The City of Montreal announced that its biweekly residual waste collection program will be expanded to four additional boroughs this fall, adding Ahuntsic‑Cartierville, Villeray–Saint‑Michel–Parc‑Extension, Pierrefonds‑Roxboro and L’Île‑Bizard–Sainte‑Geneviève to the schedule. The change is set to take effect in the autumn of 2026 and will bring the total number of areas served by the alternating two‑week collection cycle to five.
The biweekly system, first introduced in the Mercier–Hochelaga‑Maisonneuve borough, replaces the previous weekly pickup model for residual waste. Officials cited the need to broaden the schedule after its initial rollout, despite the mixed reactions it generated in the original borough. The city’s waste‑management department said the expansion aims to standardize collection frequencies across more neighborhoods while maintaining service quality.
Residents of the four newly included boroughs will receive notifications outlining the new pickup dates and any adjustments to container placement requirements. The city emphasized that the biweekly timetable will continue to apply only to residual waste, with separate schedules remaining in place for recycling, organics and bulk items. Household waste volumes are expected to be managed within the existing fleet capacity, according to municipal planners.
The decision follows a period of public debate after the program’s debut in Mercier–Hochelaga‑Maisonneuve, where some citizens expressed concerns about the longer interval between collections and potential odors. City representatives noted that the pilot phase provided valuable data on collection efficiency and community response, informing the broader rollout. The expansion reflects Montreal’s ongoing efforts to optimize waste services while addressing environmental and logistical considerations.
The new biweekly schedule will be monitored throughout its first year of operation, with the city promising to review feedback from the four boroughs and adjust procedures as needed. The rollout marks the latest step in Montreal’s plan to modernize its waste‑management infrastructure across the metropolitan area.