Gatineau councillors call for emergency garbage pickup

As frustration grows in Gatineauover illegal dumping, city councillorsheld a special council meeting Thursday to consider tweaking the new rules for garbage pickupand allowingextra curbside collections for bulk items.

Sincenew restrictions on garbage came into effect July 15, one change in particular involving large items seems to have led to rampant illegal dumping of things such asmattresses and couches.

The city has received numerouscomplaints about illegal dumping since the change, and the resulting mess had several councillorsat the meeting calling for an emergency cleanup.

"We need to show we're doing something," Coun. Nathalie Lemieux told her colleagues.

The decision to have an emergency cleanup could be made without a vote, but GatineauMayorMaxime Pedneaud-Jobin said he would have to consider the cost first.

A decision on the issue could be made as soon as next week, he said.

Drop-off fee could disappear

Councillorspointed to new restrictions on bulk items, which are nowcollected justfour times a year. Residents can also drop off items at a designated collection centrefor $50, but councillorsmoved to eliminate that charge on Thursday.

Council will vote on eliminating the fee Tuesday and discuss increasing the curbside pickup of big items to once a month.

The special meeting comes just weeks after the implementation of the new ruleswhich made composting mandatory and brought in other limits on garbage pickup.

Coun. MaudeMarquis-Bissonnette, who heads the committee responsible for implementing the provincially-mandatedchanges,has already suggested she's open to all ideas, as long as they conform to the long-term goal set out by council.

The new rules arebased onguidelines adopted in2016 aspart of a plan to reduce waste sent to landfills by 45 per cent of 2016 levels by 2020.

All cities in Quebec have to make changes like we're doing right now.-Coun. MaudeMarquis-Bissonnette

"We're trying here to adjust the bylaws that we've passed to make sure to reduce the negative impact,"Marquis-BissonnettetoldCBCRadio'sOttawa Morningon Friday.

The $50 fee to drop items off at the collection centre made sense when only one or two dozen people were using the service,Marquis-Bissonnettesaid but that was before the new restrictions came in to place.

Marquis-Bissonnettesaid council is also planning to increase staffing and extendhours at the centre.

She attributed some of the hiccupsto the factGatineauis one of the first Quebec municipalities to try to come in line with the province's plans.

"All cities in Quebec have to make changes like we're doing right now,"Marquis-BissonnettetoldOttawa Morning. "We're just one of the first to do it. And so it might be just a bit harder."