Caledon yard waste collection draws to a close

Caledon residents in settlement areas and rural subdivisions are advised that their yard waste collection services are ending for 2007.

Yard waste collection for residents in the following settlement areas ends this week:

Alton, Belfountain, Caledon Village, Cheltenham, Inglewood, Mayfield West, Palgrave and Palgrave East (east of Hwy. 50), Tamarack and Terra Cotta.

Yard waste collection for residents in Bolton, Caledon East, Mono Mills and Palgrave East (west of Hwy. 50) ends the week of Nov. 26.

"This is the last opportunity this year for Caledon residents that live in settlement areas and rural subdivisions to dispose of their leaf and yard waste at the curb," said Ben Shepherd, manager, waste collection and processing. "Regular yard waste collection will resume in the spring."

Follow these steps when putting your yard waste at the curb for collection:

* Place yard waste in open top, rigid, reusable containers; bushel baskets or paper yard waste bags.

* Set out yard waste and recyclable material on the opposite side of the driveway from garbage, if possible.

* Tie brush securely in bundles up to 1.2 m (4 ft.) in length and 76 cm (30 in.) in width, weighing no more than 20 kg (44 lbs.).

Pumpkins, leaves, garden trimmings, plants, grass clippings, twigs, branches and lawn edgings (earth removed) can be set out as yard waste. Pumpkins can also be placed in your backyard composter or green bin for organics recycling.

Corn stalks and remaining fruits and vegetables from your garden should be placed in backyard composters or included in your green bin for organics recycling.

Do not use plastic bags, cardboard boxes or recycling boxes for yard waste.

Do not include sod, soil, stumps or stones with your yard waste. These items can be taken to any of Peel's Community Recycling Centres for disposal - dropoff fees apply.

Peel residents may also drop off dedicated loads of yard waste year-round, free of charge, at the Caledon Composting Facility. The facility is located at the Caledon Sanitary Landfill Site at 1795 Quarry Dr. off of McLaren Road, just south of Charleston Sideroad.

Yard waste collection will resume the week of March 31, 2008. Your yard waste collection schedule will be printed in the 2008 Waste Management Guide, which will be mailed to you in March 2008.

The Region of Peel provides waste management services in the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga and in the Town of Caledon. For more information on these programs call the Region of Peel at 905-791- 9499 or in long-distance areas of Caledon call 905- 584-2216, free of charge. Visit the Web site www.peelregion.ca/waste.