About Us

About Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling

Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the environment of our customers. The partnership was established by, and remains possible through the co-operative spirit of its member municipalities.

In 1989, the Towns of Port Elgin and Southampton, along with the Township of Saugeen formed a committee to look at the feasibility of recycling. By 1990, Bruce Area Recycling became a reality and welcomed the Towns of Kincardine, Walkerton and Wiarton, plus the Villages of Hepworth and Lucknow to its membership.

The present recycling plant was completed in November 1990 and the first two special collection trucks were on the road. Blue Box recycling was a reality in Bruce County.

Bruce Area Recycling has grown considerably since 1990 and currently, we are proud to service 87% of Bruce County.

Bruce Area Recycling is proud of our past and present accomplishments. We thank you, our customers, for making us a success.

Collection Calendars

We design and issue yearly collection calendars, which are specific to each municipality. Our calendars also provide quick reference to recycling procedures and collection days.

Speaking Engagements

Often, we are asked to attend schools and talk about recycling. We bring examples of recycled materials to show the entire process from blue-box to recycled product. BASWR also receives numerous busloads of students during the school year at our facility for tours.

Special Events

Mid September every year, BASWR hosts our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive where residents will simply place their donation by their blue-box for collection. As we service residents on a door to door basis, we have found that this is an excellent method of assisting those in need in our service area. Click on the link to see when we will collect food in your area. Staff and recycle trucks are also available for your fair, parade, or any organized event.

Specialized Collections

Our I.C.I. (Industrial Commercial Institutions) and apartment customers require special containers for the high volumes of material they often generate. These containers are also utilized for seasonal collection points such as campgrounds and other tourist areas. BASWR has retrofitted all of our collection vehicles to be able to lift and empty the IPL style containers, which we sell in 95 and 65-gallon capacities. Included in the purcase of the bins are labels for proper usage. Please note, if you are considering purchasing these bins from other sources, they may not be designed to fit onto our trucks and therefore will not be emptied if they are oversized, overweight and/or contaminated (recyclables must be sorted by item when using the carts). Contact our office for more information about these bins.

Types of Service

BASWR can assist you in identifying the type of service, or combination of services that best meet your needs.

For rural areas, depot systems are a popular and cost effective method of waste diversion. But BASWR can take depot systems to another level by placing drop points at alternate locations besides the closest landfill site. This can allow people to recycle easier and not have to travel as far to deliver their materials.

Of course, our more urban areas receive curbside collection. Our collection staff deliver excellent customer service to the residents they collect. Areas are routed for collection and constantly updated to ensure efficient and complete collection in each municipality.

We cater to the needs of apartment dwellers and commercial establishments by delivering containers and scheduling collections that suit their requirements. Containers are sold at cost to those who require them.