When Garbage Went Wrong: A Cottage Host’s Wake-Up Call
It started with a phone call no host ever wants to get.
“Hey… are you the owner of the red cottage next door on Muskoka Lake? Your guests left a mountain of garbage outside — raccoons everywhere. The smell is unbearable. I’ve called the bylaw officer.”
My heart sank.
When our cleaner arrived, she found six ripped garbage bags piled beside the back deck. Half-eaten pizza boxes, wine bottles, and food scraps were scattered across the yard. The neighbours’ dog had been rolling in it all morning.
The bylaw officer came out the same day and left a warning — one more complaint, and there’d be a fine.
All because our guests didn’t know what to do with their trash.
Where it went wrong
We had assumed it was obvious: “Take your garbage with you.”
But for city guests staying at a cottage, that’s not common sense. They’re used to curbside pickup or a building dumpster. In their minds, leaving trash in tied bags by the shed was “tidy.”
The problem?
At cottages, that’s basically ringing a dinner bell for raccoons and bears.
And because the guest left the bags out overnight, it had already become an animal buffet.
How we fixed it
That one messy weekend taught us more than any manual ever could.
Here’s the system we built — simple, foolproof, and it’s saved us hundreds of dollars (and a few neighbourly relationships).
1. Every cottage has a designated indoor garbage spot
We now choose one secure place — like a mudroom cabinet or lockable bin inside the shed — and label it clearly:
“All garbage must be placed here. Do not leave bags outside.”
We even add a photo of the spot to the guest guide. Guests can’t claim confusion when they can see it.
2. Guests get the rule before they arrive
Our booking message now includes one short paragraph:
“This is cottage country — please do not leave garbage outside at any time. Tie bags tightly and place them inside the designated bin in the mudroom before check-out.
Need a pickup? We can arrange one for $150.”
One sentence saves us a bylaw warning, and guests actually appreciate the clarity.
3. Cleaners have a photo checklist
When cleaners arrive, they:
Check the property perimeter for stray bags.
Secure any outside trash.
Wipe and reliner the bins.
Take two photos — before and after — and report to team if garbage exceeds the property’s limit.
It’s quick, visual proof that everything’s secure.
4. We keep a simple “Garbage Board”
It’s just a spreadsheet with five columns:
Property name
Garbage limit (e.g., 2 bags)
Indoor storage location
Dump run schedule (e.g., every 2–3 weeks)
Local vendor / phone number
That’s all we need to avoid confusion between guests, cleaners, and operations. Everyone knows the plan.
5. We priced it fairly
We decided on three straightforward charges:
Owner cost: $20 per bag (for normal dump runs).
Guest pickup: $75–$100 (optional mid-stay or final).
Guest fine: $150 if they were supposed to remove garbage but didn’t.
Now everyone knows what to expect — and 95% of guests follow the rules when it’s clear.
The result
No more midnight calls from angry neighbours.
No more raccoon raids.
No more bylaw warnings pinned to the front door.
Instead, we have guests thanking us for the clear instructions — and even locals complimenting how tidy the place looks on checkout days.
That single disaster weekend forced us to systemize something we never thought mattered much: garbage.
Now it’s one of the quietest, smoothest parts of our operation.
The takeaway for cottage hosts
If you manage or own a cottage rental in Ontario, make garbage part of your setup checklist — not an afterthought.
Here’s the condensed version:
Never leave garbage outside.
Have a designated indoor storage spot.
Tell guests the rule before they arrive.
Give cleaners a clear process and require photos.
Schedule dump runs every 2–3 weeks.
That’s it.
Follow those five steps, and your cottage will stay clean, quiet, and wildlife-free — no angry neighbours required.
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