The Green Bin Program & Your Tax Bill

Lakeshore residents are seeing a Green Bin Program fee of more than $150 per year on their 2026 property tax bills. It's a regional curbside organics program run through the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA) and the County of Essex, it can't be opted out of, and mayoral candidate Sam Sinjari is calling for greater transparency on how it works, what it costs, and how it's performing.

What is the Green Bin Program?

The Green Bin Program is a regional curbside organics (food and yard waste) collection service run by the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA) with service levels set by the County of Essex. Phase 1 launched in October 2025 in Essex, Lakeshore, LaSalle, and Tecumseh; Phase 2 (Amherstburg, Kingsville, Leamington) follows in fall 2026. Ontario mandates diverting organics from landfill; collected material is turned into liquid fertilizer at Seacliff Energy, with more than 5,000 metric tonnes diverted by April 2026.

Why is there a fee on my property tax bill?

The program costs more than $150 per year per household and appears as a separate line item on the tax bill. Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald said the County listed it 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 decision is regional, but the fee is collected locally — and residents cannot opt out.

What is Sam Sinjari asking for?

Sam is calling for clear, regular public reporting on the program — participation, waste-diversion results, costs, and measurable impacts — plus easy-to-understand information about which level of government is responsible for what.

In Sam's words

“Residents have every right to ask questions when a new fee appears on their property tax bill. People deserve clear information about how the program works, how decisions are made, and what the program is achieving.”

“This is not about revisiting past decisions. It is about helping residents understand how the program is performing and what they are paying for. Transparency and accountability help build public trust.”

More on the Green Bin Program

How much is the fee? →Can you opt out? →Who runs it — County or municipality? →Green Bin FAQ →Sam's full statement →Lakeshore property taxes 2026 →

Sources: Sam Sinjari campaign statement; County of Essex — Green Bin Program FAQ; Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA); AM800 CKLW (“Essex County Warden defends green bin cost listed on tax bills”).