City of Brandon Refuse and Recyling Pick-up FAQ’s

Q: What is my new garbage and recycling pick-up day?
A: Effective Oct.1st, the City of Brandon will be switching to a four-day refuse and recycling collection cycle which will run from Tuesday to Friday each week. That means that refuse and recycling collection will take place between Tuesday and Friday each week, with a resident’s collection day staying constant throughout the year. This will eliminate the confusion that can occur when a collection day is pushed ahead by a statutory holiday. The change will also give residents two more collection days each year.

A map of collection routes is available at: http://brandon.ca/departments/operations/sanitation/new-collection-info
Maps can also be mailed out, on request, by contacting the City of Brandon’s Sanitation department at 204-729-2281.

Q: What happens if my regular collection day does fall on a statutory holiday?
A: The only holidays that will impact service are Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Collection during these days will move ahead one day and will be collected on Saturday of that week. The following week the residents would be collected on their regular day, with the remainder of the City not being affected at all.

Q: I’ve heard I can no longer leave my bins sitting in the back lane 24/7. Is this true?
A: Yes, this is true. Changes to the Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw will require residents with back lane refuse and recycling pick-up to store the bins assigned to them on their property on non-collection days. Residents will be required to place their bin in the back laneway no more than 12 hours prior to collection day and must return the bins to their property no more than 24 hours of being emptied on collection day.

The changes were approved by Brandon City Council on June 25th, but will not come into effect until Oct.1, to allow residents who need to make changes to fencing in their back yards/back lanes can undertake such work.

Q: What will happen if my bins or my neighbour’s bins are not pulled back off the back lane when it is not collection day?
A: Non-compliance relating to the removal of bins from back lanes on non-collection days will result in residents first being warned and then potentially fined, up to a maximum of $1,000 per offense. It is important to note that the owner of the property to which a bin is issued would be considered in non-compliance of the by-law, not the occupier of the property a bin is located on.

Non-compliance can be reported by calling the Sanitation Department at 204-729-2281 or the Brandon City Police Service’s By-law Division at 204-729-2345.

Q: What if I am not physically able to pull my bin off the back lane when it is not my collection day?
A: The City of Brandon provides a free set-out, set-back service for individuals who can supply an appropriate medical note indicating there is no able-bodied person at their residence to perform such a task. To apply for the free set-out, set-back service, you can download an application form here: http://brandon.ca/departments/operations/sanitation/set-out--set-back-service

You can also pick up an application form from the Eastview Landfill, located at 3300 Victoria Avenue East, from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, or by calling 204-729-2281

Q: Has anything changed with regards to what I can and cannot put in my black bin/blue bin?
A: No, there have been no changes to what is considered acceptable refuse and what is accepted as recyclable materials at the Eastview Landfill’s Materials Recovery Facility. However, to aid in the City’s continuing efforts to reach its goal of a 50% waste diversion rate away from the Landfill, all residents are encouraged to refresh themselves on what is and isn’t acceptable to place in their black/blue-lidded bins. A complete list of Do’s and Don’ts for refuse and recycling bins can be found here:
http://brandon.ca/departments/operations/sanitation/recycling-info

Q: I’ve heard that the City offers a voluntary curbside organics collection program, complete with a green-lidded bin for back-lane pick up? How do I participate?
A: The City of Brandon’s Compost Pilot Project was an 18-month pilot project that was launched in the summer of 2010, with approximately 500 volunteer household participating. For 12 months (from July 2010 to July 2011), the City of Brandon collected materials, and for the 6 months after that, results were monitored.

While the project is officially over, the City is currently in the final stages of planning to expand this program to 5,500 volunteer households. The expanded program will not officially begin until the spring of 2013, however, the City is on track to begin accepting applications for the program in mid-to-late fall. More information will be made available by the City of Brandon once an implementation timeline is finalized.

Q: What will be happening with garbage and recycling pick-up at multi-family residences with more than 7 dwelling units?
A: A strategy to deal with solid waste and recycling collection for multi-family residences of 7 or more dwelling units is currently in its final stages of development, with administrative recommendations set to come before Brandon City Council for discussion on Sept.17th.