WATERLOO REGION - It's the kind of municipal generosity you typically see once in a blue moon.

The Region of Waterloo is hosting a one-time, first-come, first-serve 60,000 blue bin giveaway on Sept. 17 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at three sites in the region as part of efforts to gear up for garbage collection cuts in 2017.

The bins are larger than those the region has given away in the past.

"Council, as part of preparations for the changes that are coming next March, has OK'd a one-time blue box giveaway to help give residents the tools they need to be successful with biweekly garbage collection," said Cari Rastas Howard, the region's waste management project manager.

Next year marks the beginning of standardized waste collection regionwide and the first year of garbage cuts. Under the new rules, trash will be collected every other week while green bins and recycling will be collected every week. Four trash bags will be accepted initially; but that's expected to drop to two.

Residents will also receive bi-weekly yard waste collection from April to November, and bi-weekly appliance and bulky item pickup for three items.

After an introduction period, residents will be charged for going above the trash-bag limit.

Coun. Tom Galloway, who chairs the committee overseeing garbage collection, said the transition to the new collection schedule shouldn't be difficult for those who already recycle and use a green bin.

"If they are not currently participating in those programs to a large extent they're going to have to start anticipating how they're going to do that," he said.

He hopes residents will get on board and be ready for the new system in March 2017.

"As we've seen in other things in the past, there will still be some people who have not heard about (the change) or they didn't necessarily clue in that it's starting," Galloway said.

Offering larger bins is part of the preparation and promotion of the new program.

Staff estimate 14 per cent, by weight, of what goes into the trash could still go into the blue bin. To encourage diversion, the larger bins are being offered.

Howard said the region has also heard complaints in the past that current blue bins are too small.

The bins to be given away have a capacity of 89 litres and measure 20 inches high, 22 inches wide and 17 inches deep.

The smaller bins have a capacity of 45 to 60 litres.

The region is encouraging residents to use the larger bins for containers only. However, containers will still be collected in smaller bins. Containers include cans, cartons, bottles and jars.

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About 60,000 of the new, larger bins are available one per household. There are about 150,000 households in Waterloo Region.

Green bins will be available, as well.

Howard said 60,000 is all that's been budgeted for. She doesn't expect all the bins to be snatched up.

"I don't know that we can physically give away 60,000 bins in a day but we're going to try," she said.

The bins are free, but the region is encouraging donations of non-perishable food items that will be distributed to the Cambridge Self Help Food Bank and The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

The region is spending about $595,000 for the blue bin giveaway and 10,000 green bins. Of the 10,000 green bins, 5,000 are earmarked for townships residents at a giveaway planned for January 2017.

Blue bins can be picked up Sept. 17 from the parking lots of:

• Cambridge Centre Mall, 355 Hespeler Rd.

• Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, 400 East Ave.

• Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, 550 King St. N.

Proof of residency in the region is required. Driver's licences are preferred, but a property tax or utility bills can also be used.