Proposals
A Practical Summer Garbage Solution for Windsor
A 16–17 Week Hybrid Weekly Garbage Collection Pilot. One concern I continue to hear from residents is the impact of bi-weekly garbage collection during Windsor's hottest months.
Summer Waste Challenges
Summer means higher temperatures, more outdoor gatherings, children home from school and, for many households, more waste. Keeping household garbage for two weeks during periods of extreme heat can contribute to odours and concerns about rats, rodents, insects and other pests. I believe we should explore a practical solution without automatically placing the additional cost on every Windsor taxpayer.
My Proposal: An Optional Weekly Summer Garbage Pilot
I am proposing that the City of Windsor investigate a 16–17 week hybrid summer garbage collection pilot, approximately June through September.
Under the pilot:
Residents who are satisfied with bi-weekly garbage collection could continue with the existing service at no additional cost.
Households that want additional service could voluntarily register for weekly garbage collection during the summer pilot period.
The City would determine the actual cost of providing the additional pickups. Participating property owners could then pay an annual seasonal fee, either directly at the end of the season or, where legally and administratively feasible, have the approved service charge added to their property tax account. This creates a user-pay model rather than requiring every household to pay for a service it may not want or need.
Why Pilot It?
A pilot would allow Windsor to collect real data before making a permanent decision.
The City could measure resident participation, additional collection costs, garbage volumes, operational efficiency, impacts on Green Bin participation, complaints related to odours and pests, and overall resident satisfaction.
At the end of the 16–17 week period, administration could report the results publicly to Council.
If the pilot demonstrates sufficient demand and can be delivered in a financially sustainable way, Council could consider continuing or expanding the program. If it does not, we would have evidence to guide the decision rather than assumptions.
Protecting Taxpayers
Before implementation, I would ask City administration to determine:
What does one additional weekly pickup actually cost per participating household?
The program should be designed so that the optional service fee reflects the additional cost as closely as practicable and does not create an unreasonable burden for residents who choose to remain with bi-weekly collection.
A Hybrid Approach
This isn’t about undoing Windsor’s waste-diversion strategy.
It’s about recognizing that January and July are very different when you’re storing household garbage for two weeks.
Keep bi-weekly collection as the standard service, but test whether residents who need or want weekly summer collection can choose it and pay the incremental cost.
16–17 weeks. Optional participation. User-pay. Measure the results. Report back publicly.
It’s a practical way to respond to what residents are telling us while remaining responsible with taxpayer dollars.
Cleaner neighbourhoods. More choice. Evidence-based decisions.
Weekly Summer Garbage Collection — June to September
I will advocate for safer streets, improved traffic management, better lighting, and stronger neighbourhood partnerships with emergency services. Every resident deserves to feel safe where they live, work, and play.
A practical seasonal adjustment for Windsor residents
Since Windsor moved to bi-weekly garbage collection in October 2025, I have been hearing concerns from Ward 5 residents about what happens during our hottest months. Windsor currently collects regular garbage every two weeks and Green Bin organics every week. The City says organics can account for up to 40% of household garbage, so I support continuing and strengthening Green Bin participation.
But good environmental policy should also be responsive to how people actually live.
What I would propose
If elected, I would ask City Council and Administration to examine a seasonal weekly garbage collection program from June 1 through September 30, while maintaining:
Weekly Green Bin collection
Weekly garbage collection from June through September
Bi-weekly garbage collection during the cooler months
Continued recycling and waste-diversion programs
A review after the first summer measuring tonnage, complaints, missed collections, illegal dumping, participation and actual operating costs
This isn’t a proposal to abandon waste diversion. It’s about determining whether Windsor needs a different service level during approximately 17 of the hottest weeks of the year.
Why examine a summer schedule?
Residents have raised practical concerns about keeping some non-compostable waste for two weeks during prolonged summer heat. Families with children, larger households, seniors and residents with particular waste-disposal needs can also face different challenges.
Windsor has already recognized that a single collection model doesn’t necessarily meet every household’s needs. The City introduced a diaper-disposal program specifically to support eligible households following the switch to bi-weekly garbage.
Before implementing weekly summer collection, however, I would require Administration to provide the incremental cost, staffing and truck requirements, contractual implications, expected additional landfill tonnage and environmental impact. Residents deserve both better service and responsible use of tax dollars.
What are other Ontario cities doing?
There is useful comparative evidence, although I would not claim that weekly summer garbage is an Ontario-wide standard. Municipalities use different models.
Kingston is an especially useful comparison: it currently provides garbage collection every week, alongside weekly Green Bin collection. One untagged garbage bag/container is included each week, with tags required for additional garbage.
Kingston also recently surveyed residents about future cart-based collection. 74.7% of respondents preferred retaining weekly garbage and weekly organics collection, according to the City’s consultation results.
On the other hand, Toronto uses weekly Green Bin collection while garbage is collected every other week. Ottawa similarly maintains weekly Green Bin service and bi-weekly curbside garbage collection in 2026.
That comparison is actually helpful to the proposal: Windsor doesn’t need to copy another municipality. Council can evaluate a Windsor-specific hybrid model that preserves the environmental benefits of bi-weekly collection for most of the year while providing more frequent service during our hottest months.
Campaign-ready version
WARD 5 RESIDENTS ARE TALKING — AND I’M LISTENING.
Since Windsor moved to garbage collection every two weeks, I’ve heard concerns from residents about what that means during the summer.
That’s why I believe Windsor should investigate WEEKLY GARBAGE COLLECTION FROM JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER, while continuing weekly Green Bin collection.
Other Ontario communities demonstrate that weekly garbage and weekly organics can coexist. Kingston, for example, currently collects both every week.
My proposal is simple: study the cost, test the service, measure the results and listen to residents.
If the numbers make sense, give Windsor residents weekly garbage pickup during the hottest months and return to bi-weekly collection during the cooler part of the year.
Environmental responsibility and responsive municipal services don’t have to compete. We can do both.
Vote Feghali for Ward 5
Listening. Finding practical solutions. Putting residents first.
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The journey toward the 2026 Windsor Municipal Election is officially underway, and I am proud to continue preparing my campaign for Windsor City Councillor, Ward 5.
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© Copyright 2026 by Natasha E. Feghali
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© Copyright 2026 by Natasha E. Feghali
