; the rest of your waste collection will stay the same.