One year into every-other-week garbage collection, the Region of Niagara says residents have embraced the program and increased use of their green bins – which was a major goal of the change.

Green bin tonnage is up 24 per cent and garbage tonnage is down almost 16 per cent, the region announced last week. Recycling has also increased by almost 8 per cent since the new collection changes came into place.

The region launched the new curbside collection changes on Oct. 19, 2020.

Catherine Habermebl, Niagara's director of waste management services, credited residents for stepping up. 

“It is great to see the progress so far and we want to continue to increase Niagara’s waste diversion rate,” she said in a news release.

Regional chair Jim Bradley said the program's success “shows Niagara residents commitment to being environmentally oriented, which I always knew they were. We are making our communities a better place for today and for future generations by using our green bins, recycling properly and minimizing the amount of garbage we put at the curb.”