Montreal begins annual effort to clear tonnes of garbage exposed by snowmelt

MONTREAL — Street cleaning is a rite of spring in Montreal, after receding snow exposes months’ worth of cigarette butts, dog waste, and other garbage.

In a park east of downtown on Wednesday, city officials told reporters that an army of street sweepers, sidewalk washers and workers with brooms and shovels will pick up what is expected to be at least 50,000 tonnes of trash and gravel.

A couple of blocks from the park, a scrubbing brush, flattened cardboard boxes and reusable bags littered the curb, providing a reminder of the task at hand.

Spokesman Philippe Sabourin said that because Montreal is a “winter city,” some cleaning operations can’t take place during colder months when snow and ice blanket the roads and streets.

“During the winter there’s physical and mechanical limitations for cleaning our city,” he said, against a backdrop that included a large, dirty pile of plowed snow. He noted that the city can’t use water in winter, for example, and that parking restrictions that give sweepers a clear path only come into effect on April 1.

However, he said that in recent years Montreal has started spring cleaning operations earlier, and employed some cleaning teams year-round. “I think the situation is improving in Montreal, even in the winter, because of those men and women working hard to keep Montreal welcoming and as clean as we can.”

He said about 1,000 employees will be involved in the spring cleanup, which is expected to take between four and six weeks.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says the city will invest an additional $6.2 million for such things as “flying brigades” — workers who will travel across the island to help borough crews tackle messes, especially on higher-traffic commercial arteries.

The city also held a demonstration of some of its cleaning equipment, including large sweepers for streets, and smaller vehicles designed with water sprayers and large vacuum-like hose attachments for sidewalks.

Plante said $2.2 million of the money will be earmarked for the downtown area, where cleaning the streets is particularly complex due to the dense population, tourists coming in and out, and the presence of homeless people.

While the city “of course” gets complaints about dirt and garbage, Plante stressed that many people, including tourists, praise Montreal for its comparative cleanliness. “This is the worst time of year, when there’s a bit of snow and people also want to enjoy the streets,” she said.

The city says that to adapt to a changing climate, it has increasingly been buying sidewalk snow plows that can be converted to street cleaners in the spring with the addition of water jets.

Officials are also launching the big spring clean earlier than usual, although Plante admitted that doing so brings a risk of having to do it all over again if there’s a big snowfall or freezing rain.

While she can make some decisions as mayor, “I do not have a connection to Mother Earth,” Plante said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2025.

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press