The City of Barrie is observing Waste Reduction Week from Oct. 19 to 25 with a series of free, public activities aimed at helping residents reduce waste and better understand municipal curbside services.
Events aimed at practical learning and sorting confidence
Among the highlights are a hands-on STEAM Challenge on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the Barrie Public Library Downtown Branch and an Ask a Waste Expert drop-in at the Barrie Farmers’ Market on Saturday, Oct. 24. City waste-management staff will also be at the Barrie Colts game at Sadlon Arena on Oct. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. to promote the week and test attendees’ waste-sorting knowledge.
- STEAM Challenge — Wednesday, Oct. 21, 4 to 5 p.m., Barrie Public Library Downtown Branch (60 Worsley St.). The session pairs science, technology, engineering, arts and math activities with interactive learning about what happens to garbage, recycling and organics after they leave the curb.
- Ask a Waste Expert — Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Barrie Farmers’ Market at City Hall (70 Collier St.). Residents can get answers about organics, battery disposal, yard waste, garbage and options to reduce waste at home.
- Sadlon Arena outreach — Oct. 22, 6 to 8 p.m., Barrie Colts game (ticket required). City staff will host games and demonstrations to engage fans on proper sorting and waste-management services.
The city frames the week as part of a broader push toward a circular economy — an approach that keeps items in use as long as possible rather than sending them to landfill. Organizers say the activities are designed to build residents’ confidence in sorting and to highlight municipal resources available through barrie.ca/RethinkWaste.
The annual campaign for Waste Reduction Week in Canada began in 2001 by the Circular Innovation Council.
Practical access to city services and knowledge
City staff said the drop-in sessions are aimed at answering everyday questions residents raise about curbside programs and disposal options. The farmers’ market event is timed to reach residents who already come downtown on Saturday mornings, while the library STEAM Challenge targets families and school-aged children with hands-on activities that link scientific principles to waste reduction.
For many Barrie households, confusion about sorting rules — what goes in organics versus garbage, how to handle batteries, or which plastics are accepted — can lead to contamination of recycling and organics streams, which increases processing costs and reduces diversion rates. The city’s in-person presence at multiple venues is intended to make expert advice accessible without an appointment.
| Event | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEAM Challenge | Oct. 21, 2026 | 4–5 p.m. | Barrie Public Library Downtown Branch, 60 Worsley St. |
| Ask a Waste Expert | Oct. 24, 2026 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | Barrie Farmers’ Market (City Hall), 70 Collier St. |
| Barrie Colts outreach | Oct. 22, 2026 | 6–8 p.m. | Sadlon Arena (ticket required) |
Why it matters to Barrie residents
Local campaigns like Waste Reduction Week are one component of municipal efforts to lower the volume of waste sent to landfill and to improve the quality of recyclable and organic materials collected at the curb. Better sorting reduces contamination and can lower long-term collection and processing costs — savings that ultimately affect municipal budgets and the services taxpayers receive.
Residents wanting more information before attending can visit the city’s dedicated page at barrie.ca/RethinkWaste for resources on reducing food waste, single-use plastics and textile waste, and for details about permitted materials in each curbside stream.
Attendance at the STEAM Challenge and the Ask-a-Waste-Expert booth is free. The Sadlon Arena event requires a game ticket for entry.
