It’s not hard to miss.
Furniture, clothing and a ton of unwanted “stuff” lining many streets in Halifax as part of the annual September shuffle.
Many former tenants are tossing their unwanted belongings to the curb as they relocate, but there’s a limit to what the city will pick up.
“You’re allowed to have one item every two weeks when it’s garbage pick up time and that garbage item is a bulky item up to 200 kilograms,” said Brendan Elliott, spokesperson for Halifax Regional Municipality. “It could be an appliance, or a piece of furniture, but only one if you’re in a single family dwelling.”
That means if people are piling garbage onto the curb, a lot of things will be left behind. The onus falls on the property owner to make sure that garbage is taken away.
“Ultimately, you’re responsible for getting the items to our solid waste facility,” said Elliott.
“If you’re a tenant and leave everything there on your way to the next home, the responsibility falls on the landlord.”
The city operates on a complaint-driven system when it comes to dealing with leftover junk.
“If you’re in a neighbourhood and you see across the street there’s junk piled up at the curb, call 311, let us know. We’ll send staff out and we’ll either talk to either the tenant at the house or the landlord,” Elliott said.
Property owners are given 24 hours to remove the junk. If they fail to do so, the city will remove it themselves and charge a $100 fee.
Elliott said normal garbage pick up rules apply during this time of the year. That means that single-unit houses are allowed to put out six bags of garbage per collection day, five of which must be clear. Multi-unit buildings are permitted to put out two bulky items. Each unit is allowed four bags, three of which must be clear.
Extra waste can be taken to the Otter Lake disposal facility for a fee. Material weighing up to 100 kg (220lbs) is charged $5.00. Material weighing more than 100 kg is charged $12.50 for every 100 kg.
Elliott said there are things landlords can do to protect themselves against these types of situations.
“Make sure you get a damage deposit, and if you find furniture at the curb, deduct from the damage deposit whatever it costs you to remove it,” he said.
The city is also reminding residents to not place garbage curbside until 7 p.m. the night before their scheduled pick up day.