Around 500 Cape Bretoners signed up for new ‘Call To Haul’ garbage pickup so far

The CBRM municipal landfill on SPAR Road in Sydney, N.S. (Ryan MacDonald/CTV News Atlantic)

People in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) are now a few days into the new rules surrounding garbage pickup and tipping fees at the municipal dump.

The new regulations – which include increased tipping fees for people dropping off regular household waste – came into effect last Friday.

It was also the first day for the new Call To Haul program, which has replaced the annual spring heavy garbage pickup.

CBRM officials say so far, the new rules have been met with mixed reaction but a few hundred people have made appointments to have their trash picked up at the curb.

“We have had about 500 people sign up so far to participate in the Call To Haul program,” CBRM spokesperson Christina Lamey said on Monday. “One of our key messages to folks right now is that there is no big rush. This program goes on for the next number of months. You can book it into the summer and into the fall.”

Lamey added that unlike heavy garbage pickup – which took place once per year – residents can use the new Call To Haul program multiple times.

However, the limit remains five items at the curb per pickup.

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