Modern Mississauga and the City of Mississauga have come together to present an ongoing series called “Ask the City.” We’ll share relevant information here and answer your questions about our city.
Today’s question is about dog waste containers.

What’s the story with the in-ground green dog waste containers?

In 2019, the City of Mississauga launched the Dog Waste Pilot Program that aimed to help divert dog waste from the landfill and convert it into energy. The City currently has 13 in-ground dog waste containers installed across specific City parks, and an additional container installed at the Animal Services facility for a total of 14 containers.

Containers are installed in the following parks:

Friendship Community Park
Community Common Park Leash-Free Zone
Jack Darling Memorial Park Leash-Free Zone
Lake Aquitaine Park
Lakeside Park Leash-Free Zone
Quenippenon Meadows Leash-Free Zone
Totoredaca Park Leash-Free Zone

City staff collaborated with Sutera Inc. to design a fully in-ground concrete container that holds dog waste for up to four weeks. Since it’s stored below ground where it is cooler and out of direct sunlight, the odour is reduced, which means that waste can be collected when the container is full.

In June of this year, Council approved City staff’s recommendation to continue the existing in-ground Dog Waste program and will also expand the program to select parks in Mississauga in 2023.

The program has successfully addressed the disposal of dog waste, while also helping to improve waste diversion and reduce recycling contamination in City parks. Based on waste audits, the City has seen a decrease in contaminated recycling, from 81.2 per cent in 2017 to 53 per cent in 2020.

Criteria for expanding the program to other parks include:

Parks that have higher pet usage rates.
Parks with year-round paved access to service the units.
Remaining leash-free areas (where access allows).

How to use the containers

Place your dog’s bagged waste into the slot on the container. Do not place anything other than bagged dog waste into the container.
Sutera Inc. will frequently empty the container and transport the contents to a waste-to-energy facility
The dog waste is transformed into energy.

If a dog waste container is not available at a park, residents are encouraged to continue disposing dog waste in the garbage container.

If you’ve got a question about the City, we want to hear from you!
Please send your questions to info@modernmississauga.com with “Ask the City” in the subject line.