Hochelaga’s biweekly trash collection sparks controversy amid rising garbage piles

Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve switched from weekly to bi-weekly trash collection. This measure, tested in several areas since 2022, was rolled out to the whole borough in mid-November to avoid – they say – overloading Montreal’s already strained sorting centers.

Some residents claim the streets are now “littered with garbage” as many leave trash on the street.

“In the end, this is what we’re left with, garbage, all across the street. Everyone we speak too is incredibly unhappy with it. Even the people who have been composting and upcycling for years are still leaving in a place that has garbage all over the place.”

Ligue 33, a group advocating for Montreal-East residents, is calling for the resignation of the borough mayor, criticizing his actions as undemocratic and calling out the borough’s sanitation measures.

“Originally, we just wanted this measure to be repealed, to go back to what it was before. We’re noticing that’s not being listened to. We’re not being listened to and we want to show that we can call for the resignation and change the administration because, an administration is supposed to be representing us,” said Jonathan Haiun.

In a written statement sent to CityNews, the Mercier-Hochelaga borough says “With the climate crisis and the overflowing landfills, it is imperative we change our ways. We are convinced that the residents of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, like those of the majority of cities in the Greater Montreal Area or the cities of Longueuil, Sherbrooke, Vancouver, or Toronto, will be able to evolve.”

However, Ligue 33 disagrees.

“There are people who live in houses and can put their garbage outside or store it away from where they’re living. But then for a lot of people, especially in more dense places like here in the Hochelaga, it’s just not doable,” said Haiun. “We see disputes between private businesses having their garbage bins filled by residents because they don’t have place to put their garbage.”

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CityNews also spoke to some residents, who said, “Many citizens are not following the rules and are putting out their garbage frequently. Some streets are really terrible. I don’t understand why they made such a decision, and I think it doesn’t help keep the city clean.”

Another adding, “The week we have everything at home, we have to find a way to keep it, and it’s a bit difficult.”