Winter Cart Concerns
In cold, snowy conditions, please take steps ensure your carts are accessible for collection and can be emptied easily.
Cart Placement
- When setting out your carts, please ensure they aren’t blocked by snow. A good place to leave your carts is at the end of your driveway so you won’t need to do any extra shoveling.
- On collection day, be sure to place your cart at least 1 metre away from other carts, cars or other objects, including snowbanks.
- Place your cart on level ground, not in or on top of a snowbank.
- Clear ice and snow away from your collection area.
- Place waste in front of windrows, not on top, behind or in. Ensure carts are on level ground.
- Avoid placing waste near downspouts or discharge pipes. Your cart could freeze to the ground.
Whether your waste is collected from the front street or alley, the end of your driveway is the best place to leave your cart, with one small difference:
- For alley collection, the cart should be on your driveway, not in the alley;
- For front street collection, the cart should be on the road (not your driveway or sidewalk) at the end of your driveway.
Placing your carts at the end of the driveway is the best way to ensure they aren’t buried in snow and are at least 1 m (3 ft.) away from cars, snowbanks and other objects.
Avoid Frozen Organics
- To stop items from freezing to the cart, place crumpled newspaper or shredded paper in the bottom of your cart, or line your cart with a paper yard waste bag.
- Use a broom or shovel to loosen stuck or frozen items so the cart empties easily.
- Strain excess liquid from food waste, and wrap wet material in paper to help prevent it from becoming stuck in cold weather.
- Avoid storing your green cart indoors between collections, as liquid can collect and freeze when moved outdoors.
