For those who are still eating by candle in Peterborough, there is some hopeful news from the City today.
In their latest update, they say:
By end of day on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, it is expected that most of the City will have power restored by Hydro One as efforts continue to repair damage caused by the severe windstorm on May 21, 2022.
The storm is causing extreme pressure on City of Peterborough public works, forestry, and waste collection services. Crews are doing their best to address storm damage and respond to the increased volume of material.
City crews are prioritizing requests for service related to downed trees along streets and sidewalks. With the extent of the damage, there is a significant backlog. Residents are asked to refrain from calling more than once to report a location. Requests are logged and prioritized.
As some streets may still be blocked by downed trees and power lines, some areas may not receive curbside waste collection on their scheduled day this week if crews are unable to safely access the area in waste collection vehicles at the time of collection. Thank you for your patience as crews work in these challenging conditions.
Green waste
There is no limit on the quantity of green waste that can be placed at the curb; however, it must be put out within guidelines on sizes and weights to allow crews to handle the material. Due to the high amount of material, collection may be delayed.
Green Waste includes brush, branches, hedge and tree trimmings, grass clippings, leaves, house and garden plants, trimmings, and small quantities of sod (within weight limits).
All brush and branches must be tied in bundles up to one metre (three feet) in length and 30 centimetres (12 inches) in diameter, weighing no more than 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Larger size items cannot be loaded into the collection vehicle.
Stumps, soil and stones are not accepted through the green waste collection.
As an alternative to curbside collection, the City accepts green waste at the Bensfort landfill at a fee of $7 for 100 kilograms or less of material or for $95 per tonne for the entire load.
For green waste collection questions, please call 705-745-1386.
Garbage
For this week and next week, the City will be adjusting its garbage collection guidelines to allow one extra garbage bag or one extra garbage can (lift) to be put out for collection for each household, increasing the limit to three from two, to accommodate the disposal of spoiled food due to the extended power outages.
A lift is:
- 1 plastic garbage bag no greater than 66 centimetres by 90 centimetres and a maximum of 23 kilograms (50 pounds) in weight;
- 1 garbage can no greater than 125 litres (30 gallons) with side handles and a lid and 23 kilograms (50 pounds) in weight; or
- 1 item less than 1 metre (3 feet) in length and 23 kilograms (50 pounds) in weight.
Peterborough residents may also take garbage directly to the landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. during operating hours. Please refer to the City website at peterborough.ca for further details.
For garbage collection matters, please call 705-745-1386.
For general waste management related questions, please call 705-742-7777, ext. 1657.
While the garbage collection limit is adjusted for the storm response, the City asks that residents please separate out recyclable materials before throwing out food waste. There is no limit on the amount of recyclables that can be put out for collection each week. Recyclable materials can also be taken to the Recycling Depot on Pido Road at no charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
City facilities
City Hall, at 500 George St. N., and the Peterborough Waste Management Facility/landfill on Bensfort Road will re-open for in-person services on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The landfill is only able to accommodate transactions for customers using cash or customers with landfill accounts until its internet and phone service are restored (updates will be provided when services are restored).
Other City facilities are closed for public use for regular services on Wednesday.
Social Services will offer in-person service at the Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N. on Wednesday for emergency basic needs assistance for clients. For all other inquiries, clients should contact their case workers by phone or email. Social Services will transfer to the Social Services office on Charlotte Street when power is restored to that facility.
Peterborough Transit is operating regular service. The customer kiosk at the downtown terminal is currently closed due to the power outage.
Access to showers and charging for electronics
For anyone who needs access to showers, the City will provide access to showers at Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, Healthy Planet Arena, and Kinsmen Civic Centre from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26, 2022. Individuals must ask to use the showers to get access to the amenities at the facilities.
For those looking to charge electronic devices and electronic mobility aids, the following locations will be available for charging devices (regular services at the locations will not be available) on Wednesday, May 25, 2022:
- Peterborough Public Library, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Healthy Planet Arena, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Peterborough Museum and Archives, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Safety
The City strongly encourages residents to stay away from trees in parks and on trails. Assessment of damage continues. Damaged trees may not yet be identified or addressed, which may be hazardous with limbs that may fall. The cleanup following the storm is ongoing and it will take some time for crews to move throughout all of the City’s parks and trails.
Emergency services urge residents to only use 9-1-1 for emergencies. They are experiencing a higher-than-normal volume of non-emergency calls to 9-1-1.
Peterborough Fire Services reminds residents that open air burning with wood is not permitted in the City. Only outdoor fire appliances that burn propane or natural gas are permitted. Chimneys and other wood-burning devices are not approved.
Residents are asked to refrain from raking green waste, including leaves and branches, into the streets as they are a hazard to cyclists and vehicles using the road, and it may block catch basins, which could lead to local flooding.
Community food programs
Community agencies continue to provide food programs, including:
- Salvation Army, 219 Simcoe St., takeaway breakfast, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday
- One Roof Community Centre, 99 Brock St., take away lunch, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Kawartha Food Share continues to support its member food banks that are operating throughout the community
- Community Care meals program
Meanwhile, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board has provided an update on school closures:
City of Peterborough and Peterborough County Closures
Crestwood Intermediate School
Crestwood Secondary School
James Strath Public School
Kenner Intermediate School
Kenner Collegiate Vocational Institute
Lakefield District Public School
North Cavan Public School
Norwood District Public School
Norwood District Intermediate
Norwood District High School
Queen Mary Public School
Warsaw Public School
Westmount Public School
Northumberland County Closures
Roseneath Centennial Public School
All Clarington schools, and all other schools not listed above are OPEN.
Virtual schools are also OPEN tomorrow.
Please note that the schools noted above will be closed tomorrow, even if power is restored at those sites later this evening or overnight. Child care will also be closed at these locations.
Work is continuing to ensure the schools listed above can safely reopen, as soon as possible.
As a result of ongoing connectivity and power challenges, closed schools will not move to online learning for the day.
