Waste Disposal
As a water-access community, how we handle our garbage and recycling is a major part of cottage life. The Township of Georgian Bay recently issued a statement clarifying the provincial and regional rules driving the removal of the traditional marina bin sites.
Because waste management can be a headache to navigate, here is a breakdown of the changes, where things stand now, and how it impacts you:
- Why the changes happened: The Province of Ontario (via the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks) ordered the District Municipality of Muskoka to permanently phase out all unmonitored, unlicensed marina bin sites due to environmental and operational risks.
- Who runs the system: Waste management services—including landfills, depots, and transfer stations—are owned and operated entirely by the District Municipality of Muskoka (DMM).
- Where to take your waste now:
- Some of our local marinas have chosen to offer private waste collection services for their patrons for an added fee. Please note that these are strictly private business arrangements; neither the Township nor the District regulates these services or dictates their fees.
- If your marina does not offer a garbage disposal service, you can bring your garbage and recycling to the supervised District transfer stations and depots. The closest options for our area include the Baxter Transfer Station, the Honey Harbour Depot, or the South Gibson Depot.
- Impact on your property tax bill: Because closing the unmonitored bins significantly lowered regional operating costs, the solid waste levy on the regional component of your property tax bill has decreased by approximately 12% compared to last year, however this is partially offset by other township & district-wide increases.
The CCA continues to advocate with the Township during this transition to ensure they are aware of the massive adjustment this is for our members. Moving forward, we will continue to advocate to the Township & District for fairer, long-term options—such as a user-pay or "bag-tag" system—so water-access properties aren't left carrying an unfair burden.
TGB Strategic Plan
The Township of Georgian Bay’s Strategic Plan serves as an important roadmap for our region, and it directly supports the values we care about most here in Cognashene! For members of the CCA, the plan’s strong focus on Environmental Protection is aligns with our collective mission to preserve our fragile shoreline ecosystem, enhance water quality education, and implement proactive septic re-inspections.
Additionally, the Township's goal to Streamline Planning Policies aims to modernize waterfront development rules, offering more flexibility to protect the environment while helping guide future cottage projects. Most importantly, the plan highlights a desire to strengthen relationships with community groups, giving the CCA a platform to collaborate directly with the Township, share our feedback on municipal services, and work together to keep Cognashene beautiful for generations to come.
To read the full document visit here
2026 Municipal Election
Councillors Steven Jarvis and Peter Cooper have been our elected representatives for the last four years. They are part of a seven member Council that guide the Township of Georgian Bay. Their profiles are included here: www.gbtownship.ca/en/township-hall/mayor-and-council.aspx
2026 is a municipal election year, all CCA members are encouraged to ensure that you are on the electoral roll and to turn out to vote on October 26, 2026. Stay tuned for further information on candidates that will be running. For more information on the election please visit here.
