‘A constant struggle’: Businesses concerned about amount of garbage downtown

Garbage is shown spread across the ground in Barrie, Ont. (Supplied)

Every Sunday businesses along Barrie’s downtown put their garbage out for Monday collection, but the next morning, trash is scattered everywhere and businesses have had enough.

Steve Ricalis, owner of Donaleigh’s Public Irish House, said the garbage bins outside his business are constantly being tampered with.

“We wake up in the morning and there’s garbage bags being pulled out, ripped open, and some leave the garbage the way it is and some put it back together,” said Ricalis. “So it is a constant struggle for downtown.”

From Donaleigh’s to On The Mark Vintage, business owners have noticed more and more garbage littered outside from poor weather conditions to having unwanted guests rummaging through the trash.

Mark Wise, owner of On The Mark Vintage, said the snow has also caused problems for business owners this season.

“I think things are getting buried. You put it out in the evening and then in the morning, it’s covered in snow,” said Wise. “It makes it hard for a consistent cleanup, which I understand. I think having it daily might help with that kind of idea, just so it’s not piling up through the week.”

Last week, downtown businesses met with city staff in a closed meeting to discuss solutions related to the garbage problem plaguing the downtown.

City staff and council will be discussing a pilot program to address the increased litter accumulation with a limit of $130,000.

The project would include weekday and weekend pick-up along Dunlop Street from Mulcaster Street to Mary Street and the rear laneway extending from Mulcaster Street to Owen Street.

The project would also include the ability for call-out crews when urgent clean-ups are needed, a welcomed project if it moves forward.

“Everybody wants a clean downtown,” said Ricalis. “It has to be done. Downtown needs to be pristine so people feel like it’s a nice place to come.”

Mayor Alex Nuttall said there are hiccups within the collection system and is hopeful the pilot project has a positive outcome.

“We’re going to make sure that downtown is a clean place, a safe place, and a wonderful place to go with your family,” said Nuttall. “What we’ve seen in terms of the amount of garbage on the side of the street for the last little while is not appropriate.”

City staff will finalize the details at city council on Wednesday night. If passed, the project will begin and the findings will be brought back to council later this spring.