Loyalist Township's 30-year Solid Waste Management Master Plan

We’re in the midst of developing a master plan that will help guide solid waste management in the Township for the next thirty years. Solid waste includes what goes to landfills, recyclables, and organic waste. The plan will consider options for important topics such as:

• The future of curbside collection
• How to deal with organic waste
• The decreasing capacity of the Township’s two landfills
• How we can divert more waste from going to landfills
• How to continue to service our growing community
• Costs to the Township and costs to residents; and
• Planning with environmental sustainability in mind.
• Provincial regulations that will make producers responsible for the entire life cycle of recyclables

To ensure our plan is effective for everyone, we need your participation! Please visit our project page on Engage Loyalist, where you can ask questions in the Q&A section and provide comments.

Also, we hope you’ll plan to attend our hybrid Public Information Centre on March 4, 2025. This will be an opportunity to learn more about these topics, talk to Township staff about options, and give your feedback which will help guide the master plan. Full details of the session will follow in early February. Make sure you click Follow on the project page to receive email updates! 

A Community Success: Amherstview

E-Waste, Battery, and Food Drive

On Saturday, November 9, we hosted our most successful E-waste, battery, and food drive to date! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 128 vehicles rolled through, helping us fill an entire E-waste container and collect eight buckets of household batteries. But the impact didn’t stop there—our community’s generosity truly shone as we gathered substantial food donations for the local food bank.

A special shout-out goes to one resident and a local business who went above and beyond, arriving with a truckload of specially purchased food donations. Their remarkable contribution embodied the spirit of giving felt throughout the day, moving many of us who volunteered and participated.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible volunteers, including four energetic students from Ernestown Secondary School. Their enthusiasm brought a wonderful sense of community to the drive, and we’re already exploring ways to make future events even better. Ideas include expanding the spring drive to feature textile recycling or partnering with additional community organizations to amplify our collective impact.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to sustainability. Stay tuned for updates on our spring event, we have scheduled the next drive to be April 26, 2025—we can’t wait to see you there.

Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Babcock Mill Reading Garden

On October 23, Loyalist Township proudly celebrated the grand opening of the Babcock Mill Reading Garden, a beautiful new community space located in Odessa. This vibrant addition to the Babcock Mill grounds is part of the Imagining My Sustainable Community initiative, developed in collaboration with No. 9 Gardens, Tree Canada, CN Rail, and local schools.

The event brought together community members, dignitaries, and students to mark this special occasion. A grade 9 class from Ernestown Secondary School joined the festivities, contributing their energy and enthusiasm to the ceremony. The morning featured remarks from Mayor Hegadorn, representatives from No. 9 Gardens and other key supporters of the project. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees enjoyed a tour of the reading garden, which showcases sustainable design and serves as a hub for community learning and reflection.

This project’s success is a testament to the power of collaboration and the dedication of our partners and volunteers. A special thank-you goes out to Tree Canada for their generous support and to the students from Ernestown Secondary School and Odessa Public School, who participated in the event by placing books in the garden’s library shelves.



We invite you to visit the Babcock Mill Reading Garden and experience this wonderful addition to our community. Thank you to all who joined us on October 23 to celebrate its grand opening—we look forward to seeing you there!

Discover Tree Planting Opportunities with Cataraqui Conservation

Looking to enhance your property and contribute to a greener future? Cataraqui Conservation offers a range of tree-planting programs tailored to meet the diverse needs of property owners. From large-scale planting projects to DIY options, there’s a program for everyone!

Full-Service Tree Planting Program

For properties with at least one hectare (2.5 acres) of open land, the Full-Service Tree Planting Program provides an opportunity to restore natural landscapes and create vibrant ecosystems. With professional planting services available, this program is ideal for landowners aiming to make a significant environmental impact.

Over the Counter (OTC) Seedling Sales

If you prefer a hands-on approach, the OTC Seedling Program allows you to purchase affordable seedlings to plant on your property. Landowners can order trees and/or shrubs through Cataraqui Conservation and do the planting themselves. There is a minimum order of 250 seedlings, and individual species can be ordered in multiples of 50. 

Native Plant and Tree Nurseries

Cataraqui Conservation, through the work of volunteers and members of Friends Groups, operates native plant and tree nurseries at Lemoine Point Conservation Area in Kingston and Mac Johnson Wildlife Area in Brockville. Potted trees, shrubs, and native wildflowers are available for purchase during special, seasonal sales or by appointment.