WINNIPEG - October 22, 2008 – The City’s fall clean-up of streets will begin early Monday morning, October 27, 2008, weather permitting, and will target areas of Winnipeg where the accumulation of leaves is particularly heavy.

“During the clean-up operation our crews will transport the majority of leaves they collect to the City’s composting site at the Brady Road Landfill," says Bruce McPhail, Manager of Streets Maintenance.

Residents are urged not to rake grass clippings, leaves or other debris onto the streets as they can plug the street drains. Plugged drains cause water ponding problems on the street, and could also increase the risk of basement flooding by causing water to drain into the wastewater sewer through manhole covers.

Motorists are advised that temporary “No Parking” signs will be placed in areas where parked cars pose a problem to sweeping. Vehicles parked at "No Parking' signs will be ticketed and towed at the owner's expense.

The street cleanup will involve approximately 60 pieces of equipment and is expected to take two weeks at a cost of approximately $350,000.

Residents are encouraged to help out with the cleanup by raking and bagging the leaves adjacent to their properties and transporting the bags to one of the 10 Leaf It With Us recycling depots throughout the city.

For the depot locations and hours of operation, residents can:

• Call the Water and Waste Department Customer Service Centre at 311;
• Call the 24 hour recorded information line at 311, code 9813; or
• Visit the City’s web site at winnipeg.ca