Woodstock’s downtown core will see a temporary increase in waste-collection frequency starting Oct. 6, when garbage and green-bin organics pickups will move to twice-weekly service for properties along Dundas Street and the laneways between Vansittart Avenue and Wilson Street.
What changes and who is affected
Oxford County issued a release this week saying the change applies to a new downtown collection zone labelled Zone 5a. Collection will occur every Tuesday and Friday morning, with alternate pickup dates added for statutory holidays.
- Effective date: Oct. 6
- Area: Dundas Street corridor and laneways between Vansittart Ave. and Wilson St.
- Service: Twice-weekly garbage and green bin organics
- Duration: Interim change in effect until Dec. 31, 2026
Set-out information for properties in the downtown zone will be hand-delivered this week, the release said. Residents and business owners are also directed to the county and city waste web pages for details: www.oxfordcounty.ca/wasteline and cityofwoodstock.ca.
“Collection will take place every Tuesday and Friday morning, except on statutory holidays when alternate pickup dates will be added.”
What is not changing
The announcement made clear some services remain the same: business blue-box recycling continues to be collected once a week on Tuesdays, and residential recycling follows the regular Zone 5 schedule, collected every six business days.
| Service | Downtown (Zone 5a) | Other notes |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | Tuesday & Friday mornings | Interim until Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Green-bin organics | Tuesday & Friday mornings | Alternate dates for statutory holidays |
| Blue-box recycling (business) | Once weekly (Tuesdays) | No change |
| Residential recycling | Every six business days (Zone 5 schedule) | No change |
Why the change now
The move follows a motion passed at the Oxford County council meeting on Sept. 9, 2026 directing staff to reinstate an enhanced service level for waste collection in downtown Woodstock. The current schedule is described by county officials as an interim arrangement that will remain in place until a permanent schedule and budget funding are confirmed by both Oxford County and City of Woodstock councils.
For downtown business owners and residents, the revised schedule should mean less overflow on busy commercial streets, particularly during peak tourism and shopping periods. Twice-weekly collection typically reduces odours, litter and the risk of pests in high-density corridors, but it also requires coordination on bin set-out times and may affect small businesses that rely on curbside space for deliveries and customer access.
City and county staff will be handing out set-out information and are the point of contact for questions about specific addresses. The interim nature of the program means councils will need to resolve long-term funding and scheduling decisions before the end of next year.
Residents and business operators with concerns about the new Zone 5a timetable are advised to consult the posted online resources or contact municipal staff so that problems with collection day confusion or missed pickups can be tracked before a permanent service plan is adopted.
