Changes proposed to popular heavy garbage collection in Cape Breton

The annual heavy garbage pickup in Cape Breton will have a shortened window this year.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) is considering a couple of changes to its spring garbage collection, including modifications to its ever-popular annual heavy garbage pickup.

Municipal spokesperson Christina Lamey confirmed to CTV News Atlantic the heavy garbage pickup will have a shortened window this year.

Council was told during a meeting on Tuesday heavy garbage will be collected during a one-week blitz, rather than a longer collection period. Part of the reason given for the change is to get rid of unsightly garbage at curbside quickly, with visitors expected on spring cruise ships.

In addition to the one-week pickup, there will also be a six-week drop off period for bulk items at four locations in the CBRM: North Sydney, New Waterford, Glace Bay, and the municipal dump on Spar Road in Sydney.

CBRM Solid Waste has also asked municipal council to consider a new “call to haul” system.

“We’re working towards a call-to-haul process which would involve people contacting the municipality, and this would be many months of the year,” Lamey said. “Not necessarily all months of the year, but many, and that’s beginning possibly as early as June.”

Council was told mid-April is being looked at as a start date for both pickup programs, but no dates have been finalized.

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