Recycling company won’t take material from outside bins: Housefather

By Joel Goldenberg

Earlier this month, Hampstead councillor Michael Goldwax warned that recycling contractors do not pick up material if it is outside the recycling bin on pick-up day.

At this month’s Côte St. Luc council meeting, mayor Anthony Housefather had to give the same advice to the one resident who showed up that night to ask a question.

The resident told council that if someone places anything extra next to the bin, “even an IGA bag, he refuses to take it.

“God forbid, he should bend over and do this. Can you explain why?”

Housefather explained the contract for recycling for the entire island of Montreal was accepted “under certain terms and conditions.” The mayor pointed out that recycling, in many cases, is only picked up by a mechanical arm on the pick-up vehicle.

“The whole point of this was to reduce the cost for all of the cities to make it easier, so they would have one person in the truck and not two or three. They’re never going to come out — if they were to do that, it would defeat the whole principle of using the arm.”

Housefather also said that exceptions to the rule were made in the first weeks of the contract, and that instructions were also given to residents on the proper method of placing their recycling bins for pick-up.

The resident pointed out that, in one instance, the bin fell on a windy day and the cover was open.

“God forbid someone should bend over...”

Housefather said there are some occasions where the driver will go outside the truck, “but not usually.

“Garbage and compost collection are done by city employees,” the mayor pointed out.

Councillor Steven Erdelyi told the resident that if his bin is overflowing with recyclables, he can contact the city to upgrade to a larger-sized bin — for instance, from 120 litres to 240 or from 240 to 360 litres. Erdelyi said another option is to make use of a large bin at the corner of Baily and Westminster, near the strip mall.