Organic materials: weekly collections return

Starting Monday, April 14, organics collection will resume on a weekly basis, until November 16. This service will be offered every Monday for all sectors of the city.

Since green residues are now accepted in the brown bin, which will be collected every week between April 14 and November 16, only two specific collections for these residues have been kept on the calendar this spring, during the weeks of April 28 and May 19. Only paper bags and bulk waste (e.g. in a large plastic bin, a garbage can other than a wheeled bin, etc.) are accepted at these collections. They must be deposited at the curb before 7 a.m. on Monday morning to ensure collection during the week. Three other collections are scheduled for the fall, during the weeks of October 20, November 3 and November 17.

In the summer, especially during hot spells, odours, flies and larvae can appear in the brown bin. That said, alternating garden and flowerbed waste with food waste should help reduce these nuisances. Wrapping meat, fish and seafood residues in newspaper or storing them in the freezer until collection day also helps to eliminate the presence of flies and larvae, as does storing the bin in the shade rather than in the sun, and using vinegar and baking soda when rinsing the bin.

Remember that plastic bags, even if identified as compostable, biodegradable or oxobiodegradable, are not permitted in the brown bin. This measure is designed to guarantee the quality of the compost generated at the composting center. The presence of plastic films can seriously compromise the efficiency of the decomposition process and alter the final product. We therefore recommend that you use paper bags, make wrappers from unwaxed paper circulars, or simply place bulk materials in the brown bin.

The Collections and Schedules section of the city's website provides a wealth of information on the various collections available to the public. You can also find out which collection days are specific to your property by consulting the website's Address Search or the municipal calendar.