How Much Is Lakeshore's Green Bin Fee?
How much is the green bin fee?
The fee works out to over $150 per year for most households, with the exact amount varying slightly by municipality. It is charged as a distinct line item on the property tax bill rather than being folded into the general tax rate. Phase 1 residents — Essex, Lakeshore, LaSalle, and Tecumseh — began seeing the charge on 2026 tax bills.
Why is it a separate line item and not in the tax rate?
Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald said the County chose to list the cost separately on purpose: “We could have put it into the tax rate where no one would have seen it, but we felt it was more open and transparent.” The Province mandates organics diversion, so the County says the service has to be paid for somehow.
What does the fee pay for?
It funds regional curbside organics (food and yard waste) collection through the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA). Collected organics are processed at Seacliff Energy and converted into liquid fertilizer; the County reported more than 5,000 metric tonnes diverted from landfill by April 2026.
Sam supports clear, regular public reporting on what the program costs and what it delivers — participation, diversion results, and impact — so residents can judge the value for themselves.
Sources: County of Essex — Green Bin Program FAQ; AM800 CKLW (“Essex County Warden defends green bin cost listed on tax bills”); Sam Sinjari campaign statement.