Update (May 1, 2024): Provincial recycling program now in effect for Saint John

The City of Saint John would like to make residents aware of changes to curbside recycling collection services.  As part of the Province of New Brunswick’s recently expanded Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, management of all curbside recycling collection will become the responsibility of a third-party service provider, Miller Waste, beginning May 1.

All recycling collection inquiries should be directed to Miller Waste including replacement totes, schedules and missed collections:

Phone: 1-833-644-1163

Email: nb@millerwaste.ca
A non-profit called Circular Materials (https://www.circularmaterials.ca/) is coordinating this EPR expansion. The recycling collection service provider for Saint John is Miller Waste.

What residents need to know about their curbside recycling collection

• As of May 1, residents will have new curbside recycling pickup dates and times. Collection schedules will be managed and implemented by Miller Waste and details about the changes are expected to be communicated by Circular Materials in the coming days.
• The ReCollect app is currently being updated and will still be available and the best source for determining your pickup day. In the meantime, residents can go to NB Recycling Guide_CitySaintJohn to find your recycling schedule.
• There will be no changes to the types of materials that can be recycled under the new program.
• There are no changes to collection of your garbage or compost as a result of this program.

The change comes as a result of the Province of New Brunswick’s expansion of the EPR program to paper and packaging under the Designated Materials Regulation and is being implemented in municipalities throughout the province.

Improved curbside garbage and compost collection services are now underway with the enhanced Waste Wise Program. 

Program Highlights:

Garbage bag limits:

• • One full city-issued garbage cart (approximately two large garbage bags)
  • For households that will not receive a garbage cart and will continue to receive bag collection (South-Central Peninsula, Old North End and Waterloo Village):
    • A limit of one bag per weekly pickup
       
• Garbage Bag Tags for excess garbage:
  • Bag tags are required when allowable garbage bag limits are reached and additional bags need to be used.
  • Bag tags can be purchased for $2 per tag at the City Hall Customer Service Centre and other locations across the city. Find a full list of vendors HERE or seen below.
  • Bag tags are available for purchase at locations across the City including City Hall.

*Residents may request bag tags to be mailed to them by contacting the Customer Service Centre at 506-658-4455. A minimum order of one full sheet (13 tags) and payment by credit card is required.

• Curbside compost will continue to be offered under the new program.
   
• The bulky items pick-up service will continue to be offered to all customers, by appointment, by contacting Customer Service at 506-658-4455.   

Urban bag tags

Residents who live in the South-Central Peninsula, Old North End and Waterloo Village areas of the city will be required to place an urban bag tag on their garbage bags prior to pickup.

Urban bag tags are mailed to residents living in those areas twice a year in January and July. 

Medical Waste Support Program

Do you or someone in your household have a medical condition that results in additional waste that cannot be recycled?

The City of Saint John’s Medical Waste Support program is designed to assist those who regularly need to dispose of extra garbage due to medical reasons.  For those who qualify, the program provides garbage tags for 52 additional bags tags per year at no cost.

To protect your privacy, all tags provided are standard City of Saint John Excess Garbage Bag Tags. Applications are accepted throughout the year and must be renewed annually.

How to apply and program details:

• Download and complete the (PDF). The form must be signed by a Physician or Nurse Practitioner before it is returned to the City as outlined in the application.
• Only paper copies of this form will be accepted.
• If you do not access to a printer, you can call 506-658-4455 and arrange to have a form mailed to you.
• Once received, the application will be reviewed for accuracy. Incomplete forms will be returned to the applicant.
• If there are multiple residents who live in the household requiring extra tags, a separate form must be filled out for each resident.
• If approved, 52 City of Saint John excess garbage bag tags will be mailed to the address provided.
• This program excludes personal protective equipment (PPE).

Applications must be renewed annually on the anniversary date of the applicant’s program approval by filling out a Medical Waste Support Renewal Form (PDF). The application renewal date will be provided in a letter that accompanies the tags. 

Please visit the "Related Documents" section of this page for application forms.

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We can all make improvements in the amount of waste we generate in our lives, and become more responsible for our waste. Waste Wise Saint John is an initiative that aims to help residents reduce waste through education, resources, and enforcement. 

