The City of Peterborough has formally launched the Clean Streets Peterborough program following city council’s approval of the initiative on Monday night (June 1).
Combining waste management changes, public education, enforcement, and community outreach, the program aims to tackle illegal dumping, overflowing public bins, improper waste set-outs, and garbage accumulation in parks and public spaces across the city.
“This program responds by making proper disposal easier, improving education and reporting tools, and strengthening our ability to keep public spaces clean and welcoming for everyone,” said Mayor Jeff Leal in a media release.
The program’s measures include eliminating the city’s large article collection fee of $60 for the first item and $30 for each additional item for the remainder of 2026. A public survey found that disposal costs were repeatedly identified as a factor contributing to illegal dumping of furniture, mattresses, and appliances.
Another measure is temporarily doubling residential garbage bag limit from four bags every two weeks to eight bags every two weeks until the end of 2027. The public survey found that extra garbage was identified as one of the hardest waste items to dispose of properly.
The city will also reduce the cost for replacing a green bin from $88.49 to $35.40.
Other measures under the Clean Streets Peterborough program include enhancing public education, community engagement, and outreach around proper waste disposal — including targeted outreach to landlords, property managers, businesses, and multi-residential properties — as well as improving waste reporting tools and providing additional park cleanup support.
The city will also be launching a targeted surveillance camera pilot project at selected parks and public spaces, with increased monitoring and enforcement in problem areas.
During Monday night’s council meeting, councillor Alex Bierk raised several concerns about the surveillance camera pilot project, including privacy, retention, efficiency, and cost, and asked that the surveillance camera pilot project be separated out for a vote.
Council voted 9-2 in favour of the surveillance camera pilot project, with only Bierk and councillor Joy Lachica voting against it. Council then voted unanimously 11-0 in support of the entire Clean Streets Peterborough program.
In approving the program, council also approved the resumption of enforcement against unattributed garbage left on boulevards in the downtown area after a temporary pause approved by council earlier this year.
At Monday night’s meeting, councillors also heard a public delegation from Heather Monroe on the Clean Streets Peterborough program. She raised concerns about garbage — including drug paraphernalia — along the rail trail from Monaghan Road to Park Street, which is frequently used by residents.
Councillor Lachica later put forward an amendment to the Clean Streets Peterborough motion that city staff establish an agreement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) regarding the clearance of items within their corridor/property lines. The amendment was approved by a 11-0 unanimous vote, prior to council’s vote to approve the main motion.
As for evaluating the success of the Clean Streets Peterborough initiative, city staff say results will be monitored through waste collection data, tonnage reporting, large article collection volumes, waste collected from parks and public receptacles, complaints and reporting trends, enforcement activity, and ongoing community feedback.
“This information will help shape future decisions about waste collection services, organics participation, multi-residential servicing, public space waste management, and long-term landfill planning,” the media release states.
For more information on the Clean Streets Peterborough initiative, visit peterborough.ca/cleanstreets.
