My Waste app user emails accessed

Waterloo Region – On Tuesday, April 17, 2018, Recycle Coach, the owner of the My Waste app advised the Region that approximately 3,000 email addresses of My Waste app subscribers in Waterloo Region had been compromised and email addresses were accessed. This is part of a larger, worldwide issue for Recycle Coach.

The majority of users of the My Waste app were not affected and the My Waste app was not compromised in any way. However, users who had “opted in” to receive marketing emails and updates from Recycle Coach had been compromised.

The only information accessed was email addresses. No passwords, names, addresses, location or country information were compromised. Some subscribers may receive or continue to receive spam email as a result of this incident.

Affected users and the Region of Waterloo were notified and Region staff began following our Privacy Breach Protocol and an investigation into the incident.  

On Thursday, April 19, 2018 affected residents (those who had opted in to receive marketing information from Recycle Coach and My Waste) received direct communication regarding this issue from both Recycle Coach and the Region of Waterloo. 

Recycle Coach has assured the Region that it is taking steps to improve their security measures to better protect user information.

The Region of Waterloo Waste Management Division is investigating options for alternative applications to meet the needs of its constituents and we will ensure the tools we offer meet the standards of the Region of Waterloo.

The Region of Waterloo takes privacy seriously and we would like to apologize to the individuals affected by this error. 

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Media contact:

Cari Howard, Program Manager, Waste Management Programs, Region of Waterloo, Choward@regionofwaterloo.ca, 519-575-4400 x 8412.