The Montreal borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve has confirmed that it will restore weekly garbage pick-up during the summer months, following widespread outrage over a decision to modify the collection schedule. “This adjusted schedule aims to reduce the nuisances associated with hot weather, while encouraging us to adopt better sorting habits and improve cleanliness in our neighbourhoods,” said Vincent Fortin, a communications official with the borough. As such, household waste will be collected weekly from May 1 to Oct. 31. Meanwhile, from Nov. 1 to April 30, it will take place every two weeks. Reducing the waste collection schedule was part of a plan by then-Montreal mayor Valérie Plante to encourage the city to become zero-waste by 2030. It started as a pilot project in 2022 before being confirmed across the borough in November 2024. However, residents quickly started complaining about overflowing bins, foul odours and rodents in the neighbourhood. “We see them in the laneway, they come on the balcony. We have to close our doors and windows – we can’t live,” resident Isabella Goyette told CTV News at the time. As such, during the 2025 municipal election campaign, both Projet Montréal and Ensemble Montréal promised to bring back weekly pick-ups in the summer.
