Drop-off sites for leaf collection open this week in Kitchener
During autumn residents can bring leaves that fall on their property to one of eight leaf dropoff sites located in neighbourhoods across the city from Oct. 19 to Dec. 14, or bag the leaves for pickup on yard waste days.
Curbside collection will occur only in more heavily forested areas of the city.
“The City of Kitchener and Region of Waterloo collaborated to develop a program where the region brings collected leaves directly to farmers’ fields to be used as natural fertilizer for their crops,” says Scott Berry, manager, operations, City of Kitchener.
Drop-off locations are open seven days a week during daylight hours and are for loose leaves only. Plan to take your bags or bins back with you after disposal.
Sites are monitored and those who discard any other materials at the drop-off locations will be subject to a fine.
Drop-off locations:
• Schaefer Park — 75 Bloomingdale Rd.
• Breithaupt Park — Kinsmen Park, off Union Street
• Kitchener Auditorium — Ottawa Street North entrance
• Meinzinger Park Soccer Fields — Homer Watson Boulevard
• Lions Arena — Rittenhouse Road
• Southwest Optimist Sportsfield — Pioneer Drive
• Cherry Park — Strange Street at Waverly Road
For properties located in designated curbside collection areas city staff will pickup leaves during the following weeks:
• Blue zone: Nov. 13-16
• Gold zone: Nov. 19-23
• Brown zone: Nov. 26-30
Red zone: Hot spot; monitored and collection occurs as required from Nov. 2 until Dec. 7.
Residents can type in their address using the online tool at www.kitchener.ca/leafcollection to find out what zone their property is located in and leaf collection options available to them.
Residents living within the identified zones on the online map are permitted to rake their leaves to the curb once during November, on the weekend before their scheduled pickup. The leaves must be at the curbside before 7 a.m. on the first day of the scheduled pickup week.
Residents living in areas identified as “hot spots” on the online map will receive multiple leaf collections, as required, to keep the streets clear. Leaves in these zones must be raked out no later than Dec. 3. Additionally, city staff will monitor all streets on a regular basis to ensure roadways remain safe and clear.