Deering raises doubts about timing of bulk garbage collection

Mark Squibb\April 14, 2023

Bay Roberts annual bulk garbage spring clean up, during which residents can put out old furniture, appliances, and mattresses for town workers to carry away, began April 3 and runs until April 28. But the Town may have pulled the trigger too soon, says councillor Frank Deering.

“There’s no one cleaning up until the sun shines,” said Deering during this week’s public meeting, held April 11. “We have trucks going all around town checking just to see if there’s anything put out, and there’s nothing put out. I see the trucks going around looking. So, I think we should push the clean up two weeks ahead.”

Councillor Dean Franey said he was just starting to see folks putting their bulk garbage out.

“But I will say, a couple of people did mention to me that it would probably be better to collect in May,” said Franey. “I don’t know if there’s a reason that we choose April over May or what.”

Town Clerk Christine Bradbury said that in times past council did schedule bulk garbage pick up for May.

“But the last couple of years, the weather has been nicer, so people have been wanting to do it earlier,” said Bradbury. “Last year we did it in April month and followed suit this year.”

Mayor Walter Yetman suggested that in the future the Town could start bulk garbage collection mid-April and run until mid-May.

“The issue I have, is that I see our Town employees going around looking for garbage, and they’re checking daily to see if there’s anything out,” said Deering. “And there’s nothing there to be picked up. And those employees could be doing something else.”

Yetman, like Franey, said in recent days he has noticed an uptake in collection.

Councillor Perry Bowering agreed with Deering.

Councillor Silas Badcock asked whether council had missed Deering’s point. Deering reiterated his concern that employees are having to spend time looking for garbage when there is no garbage to be picked up.

Bradbury said residents sometimes sometimes call in to let staff know they have put out their bulk garbage, and the workers collecting regular garbage make note of bulk garbage when they see it.

There was no vote cast on the matter, and council was left hoping that collection will pick up in the coming weeks. “I’m just saying that we have to come up with a better system, a better way to communicate with drivers rather than just having them drive around,” said Deering.