OC Transpo riders raise a stink about overflowing garbage at bus stops
Trash bins with advertising are private contractor's responsibility, city and bus company say
Pizza boxes, ice cream cups and other pieces of garbage line the road at the OC Transpo stop at Meadowlands Drive and Merivale Road, but that's just one example of what riders say call a problem that's piling up.
"It's really gross," said Hannah Carter, standing across the street from the bus stop.
"You see sticky stuff just oozing out. You don't really know what it is or how long it's been there."
The trash container that's built into the bus stop bench is overflowing — and judging from what people are saying across the city, it's not the only one.
<a href="https://twitter.com/amkfoote">@amkfoote</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOttawa">@CBCOttawa</a> elmvale station... Close to overflowing yesterday.
—@x_wildheart<a href="https://twitter.com/amkfoote">@amkfoote</a> a few along Centrepointe Dr are always overflowing.
—@AD613<a href="https://twitter.com/amkfoote">@amkfoote</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOttawa">@CBCOttawa</a> Carling at Sherwood... stinks so bad you can't even stand anywhere close to it! Bees everywhere...
—@LynRaeEveAccording to their website, OC Transpo is responsible for maintaining garbage cans along the Transitway and at major terminals, but not the trash bins that are affixed to bus stop benches.
Private contractor responsible, OC Transpo says
Those are maintained by private contractor Creative Outdoor Advertising, according to the City of Ottawa.
Rahil Deschenes said she's seen garbage piling up near her bus stop for months.
"The McDonald's isn't too far, so there's junk on the floor," Deschenes said, "So there's junk on the floor, smells bad, it's not cool."
The City of Ottawa did not respond to a request for more information on Monday.