Cape Breton council to discuss curbside giveaway, flyer bylaw at Tuesday meeting

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality city hall is pictured on Aug. 28, 2025. (CTV Atlantic / Ryan MacDonald)

The Cape Breton Regional Council will discuss curbside garbage pickup and litter issues at their regular meeting on Tuesday.

One motion, which was brought forward by Coun. Steven MacNeil at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting, seeks a staff report on the feasibility of having a curbside giveaway weekend this August.

If the motion gets council approval, the report, which would look at operational requirements and resource implications, would have to be finished by the middle of June.

Earlier this year, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality discontinued the Heavy Garbage program, an annual event that allowed people to leave out major items on the curb for pickup.

The municipality replaced that event with Call to Haul, a year-round service that allows residents to schedule a pickup of five bulky household items at a time.

Coun. Eldon MacDonald previously told CTV News Atlantic heavy garbage costs the municipality between $500,000 and $750,000 annually.

The motion on the curbside giveaway weekend notes the old Heavy Garbage program had an “informal social component.”

“Residents would search through the unwanted items in advance of pickup and claim items they could use, repair, or repurpose,” the motion reads. “Call to Haul service has eliminated this community level reuse/recycling activity.

“A formally organized Curbside Giveaway would restore that social and reuse/recycling component. Residents would place reusable items at the curb for the duration of a weekend, and any items not claimed would be returned to the resident’s property.”

The motion notes holding the event near the end of August would coincide with the arrival of Cape Breton University and Nova Scotia Community College students, which could allow residents to declutter and newcomers to reuse goods.

Flyers bylaw

Council will also consider a motion brought forward by Coun. Dave MacKeigan that seeks a bylaw on flyer distribution.

The motion says the municipality is facing a “major crisis with litter” and it points to flyer distribution as a possible contributor.

“Residents are increasingly frustrated seeing flyer materials scattered in yards, drains and green spaces throughout our community,” the motion reads. “The current practice of flyer distribution is irresponsible and undermines the intent of local advertising, often not reaching the intended residents.

“The practice of tossing from a vehicle directly contributes to litter in our community.”

The motion seeks a bylaw that would regulate flyer distribution with potential penalties for violations.

Council will vote on both motions when their meeting starts at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Jesse Huot and Ryan MacDonald

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