Waste management

I recently helped draft and proposed the new waste management by-law 2302 “By-law to regulate the collection and disposal of waste materials”. This by-law encourages residents to do the right thing. Our waste is not garbage to be thrown away in plastic bags—it is a resource that must be managed responsibly.

Remember 40 percent of our waste can be composted and another 40 percent can be recycled. By using all the services the city offers you will help make our city a green city to be proud of. As well, being green will help us save money. At the present time, with about half the residents of the city participating in the brown bin program, we collect around 20 tons a week of organic waste. If we could increase the collection to 40 tons a week, we could reduce the crews collecting garbage and save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. So if all households participate effectively, the brown bin program will actually help us reduce costs.

Therefore, in accordance with our new by-law we are asking residents to make their best efforts to comply with the new requirements. The most important first step is to make sure you and your gardener uses the brown bin for leaf and yard waste. Do not put your yard waste in plastic bags. Please use the brown bins. As well if you need help or assistance in sorting your waste, our waste technicians and green patrollers as well as myself, will be pleased to come and assist you in any way we can. I recognize that some residents are unhappy with the size of the bins, however these are necessary in order to work efficiently with the mechanized arms of our collection trucks. As well, on days when there is no collection, please remove your bins and garbage cans away from the curb and store them in your garage or next to your house.

Hazardous and electronic waste should not be placed in the garbage. Please be sure that you bring this waste including to an eco centre. The closest one is the Écocentre de Côte-des-Neiges (6925 Côte-des-Neiges Rd.). Also you can bring your waste on August 23 to the Hazardous Waste Collection Day at the Public Works Yard in Côte Saint-Luc at 7001 Mackle Rd. from 9am to 5pm.