Simcoe County is dumping bulky item collection at the end of the year.

County politicians decided to chop the program, which takes one of two formats: some municipalities allow residents to put out a maximum of five items – such as furniture, computers and televisions – once each year.

Those municipalities are Innisfil, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Midland, Penetanguishene, New Tecumseth, Oro-Medonte, Severn, Springwater, Tay and Tiny.

Other municipalities issue two $25 vouchers each year, which often cover disposal costs when residents take items to a landfill site.

County staff urged politicians to stop the program to encourage recycling and diversion.

And although county politicians voted narrowly to dump the program, many voiced concerns about the service cut and the impact it could have on seniors and those without trucks.

“Our residents appreciate the service,” said New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern. “We’re not talking about not allowing bulky items to go to the landfill. If I put out four or five items and by the time the day’s over, there’s one left. I think it encourages people to go around and collect from one another. It would add undue stress on seniors or those without access to a large vehicle.”

The service cut has a greater impact in municipalities with a high percentage of seasonal residents, noted Tiny Township Mayor Peggy Breckenridge.

“The reasoning behind this is good,” she said, but “In cottage areas like ours, people are not reading when (collection days) are. It goes out on the side of the road weeks before and there’s all kinds of junk our there none which could be recycled.

“On the positive side, I didn’t see items that could be recycled. We have seen much less junk being dragged in (our forests) since we implemented (bulky item pickup).”

She questioned whether residents – especially seasonal ones – would spend part of a Saturday lining up at a transfer station to get rid of bulky trash.

The voucher system effectively reduced the load of bulky items, noted Wasaga Beach Deputy Mayor David Foster.

“Prior to that, we found not only would people come up to visit but their derelict fridge and stove would come up with them. There would be a cottage with four fridges out in front on bulky item day,” he said, adding the voucher system has reduced the garbage, but allowed the municipality to still provide a service.