Orillia residents can pick up compost for free from the City of Orillia, which says it has extra material on hand and is offering it to the community.
The give-away is self-serve. Residents must bring their own shovels and containers, and load the compost themselves — whether into bins or directly into a truck or trailer, according to the City of Orillia.
The City says the compost will be available at designated pick-up locations, which are listed on its website at orillia.ca. Anyone hoping to take some home should plan ahead, as the material is being offered while supplies last.
No exact end date has been set, so residents are encouraged to go early if they want a share. Once the stockpile is gone, the offer ends.
Compost give-aways like this one are a common way for municipalities to return processed yard-waste material to residents for use in gardens, lawns and flower beds. The City regularly collects leaf and yard waste as part of its waste programs, and finished compost is the end product of that process.
Residents who want to take part should come prepared: there is no loading assistance, so a sturdy shovel, bins or buckets with lids, and a way to secure the load for the drive home are all recommended. Anyone hauling compost in an open truck bed or trailer should make sure it is covered or tied down.
For questions about the program, the City of Orillia can be reached at 705-325-1311 or through its offices at 50 Andrew Street South in downtown Orillia.
The City also posts regular updates about its programs, events and operations on its website, and residents can subscribe to its news feed or the bi-weekly City Bulletin email newsletter for a summary of municipal news.
