Lot of leaves down low. Just as many leaves up high. Therein lies the conundrum for the City of Guelph.
Loose leaf collection was to have started next week, but the start has been pushed ahead a week. Collection will now start on Nov. 14 and run to Nov. 25. City crews will make one scheduled pick up on each street once the annual collection begins, according to the city.
Drive down any back street in Guelph and you’ll see a typical November scene, with bright coloured leaves blanketing lawns and piling up along the curbs. But there is still lots of leafage on branches that has to come down.
Scooping up leaves pushed to the curbside before the wind brings more down would be counter productive, the city reasons.
While many homeowners appear to have already raked their leaves to the curb, the city is encouraging those who haven’t to put off the chore until the weekend prior to Monday, Nov. 14.
Leaves on curbs find their way to storm drains, clogging them and contributing to flooding when it rains.
Residents are also asked not to park on streets during the collection period, and to keep children from playing in leaves on the streets.
Most bagged leaves have been picked up already, with this Friday being the last day. If residents still have bags filled with leaves and other yard waste, the only option will be to bring them to the Waste Resource Innovation Centre at 110 Dunlop Drive. A flat fee of $5 per visit applies.
To save the drive and the fee, yard waste and leaves can also be included in your green cart for curbside collection throughout the year. Leaving the materials on lawns provides important nutrients for soil and plants.
Meanwhile, the city will also be collecting single-use alkaline batteries at the curb from Nov. 14 to Nov. 25, during blue cart days.
Battery collection was piloted last fall, and prevented 6,000 pounds of batteries from being landfilled. It’s back this fall.
Collection bags will be distributed to residents through the Guelph Mercury Tribune on Thursday, Nov. 10.
Those participating should cover all 9-volt battery terminals with tape, put all used or unwanted single-use alkaline batteries in the battery bag and seal it, then leave the bag on the ground near your blue cart.
Those in need of a bag can also find them at Guelph City Hall on Carden St., the West End Recreation Centre at 21 Imperial Road South, the Evergreen Community Seniors Centre at 683 Woolwich Street, the Waste Resource Innovation Centre at 110 Dunlop Drive, or Guelph Fire headquarters, 50 Wyndham Street South.
Batteries can also be recycled throughout the year by dropping them off at city hall, fire headquarters or the Waster Resource Innovation Centre.
According to a city press release, recycling recovers 90 per cent of the battery’s components, including metal, carbon and manganese.
The city will receive $0.50 per pound of batteries collected from Stewardship Ontario through the Curbside Battery Recovery Incentive.
