Interview with the Mayor - December 8th, 2025

Monday, 8 December 2025 10:24

He talked about the upcoming changes to waste collection and the 2026 Capital Budget that's up for approval this week.

WOODSTOCK - We're only a few weeks away from a big change in the City of Woodstock.

The City will switch to a six day collection cycle for garbage in the New Year. The same goes for the green bin organics program, which is also being introduced in January, 2026. A breakdown of the new collection zones and dates has been included in in the agenda for this Thursday's council meeting, and you can find it online here.

The garbage bag tag price is increasing from $2 to $3, but Mayor Jerry Acchione says you should actually be saving money in the long run.

"Your garbage, so the waste in your black garbage bags, will be a lot lighter. If you do this properly and go through it, you're not going to be throwing out nearly as much garbage."

Some of the items that could be thrown in a green bin include kitchen scraps, paper towels, cooking oils, and pet fur. You can find a breakdown of what can and can not be thrown in a green bin online here.

The province is taking charge of the recycling collection in 2026 and that collection schedule has not been released yet. Mayor Acchione is hoping it will line up with the garbage and organics collection.

"Between the City of Woodstock staff, Oxford County staff, and Emterra which is the company that will be picking up our recycling, we have been pushing very hard to make sure they happen on the same day."

The City will notify the public once the recycling schedule is set in stone.

Woodstock's 2026 Capital Budget is on the docket for this Thursday's City Council meeting. Mayor Acchione says it will likely be passed.

"It could be deferred if needed, but I don't see it needing to. It has never been that I am aware of. We would probably do a special meeting possibly the next day if we didn't get through it all, but I expect us to. Looking at the motions and everything else the councillors have brought forward, I think we should be able to get through it all."

When the draft budget was first introduced, it totaled $38.56 million and included $9.16 million for sanitary sewer and watermain work.

Thursday's City Council meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. and it will be livestreamed on the City of Woodstock YouTube page. You can also find the meeting agenda online here.

Mayor Acchione also discussed the following during his interview this morning:

- Heart FM's Woodstock Wishes campaign with the Woodstock Police Services Board.

- The 125th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Woodstock coming up next summer.

- Some proposed bylaw changes on the agenda for this week.

- His plans for the holidays with his family.

- His thoughts on today's Daily Debate, does he have a star or an angel on his Christmas tree?

You can listen to the full interview below: