Sophie Demers

LJI Reporter

The surplus garbage assistance program came into effect on May 20. Its purpose is to ease the financial burden of excess garbage for families of over six people who are considered low income, and for people with a medical condition whose treatment produces extra household garbage. Those who meet the eligibility requirements can now receive free surplus garbage labels. These households are eligible for up to 26 labels a year, and one label can be used per waste collection.

“The city of Gatineau is aware that each household’s reality is different. That’s why we have set up this assistance program to better meet the needs of our community,” said Marc Bureau, President of the Commission de l’environnement et de la lutte aux changements climatiques. “The management of residual materials represents a major challenge, and we would like to acknowledge the remarkable efforts of our residents over the years. This program bears witness to our desire to act with agility and consideration for the entire population,”

To benefit from the program, an individual must complete the application form on the City’s website, as well as one of the two supporting documents, low-income large-family form or medical condition form. The individual should then take the forms to their local service centre. Once approved, the individual will receive their labels proportional to the amount of waste collection remaining in the calendar year. The application must be submitted annually; however, for those applying with a medical condition, the supporting documents are only required every four years.

Any resident can buy surplus garbage labels from the city. Each label costs $3 and can be attached to a plastic garbage bag that is no more than 26 by 36 inches, with a maximum 80-litre and 15-kg capacity.

This program saves eligible residents $78 annually, if they use all their labels.

Photo: Garbage bag with Gatineau’s surplus garbage label (SD) Photo: Courtesy