Swap Your Dock
Better Dock Materials for a Cleaner Georgian Bay
We’re so glad you are gathering all the information to “Swap Your Dock” that has unencapsulated foam. Unencapsulated foam used in floating docks is polluting Georgian Bay—littering shorelines with plastic pieces that eventually break down into harmful microplastics that threaten wildlife and fragile ecosystems. Fortunately, safer alternatives exist, and together, we can take action to protect the Bay for future generations.
Final Planning Step: Don’t Let Your Old Dock Harm the Bay
Disposing of a dock can be challenging due to its size, and each municipality handles dock waste a little differently. We’ve compiled their responses below, but we also recommend contacting your local municipality directly to confirm the best process. With a bit of preparation, you can ensure your dock is disposed of responsibly and with minimal impact on the environment.
(Alphabetical order by Township Name: Eg. Archipelago)
Township of the Archipelago – email LVoortman@thearchipelago.ca, (705) 746-4243 ext. 341
Dock disposal can occur at the following Archipelago transfer station sites: Site 9 Landfill, Crane Lake, Healey Lake, Woods Bay, Devils Elbow (limit 1cu yard/week, & no contractors), and Sheepshead (limit 1cu yard/week, & no contractors).
The dock must be delivered in pieces less than 2m (6ft) and separated wood from foam. There is no fee for that disposal, but the person must be a resident of the Township of The Archipelago. There is a fee for disposal of not separated disposal, and also while not explicitly required, if someone is anticipating bringing dock material in for disposal it is best to contact our staff (as above) to ensure that there is sufficient bin room.
More information is contained within By-law 2022-08 if required.
Disposing of a dock can be challenging due to its size, and each municipality handles dock waste a little differently. We’ve compiled their responses at georgianbay.ca/dockdisposal, but we also recommend contacting your local municipality directly to confirm the best process. With a bit of preparation, you can ensure your dock is disposed of responsibly and with minimal impact on the environment.
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Township of Carling – Contact 705 342 5856
Disposal Responsibility: in Carling Township, disposing of your dock properly is the owner’s responsibility. It’s important to incorporate disposal plans into your dock replacement project.
Disposal Locations and Access: Carling Township operates waste disposal sites that may accept dock materials. Access to these sites is by road only. Residents are required to have permits to access Carling’s waste sites.
Fees and Size Requirements: Specific fee structures and size requirements for dock disposal are not available. It’s advisable to contact the township directly to inquire about any applicable fees and whether breaking down the dock into smaller pieces affects disposal costs.
Large Dock Disposal and Contact Information: Call ahead to ensure the waste site can accommodate your materials and receive guidance on preparation. Residents can contact the Carling Township office directly with questions or to arrange disposal.
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Township of Georgian Bay (District of Muskoka) – waste@muskoka.on.ca or call 705-645-2100
Disposal Responsibility: Residents are responsible for the proper disposal of their docks.
Disposal Sites: Residents can drop off large items at the Baxter or Tower Road transfer stations during regular hours.
Access: These sites are accessible by road; however, details about boat access are not specified.
Fees: Residents can drop off large items for free during designated days/times; fees may apply outside of these days/times.
Material Separation: Separating materials is recommended to facilitate recycling and disposal.
Unencapsulated Foam: Dock foam is unacceptable during large item collection events and should be disposed of at designated facilities.
Contact above for more information.
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Municipality of Killarney (Sudbury District) – (705) 287-2424 or inquiries@municipalityofkillarney.ca
No other information available at this time.
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The Municipality of McDougall – (705) 342-5252 or info@mcdougall.ca
No other information available at this time.
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Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (Manitoulin District)
Called Manitoulin: only to Providence Bay transfer station and they charge $40/cubic yard or hire a bin or take off island to a private landfill. Challenges are all big items are removed off island for disposal and therefore only accept up to 10 cubic yards at a time.
No other information available at this time.
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Town of Parry Sound (District of Parry Sound) – (705) 746-2101
Disposal Responsibility: Residents are responsible for disposing of large items, including docks.
Disposal Site: The MacFarlane Street Transfer Station (57 MacFarlane Street) accepts various types of waste materials.
Access: The site is accessible by road; however, there is no information about boat access.
Fees: Some items require garbage tags; residents receive one free dump day coupon annually.
Material Separation: Although not explicitly stated, it is generally recommended to separate materials like wood and metal are generally recommended.
Unencapsulated Foam: No specific details are provided; contacting the Transfer Station for clarification is advisable.
Contact the Town Office above for more information
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Seguin Township – (705) -732-4300
No other information available at this time.
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Tiny Township – (705) 526-4204
No other information available at this time.
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Can You Recycle Unencapsulated Dock Foam?
Unfortunately, no. Our research shows that unencapsulated dock foam is typically too degraded and contaminated to be recycled effectively.