Composting

Composting reduces landfill waste, thereby extending the life of the landfill. Plus, animals and birds will not be attracted to your garbage if there is no food product in it, which makes for cleaner properties and streetscapes. But did you know that it even makes economic sense to compost? The FRSC fee for compost is $40 per metric tonne, compared to the $108 per tonne of garbage. We save money and help save the planet when we compost.

For composting tips, please visit the Fundy Regional Service Commission website here.

Recycling

You can reduce household waste by nearly 50 per cent when you recycle!

Household electronics can be recycled at the Crane Mountain Landfill Hazardous Waste Depot and at other depot locations throughout the city. This is a free program.

For more recycling information including a blue bin map, visit Fundyrecycles.com.

Preventing a mess

You can help prevent garbage from making a mess of yards, sidewalks or streets. Secure your containers during inclement weather, and cover your garbage with an old blanket or tarp to prevent animal and bird interference—crews will leave your covering behind when they clear your street. Remember, you are responsible for your garbage and any loose refuse resulting from weather, animals, or otherwise.

Whether you choose to cycle, walk, take public transit, or drive, we all depend on a safe and well-maintained street network to get around. It’s the responsibility of every city to make sure that residents have practical transportation choices. It’s why Saint John maintains City roads (1160 lane kilometres in total), city sidewalks (373 km), and all the infrastructure, maintenance, and painting that goes along with it.

Roadway maintenance

The Roadway Maintenance Service provides drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians with safe, functional roads and maintains accessibility of these roads through all seasons. This work includes pothole repair; asphalt patching and crack sealing; road resurfacing; plowing, salting and sanding; street cleaning; and maintenance of all retaining walls, guiderails, and medians. 

Sidewalk maintenance

The City of Saint John works to provide sidewalks that are as safe and accessible as the streets. Sidewalk Maintenance Service is carried out from April–November, and involves maintenance of concrete, asphalt, and brick sidewalks and walkways; installation and maintenance of access ramps; maintenance of grass medians and other green spaces; and snow and ice control in the winter. 

Pedestrian and traffic management

Saint John's Pedestrian and Traffic Management Service supports safe, efficient movement of all travellers, including vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. This effort includes maintenance of traffic and pedestrian lights, regulatory and informational signage, marked crossings, directional arrows, and line painting. The City paints 615 crosswalks annually, and 2600 other markings (arrows, stop bars etc.).

Crosswalks

Pedestrians are inherently more vulnerable on the roads than drivers, so it's extremely important that everyone—drivers and pedestrians—understands how to behave around crosswalks. Most drivers don’t realize that every single intersection is a crosswalk, whether it’s marked and painted or not. When a pedestrian is legally within a crosswalk (marked or not), drivers must yield so the pedestrian can cross safely.

Drivers, it's impossible for pedestrians to make sure you see them. It's your responsibility to always be aware of and watch for pedestrians in crosswalks—and to drive slowly enough that you can safely stop to let them cross. Pedestrians, when at a signalized intersection, only begin to cross when the signal shows the “walk” symbol. 

Potholes and asphalt programs

When the City experiences large temperature fluctuations, potholes become a common hazard on our streets. They’re not only an inconvenience, but also can create a safety hazard and potential for property damage. The City of Saint John has many maintenance programs for asphalt repairs. The type of surface defect and the time of year will determine how and when the defect can be addressed. 

The only surface defects that can be maintained during the winter months are potholes. The Winter Asphalt Maintenance Program is focused on identifying priority potholes and addressing them as resources and weather conditions permit. 

During the Spring Blitz Program the City makes a consolidated effort to address all potholes throughout the City. The entire asphalt department puts all other asphalt work on hold—such as the overlay program and driveway apron reinstatements—until they’ve addressed all outstanding potholes, City-wide. 

Other surface defects, such as delamination, alligator cracking, and seam separation cannot be done during the winter. The material needed for these repairs (called Sand Seal) requires a pavement temperature of at least 15 degrees Celsius. Once asphalt temperatures remain above 15 degrees (typically the end of June or beginning of July), the City starts the Sand Seal Blitz. All other surface defects are maintained throughout the construction season. 

Repair requests are prioritized and planned in the work schedule for the Surface Maintenance Department. You can help! If you experience a pothole, please complete a service request form, call our Customer Service line at 506-658-4455, or email customer service to inform us of its location.