Fall cleanup is about to get a little easier for Simcoe County residents. The County’s bi-weekly Leaf and Yard Waste Collection program returns Monday, Oct. 5, with five collection opportunities scheduled through Dec. 11. Homeowners must have their leaf and yard waste at the curb by 7 a.m. on the Monday of their regular garbage collection week. The County of Simcoe says pickup can happen on any day that week, so materials should stay put at the curb until collected. What can I scrap? Leaves, grass clippings and garden waste can be placed in kraft paper yard waste bags, cardboard boxes or open-ended rigid containers. Bundled brush is also accepted but must be tied with natural twine and measure no more than two metres long and 30 centimetres in diameter. The County is also reminding households that pet waste, plastics, sod, soil and sand don’t belong in the mix. What happens after collection? Once collected, your leaf and yard waste is turned into compost and made available to residents each year for use in their gardens. That’s why the County says it’s important to keep plastics, wood, metal and other contaminants out of your leaf and yard waste. This program does not apply to people living in Barrie or Orillia. All collection updates and service alerts are available through the Simcoe County Collects app.
