Garbage cans throughout downtown Moose Jaw were overflowing with refuse for more than a week recently, which concerned resident Theresa Wendzina as she went about her business.
Wendzina visited the Canada Post building on Ross Street West several times during the past three weeks to mail letters to her grandchildren. She noticed that the garbage cans near the building were overflowing during both trips, with material littering the sidewalk down the block.
“I think it’s absolutely a disgrace,” she said.
The overflowing garbage cans were not just a problem near the Canada Post building. Refuse bins along Main Street were also filled to the top, with garbage strewn up the sidewalk.
Wendzina attempted to contact city hall and the mayor’s office several times about this issue, she said, but was unable to reach anyone to lodge her concerns. So, she approached the Moose Jaw Express, which in turn, contacted city hall for clarification.
City workers clean out downtown containers once a week in the winter and twice a week in the summer, a schedule that city hall says is adequate since the cans are meant to handle waste from pedestrians and visitors, Craig Hemingway, communications manager, explained in an email.
“We have found that when the receptacles are overflowing, it’s typically because they contain waste from residences or businesses that, instead, should be allocated to the other collection programs in place,” he said. “These instances are rare and are dealt with quickly when we are notified (that) there is an issue.”
If residents have concerns about garbage, the municipality encourages them to take a photo and report the matter through the free City Request for Service app, Hemingway added. If residents do not have the app, they can call the engineering department at 306-694-4448.
When told that the garbage cans had been cleaned out recently — likely between Feb. 23 and 24 — Wendzina replied, “That is pretty good to me, but it was disgusting that it sat there for three weeks. … we always have to wear a mask because of the COVID. Well, what about the filth that’s left outside in front of a government building for three weeks? (That) was my point.”
Another resident with concerns about litter is Michel Labonte. He told the Express that most of the trash he comes across in parks, on streets, on school properties, and in neighbourhoods is from fast food restaurants, retail and convenience stores.
“Sadly enough, we all know that lots of those trash will end up in the river and trees, as the rain and wind will carry them everywhere. We all know the damage that all (that) garbage will do to our ecosystem,” he said. “Even though we are talking about keeping our city clean of trash and be proud of it, let’s not forget that keeping our city clean also involves the discussion about our air and water pollution.”
Attempting to make the city a clean place to live has been a long-standing idea, and while it’s a noble goal, Labonte didn’t believe that creating another advisory committee to organize clean-up events was necessary.
During the Jan. 25 regular council meeting, council approved a new committee that focuses on city cleanliness and community pride.
“I personally hope that city council will change their minds and not implement this idea of a new committee … . I don’t think we need more bureaucratic red tape,” he said.
Instead, Labonte thought that businesses should more heartily encourage customers to throw their trash into garbage cans, that residents should have a serious discussion about caring for the community, and that city hall should put more garbage cans in parks and on pedestrian-heavy streets.
