Orillia residents cleaning up their yards this fall are being urged to keep leaves out of ditches, roads and storm drains — and the city is warning that dumping leaves where they don't belong could cost them.
Raking or placing leaves into a ditch is prohibited, and fines and administrative fees may apply to those who do it, the City of Orillia said in a notice to residents.
The reminder comes as autumn yard cleanup gets underway. Leaves left in ditches and storm drains can block the flow of stormwater, the city said, leading to drainage problems and localized flooding on roads and properties.
Help keep stormwater flowing and Orillia's roadsides, ditches and community clean by disposing of leaves properly.
The city is offering residents two ways to get rid of their fall leaves without charge.
Curbside collection
Leaves can be set out at the curb in paper yard bags, compostable bags or labelled rigid containers. No garbage tags are required, the city said.
Residents can find details on how to properly set out yard waste for collection on the city's website.
Free drop-off at the landfill
Leaves can also be brought to the landfill free of charge, either bagged or loose.
For anyone unsure about what goes where, the city directs residents to its curbside collection information online, and encourages residents to subscribe to its news updates or the City Bulletin email newsletter for a bi-weekly roundup of municipal news.
