Trash cans must have ‘easily removable’ lids — or you could face a $200 fine

If your garbage cans don't have easily removable" lids, you could be fined $200 under a newly-amended bylaw.

Hamilton councillors approved the amendment in a unanimous vote Wednesday. It was proposed after waste collections staff received feedback from collectors who found it challenging to pry open latched or tied-down lids before dumping trash into trucks.

In the days leading up to the vote, residents took to Twitter to voice their outrage over the proposed change, thinking they would be required to remove the lids of their garbage cans before placing them curbside - but it turns out that option, which arose from confusion at a committee meeting last week, was never on the table.

Angela Storey, director of waste management, said collections staff initially requested council mandate that lids be completely removable" from their containers. However, in conversation with councillors Wednesday, we agreed that hinged lids would be fine," she said in an interview.

Coun. Brenda Johnson said that's relief" for residents in windy Mount Hope, where many have hinged lids to keep trash from blowing all over the village.

So what's allowed - and what's not?

Essentially, lids must be readily separable" from garbage cans prior to pickup, said Storey. She didn't clarify exactly what counts as readily separable," but noted the recommended option for residents are lids that fully detach from bins.

Storey also said: Any device used to tie (lids) down - some people bungee-cord down their lid, or some people use a cord to keep their lid attached - needs to removed prior to collection."

The bylaw amendment also included new height and diameter limits for waste containers. Now, residents are prohibited from having bins that are more than 91 centimetres high or 61 centimetres wide.

We're always asking (collections) staff for feedback on the way that they do their work, and one of the issues that they had is, sometimes, waste containers are just too big or too cumbersome for collectors to pick them up and dump them into the garbage truck," said Storey.

Storey said collections staff did not receive any formal grievance related to detachable lids or container sizes from unionized employees.

Residents weren't the only ones confused about the change. Councillors also sought clarification about the proposed - and now ratified - amendment in advance of Wednesday's decision.

Acting public works director Craig Murdoch acknowledged there was some confusion when the new rules were discussed at a public works committee meeting last week.

It wasn't very clear," he said.

Murdoch said the city will not be enforcing a ban on hinged garbage lids for the foreseeable future" - even though such a provision exists in the amended bylaw. He also noted that $200 fines for noncompliance will be very, very, very rare."

Instead, public works will deploy a progressive program," which starts with an Oops" sticker. If a resident still fails to comply, they will receive a second sticker and a letter, then a third sticker and a stronger worded letter," a visit from a waster co-ordinator, and ultimately, if needed, a fine.

Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com