With the region swinging through autumn, the City of Waterloo is helping residents with some of their lawn maintenance, with its optional loose leaf collection program kicking off Monday.
The collection efforts are part of a four-week program focused on picking up loose leaves from properties on streets with trees lined along the boulevard, with city workers set to drive around and scoop up those leaves that have fallen between Oct. 26 and Nov. 21.
“Rake leaves to the curb only a few days before collection starts, keeping storm drains, sidewalks and bike lanes free of leaves,” said the City of Waterloo in a release.
“Leaf collection crews visit areas with younger trees first, followed by areas with more mature trees. Crews will visit each zone only once as they need to prepare equipment for snow clearing.”
With that, homeowners need to take note of their specific collection dates over the next few weeks, with collection efforts going ward by ward.
The estimated collection schedule is:
- Week 1: October 26 to 31 – Zones W6, W8, E5, E7, E8
- Week 2: November 2 to 7 – Zones W1, W7, E4, E6
- Week 3: November 9 to 14 – Zones W3, W4, E2, E3
- Week 4: November 16 to 21 – Zones W2, W5, E1
While collection efforts are just getting underway, the city also recommends ‘Leaving your Leaves,” saying that “leaving them mulched on lawns or piled in gardens will help our local pollinators as well as enrich soil.”
“Leaves contain nutrients that help feed microbes and healthy soil, reducing the need for commercial fertilizers. Most lawns will break down a thin layer of fallen leaves over winter.”
Residents in the city can also take advantage of the Region of Waterloo’s bi-weekly yard waste collection program, which runs from October through to early December, or bring bagged leaves and other yard waste to the region’s drop-off site on Erb Street for composting.
Further details on the latest round of loose leaf collection in Waterloo can be found on the city’s website.
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