After heavy rain in southern Quebec, here's how to get rid of your damaged items
Many cities and boroughs have arranged for special pickup operations
After the flood and the damage, there's the cleanup.
While many residents in around south-central Montreal are just beginning to assess the damage from Friday's major water main break, there are lots of people across southern Quebec who are anxious to get rid of heavy debris following last week's torrential rains.
Cities and boroughs have set up a special debris collection schedule, beefing up the number of collection trucks in circulation and the pick-up hours.
If you're not sure what's happening in your area, contact your municipality or borough or check their social media pages for the latest updates. Many of them have specific instructions about the kinds of waste you can put out and where you can bring more hazardous materials.
Here is some of what municipalities and boroughs are doing.
60 extra trucks in Laval
Since Monday, trucks have been out in Laval to pick up debris, but the city's mayor acknowledged the operation has gone slowly. On Thursday, Stéphane Boyer said it would deploy more blue-collar workers and 60 extra trucks — mainly dump trucks and wheel loaders — to collect the debris.
In total, about 100 trucks are now expected to be out for collection.
To accelerate the process, the city plans to temporarily put debris at its snow dump sites, which are empty during summer, instead of driving to landfills outside the city in Terrebonne or Lachute.
Collection will take place daily between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m over the next few days.
Boyer said Laval residents have called either 311 or 911 nearly 9,000 times since the floodwaters hit on Aug. 9.
Pickups in Beaconsfield
Initially, Saturday was set to be the last collection day in Beaconsfield.
On Friday, however, the city said on its website that pickups would be extended into the week of Aug. 19, "in collaboration with our contractors, depending on progress in the north and south sectors."
The city in Montreal's West Island wants residents to wrap items in plastic when possible, to make collections easier.
It is also among several cities and boroughs warning people to not put out electronics or hazardous waste like paint cans, oil and batteries.
People in Beaconsfield can get rid of the hazardous waste at Beaconsfield High School between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Tires and appliances containing halocarbons, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, can be left at 300 Beaurepaire Road between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, or on weekdays between 7:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.
You can also check that city's website for more information about its next regular date for the collection of bulky items on Aug. 28.
Late pickups in Dollard-des-Ormeaux
Debris collection in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, another suburb in Montreal's West Island, began on Tuesday.
The daily operations there will continue until 11 p.m. in some areas.
The city also warns that household hazardous waste like paint cans, oil, batteries and electronics will not be picked up, and can be brought to a secure drop-off location or at its next mobile collection event on Sept. 8.
It says electronics can be dropped off at businesses like Canadian Tire and Best Buy, the local ecocentre or its drop-off location at 100 Glenmore St.
"It is important to note that these operations may take some time, given the amount of the waste to be collected across the territory," reads a message on the city's website.
Cleanup in Pierrefonds-Roxboro to go until Sunday — for now
Crews have also been collecting debris in the West Island borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro since the beginning of the week. For now, the plan is to continue the collection operation until Aug. 18.
The borough will then assess the situation and determine if it needs a few extra days to finish the job.
Trucks in the borough are also expected to be circulating in the evening until 11 p.m.
"The co-operation and patience of residents are essential at this stage, as the task is colossal," reads a notice on the borough's website.
"To facilitate the work of the crews and enable them to speed up their response, it is important to place your residual waste on the public right-of-way and not on the street."
Set pickup date for Côte Saint-Luc
The City of Côte Saint-Luc on the Montreal island has set aside Friday, Aug. 23 as the pickup date for all debris and bulky items damaged by flooding.
It is also warning residents not to put out hazardous waste or electronics.
The city says those can be taken to its public works building located at 7001 Mackle Road or an ecocentre on the island.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
