Heavy item garbage changes frequency

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Strathmore will reduce the number of heavy item garbage (HIG) pickups and implement a “trash to treasure” initiative to improve sustainability and reduce waste management costs.

The town’s HIG program allows residents to place unwanted large items (e.g. mattresses, furniture and appliances) on their curbside for pickup. The HIG program previously was run five times per year. This costs the town about $75,000 per year and results in 120 tonnes of large items moving to the landfill.

But after reviewing the program, town administration suggested revising the program to two pickups per year. This would decrease trucking costs, encourage the use of the recycling facility and reduce the landfill volume, explained Ethan Wilson, the town’s infrastructure manager.

There is a chance that reducing the number of HIG days will not reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill, with residents just putting out more items on a given day, acknowledged Wilson. 

But the town foresees that fewer opportunities will mean less tonnage headed to the landfill, he said.

Town council adopted this change during its meeting on March 17, in a 5-1 vote, with Councillor Jason Montgomery voting in opposition. Councillor Melanie Corbiell was not present for the meeting.

Montgomery suggested three pickup days be employed. But Wilson suggested the town start with two and evaluate if that frequency is sufficient.

Other municipalities have used two HIG days successfully, said Jim Simpson, the town’s interim director of infrastructure, operations and development services.

The two pickups will be held in April and September.

Previously, HIG was limited to five items per pickup day. But this restriction will be lifted under the new arrangement. 

The Waste Management recycling centre is continuing to offer take-it-or-leave-it for large items.

Trash to treasure

As part of the policy change, council also approved the implementation of a trash to treasure initiative. Used in other municipalities, the initiative permits residents to move items to the curb a few days before pickup day, allowing others to browse and pickup items.

Wilson said trash to treasure will help reduce pickup costs and the amount of waste heading to landfills, allow for the reuse and repurposing of items, and reduce the stigma of picking up other’s discarded items.