Ice-Storm Clean-Up To Take Weeks

This is a release from the City of Ottawa:

Good afternoon, 

 I’m sure a lot of you did not intend to spend your long weekend cleaning up after a storm. Like you, our Public Works team and their invaluable partners have been working hard – many without a break and in challenging conditions – to support our residents.  

Thankfully, positive progress is taking place city-wide. As of this morning: 

·       our Forestry team has addressed more than half of the 2250+ calls for service received since Wednesday’s weather event; 

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·       our Traffic team has brought nearly 150 traffic signals back online and have emergency generators at all intersections that remain without power; 

·       our curbside waste collection resumed today, allowing many residents with spoiled food to benefit from green bin pick-up; and 

·       our Roads and Parks teams continue to address fallen trees and debris that affect our parks and transportation network, followed-up by concentrated street sweeping. 

 Of course, trees, limbs and brush remain a priority. As identified hazards, streets and pathways are cleared, staff and contractors will turn their attention to broken limbs, non-hazardous removals, re-inspections, pruning and brush/wood cleanup.  

 I cannot emphasize enough: Collecting and/or chipping all this debris will be a multi-week effort – but residents can help:  

LRT Had Chance To Shine In Storm And Didn’t

·       Tree cuttings, branches and brush may be placed at the curb for chipping or collection, separate from non-organic waste.  

o   To allow collection, we encourage branches to be tied with twine in bundles of less than 1.2 m (4 ft.) in length and 60 cm (2 ft.) in width, and that bundles or containers weigh no more than 15 kg (33 lb.). Individual branches should be less than 10 cm (4 in.) in diameter. 

o   Larger tree cuttings, branches and brush may be brought to the City’s Trail Waste Facility at no charge until further notice. Otherwise, these may wait, curbside, for chipping or collection by specialized City and contracted crews. There is no need to call 3-1-1 at this time. 

 Our utility partners’ quick restoration work combined with our regular waste collection schedule has mitigated widespread food spoilage, and I’m also thankful that residents have been mindful of using public health guidance on food safety.  

·       Residents continue to be encouraged to remove all packaging and leverage the weekly curbside green bin collection for food waste. For those with more urgent need to dispose of food waste, a large bin will be available at the Trail Waste Facility at no charge from Monday (April 10) to Saturday (April 15).  

 The City’s Emergency Operations Command is set to demobilize, but Public Works’ Departmental Command remains activated and dedicated to co-ordinating information, efforts and resources. For the next few weeks, Councillors and their staff are encouraged to send inquiries through Public Works’ dedicated and monitored inbox: pwcouncilinquiries@ottawa.ca. This helps us to identify trends and coordinate most efficiently.  

 Finally, a reminder that the job ahead will be a multi-week effort requiring plenty of “people power” and a hearty dose of patience. You have our commitment that we will complete the cleanup efforts safely and as quickly as possible. My sincere thanks to you and to our residents for supporting Public Works, and each other.  

 I hope you will have the opportunity to enjoy the last of this long weekend. 

Alain 

Alain Gonthier 

General Manager 

Public Works Department 

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