A more than two-week delay in yard waste pick-up has many Barrie residents frustrated and concerned winter weather will result in more work when the bags freeze.
John Naugler, who has lived in his east-end Barrie neighbourhood for three decades, told BarrieToday this is the first time in his memory he can recall such a delay in yard waste pick-up.
"We have had times where we may have missed a day, and then they came the next day, but not like this,” he said, noting that as of Monday, Nov. 14, his street — and many others in the east end — have now missed two leaf collection periods.
Naugler says he has approximately 10 leaf bags, which are now snow-covered, awaiting pick-up at the end of his Varden Avenue driveway.
“It’s going to freeze down there and if they stay there too long the bags will rip open or the plow will rip them open. … That’s what happened to the guy across the street," he said.
Gayle Walker, who lives on Mayor Lane in the city’s northeast end, is just as frustrated.
“We are going into the third week of no yard waste pick-up. … I find it disgraceful that the city isn’t addressing this issue along with a lot of other issues," she said.
Chris Marchant, the City of Barrie’s manager of waste operations, acknowledged the municipality continues to experience delays with yard waste collection.
“On top of a record amount of yard waste being set out at the curb, our contractor is also dealing with staff shortages,” he told BarrieToday, adding staff shortages for curbside collection drivers is something many municipalities are struggling with due to a nationwide shortage of licensed DZ drivers.
Marchant said the contractor responsible for yard waste pick-up now has trucks on the road six days a week.
“They continue to work in the 'Thursday' collection area and plan to move to the 'Friday' collection area next. Yard waste collection will continue six days a week until all yard waste is collected,” he said.
The contractor’s priority is ensuring none of the other pick-ups — such as recycling, waste, and organics — are affected, Marchant said.
“Crews will make all efforts to pick up yard waste materials despite the condition of bags that have been exposed to the elements," he added. "We appreciate those residents who have been able to re-bag materials. We apologize for this situation and appreciate (residents’) continued patience.”
