Some Cranbrook residents have had their garbage turned down on collection day since changes were made to the city’s solid waste bylaw in September.
Among other changes, Cranbrook’s sanitary engineer will no longer pick up garbage that is loose inside a trash can.
“The change was made to alleviate issues similar to those shown in the photo (at right). It was also becoming common for the sanitary engineer to pick up a garbage container filled with loose items and as the container was being emptied, the wind would come up and blow garbage all over. Garbage needs to be packaged cleanly and neatly to avoid potentially having loose garbage blow around the neighbourhood. That provision in the bylaw is to try to help keep neighbourhoods clean and tidy,” said Chris Zettel, corporate communications officer.
Items such as pizza boxes, cigarette ashes and butts, garden waste and loose cups inside a garbage container but not a bag will not be picked up.
Since September 1, the sanitary engineer has been issuing slips when garbage is not collected.
The changes also limit each household to three garbage receptacles each week, instead of five. Anyone wishing to have more than three bags collected can purchase tags for each extra bag for $1.50 each at city hall.
Each receptacle must be less than 100 litres and not weigh more than 20 kilograms each. Garbage containers must have a watertight cover, smooth rim and fixed handles, and be in good structural and sanitary condition. Plastic bags must be securely tied closed at the top and strong enough to be lifted into the garbage truck.