With many student leases expiring at the end of April, Tuesday was a big day in Waterloo’s university neighbourhoods.
Some students are happy to head home from the summer, while others say leaving is more bittersweet.
But for the garbage crews moving down the streets and dealing with what the students leave behind, there’s nothing at all sweet about April 30.
“It’s pretty outrageous. It’s piles after piles after piles,” says waste worker Matt Bowlby.
Everywhere they turn in the student areas, Bowlby and other garbage truck crews find discarded items – everything from furniture to household items to food.
“They are students, so they’re just going to live in the houses for half a year and throw everything out,” says Bowlby.
Waste workers are quick to point out that not all students have the same quick-to-dispose mindset, but enough do that it makes move-out day one of the most dreaded days on the sanitation calendar.
John Ioannou owns student properties in Waterloo.
He says he doesn’t mind seeing waste pile up on the curb if it means his tenants have been cleaning out the house.
“Does it look good? No, it doesn’t look good, but the city does a pretty good job trying to keep it as clean as possible,” he tells CTV.
Region of Waterloo waste management officials say the region works with Waterloo’s two universities to encourage students to recycle and reuse their items rather than toss everything to the curb.
