Storm cleanup continues in Vaughan

The City of Vaughan’s tremendous storm cleanup continues. As the heavy rain and strong winds from Saturday, May 21 toppled trees and pushed debris onto roads, sidewalks and boulevards, Vaughan staff quickly mobilized efforts, working extended hours and prioritizing emergencies.

The City received more than 850 calls, and more than 750 unique case files were created that required investigation and further action. To help resolve this high volume of cases, additional crews and contractors have been deployed with more expected to be added as they become available. More than 360 cases have been resolved and work is ongoing to address the remaining 335 priority cases and 55 areas requiring follow-up inspections.

Due to the severity of damage caused by the storm, cleanup efforts within the City’s parks, boulevards and woodlots will continue for another four weeks, focusing on safety and efficiency. Patience is appreciated while this work continues.

To report damaged or fallen City trees, contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. If you have concerns about trees on your property, please contact a licensed arborist.

Leaf and yard waste collection

As you continue to clean up after the storm, you may have more leaf and yard waste than usual. Every other week leaf and yard waste collection begins June 14, on your garbage collection week.

Here is a reminder for what materials are accepted in leaf and yard waste collection:

• Plant material (no soil) and leaves.
• Branches, twigs and cuttings that are tied in secure bundles and less than 1.5 metres (five feet) in length and 0.6 metres (two feet) in diameter, weighing less than 20.5 kilograms (45 pounds).
• Individual branches that are less than 10 centimetres (four inches) in diameter, bundled securely.

Remember, waste should be placed at the curb no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before collection and no later than 7 a.m. the day of collection. This helps to reduce the chance of materials getting knocked over, blown away by wind or wet from the rain. Visit the City’s leaf and yard waste webpage for additional details.

To further support as you dispose of yard waste, York Region is also offering free leaf and yard waste drop-off at McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre until Saturday, June 25 at 130 McCleary Crt. Visit york.ca/WasteDepots for details on hours of operation. The waste depot accepts larger yard waste material – up to 30 centimetres (11.8 inches) in diameter and 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in length. Materials such as wood, rocks, stumps and root balls are not accepted as yard waste. More information on requirements is available at york.ca/YardWaste. 

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