Master Plans & Studies

Solid Waste Management Master Plan

Flow of waste from your house to truck, to facility and back to the ground

Solid Waste Management Master Plan (SWMMP)

Each year, the City of Hamilton manages over 200,000 tonnes of waste, including garbage, green bin waste, yard waste, and other materials that can be diverted from landfill.

This updated Plan sets the direction for how waste will be reduced, reused, and managed over the next 25 years, considering environmental, social, and financial impacts.

2026-2050 Solid Waste Management Master Plan

Hamilton’s updated 2026-2050 Solid Waste Management Master Plan is now available. This new long-term roadmap outlines how the City will reduce waste, increase diversion, extend the life of the Glanbrook Landfill, and support a more sustainable, circular economy over the next 25 years. The summary highlights key priorities, actions, and performance targets that will help shape Hamilton’s waste management system for future generations. Take a few minutes to explore the document and learn what’s planned and how residents can play a role.

Download Hamilton's Solid Waste Management Master Plan 2026-2050

Hamilton’s Solid Waste Management Master Plan 2026-2050 Summary(PDF, 107.59 KB)

Vision & Principles

Tracking Progress

Resources

Vision Statement

“Hamilton’s waste system will support waste reduction by working with the community to reuse materials, extend their lifespan, promote a circular economy, and recover resources through recycling and energy recovery – creating a cleaner, more resilient place to live, raise a child and age successfully.”

Guiding Principles

Responsibility for Waste - The City will maintain responsibility for managing waste generated within its boundaries.
The Role of the Glanbrook Landfill - The landfill plays a key role, and its lifespan will be extended through waste reduction and diversion.
Advancing a Circular Economy - The City will promote waste reduction, reuse, and better use of materials.
Inclusive and Accessible Services - Waste services and education will reflect the needs of all communities.

Progress will be reported annually to the Waste Management Sub-Committee. The Plan will be reviewed every five years.

Short-term Actions (2026 to 2030) will be initiated within the first five years of the Plan. Some will continue beyond 2030.

Develop a Construction and Demolition Waste Management Strategy
Develop a Multi-Residential Diversion Strategy
Support Repair Cafés and Sharing Libraries
Review Curbside Bulk Item Collection Program
Expand Community Centre Reuse and Recycling
Review Inclusion of Grass Clippings in the Leaf and Yard Waste Program
Consider Automated Cart Based Garbage and Green Bin Collection for Single-Family Homes
Consider Bi-Weekly Curbside Garbage Collection
Facilitate Curbside Diversion and Reuse Events
Assess Renewable Energy from Organics
Explore Mixed Waste Processing

Long-term Actions (2031 to 2050) will be considered as the City monitors progress, refines programs, and responds to changing needs.

Assess opportunities to integrate smart technologies into waste collection operations
Investigate alternate approaches for public space waste containers
Plan for, extend, and optimize long-term capacity at the Glanbrook Landfill

The Plan also includes enabling initiatives focused on education, outreach, policy, and enforcement to support participation, improve compliance, and strengthen the City’s ability to track and report on progress.

Targets

An important piece of Hamilton’s 2026-2050 Solid Waste Management Plan is how success of the plan will be tracked. To do this, the plan includes five key performance indicators with targets:

What we're Tracking	2030	2035	2050
Residential Waste Diversion Rate*	35%	40%	50%
Single-Family Green Bin Capture Rate	60%	75%	90%
Multi-Residential Green Bin Capture Rate	33%	52%	70%
Green House Gas Emissions from Landfill	-	-	Net Zero
Customer Satisfaction	80%	85%	90%

*Note: The diversion rate reflects only materials managed through City programs and no longer includes Blue Box recycling, which transitioned to producer responsibility on April 1, 2025.

2026-2050 SWMMP Report
May 25, 2026: Staff presentation at Public Works Committee
2020 Solid Waste Management Master Plan Review – an operational update to the 2001 SWMMP to ensure the action items were on track to be completed by the end of 2025.
- Solid Waste Management Master Plan Five-Year Review (PW20072)
- Appendix A – SWMMP 2020 Update
2012 Solid Waste Management Master Plan – an update to the 2001 SWMMP to respond to changing waste generation patterns, service delivery models, and evolving federal and provincial regulatory requirements.

Date modified

August 19, 2026