The Town of Smiths Falls is considering axing their recycling collection for businesses, after the provincial changes at the start of 2026 downloaded that responsibility to municipalities.
Their contract with Glenview Iron and Metal for this program costs about $72,000, with the town hoping to maintain the collection service at no cost to the taxpayers.
Glenview Iron and Metal said they’d cancel the contract immediately with no penalty should the town go that route.
111 of the 220 businesses responded to a survey asking if they’d pay a $27 monthly fee to cover the town’s collection costs, and only 36 said yes.
Councillor Chris McGuire offered his thoughts.
Councillor Jay Brennan’s worried dropping the town program would result in more recyclables in their landfill, and word needs to get out before they decide.
The agenda item was deferred, partly due to a shrunken horseshoe.
Councillors Jennifer Miller and Dawn Quinn declared conflict of interests alongside Mayor Shawn Pankow, as their respective businesses or employer would be impacted by this decision.
Councillor Stephen Robinson was absent from the meeting.
The town’s going to use the two weeks between meetings to alert business owners they’re considering cancelling the pickup service outright, in hopes they’ll receive more feedback.
Story by Grant Deme