Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg is making it easier for residents to deposit their downed trees and fallen branches by temporarily extending hours of operation at its 4R Winnipeg Depots. In addition, the Summit Road Landfill, accessible via Sturgeon Road, will be open to residents and commercial haulers for storm-related wood waste only.
Changes include:
- 4R Winnipeg Depots will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through to Sunday
- Summit Road Landfill will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., effective Friday, October 18, 2019
The City will continue to monitor its collections operations and determine further actions as required.
Wood Waste
All the storm-related wood waste currently being collected and deposited at these sites will be processed and beneficially reused. One such use involves chipping and grinding the wood waste into chips and mixing it with biosolids and street sweepings from streets maintenance operations. The resulting soil-like material is then used to landscape, or cap, finished landfill areas.
Wood chips are also used in the leaf and yard waste composting activities at the Brady Road Resource Management Facility.
Storm Clean-Up Operations
Crews continue to clear and remove downed trees and fallen branches city-wide, aided by contractors and crews from other Canadian municipalities, including the City of Regina and the City of Saskatoon.
Reporting Downed Trees
Residents are advised that if a tree is in contact with a power line, to call 911 immediately.
If a tree is blocking a public right-of-way including a road or sidewalk, but isn’t touching a power line, residents are advised to call 311.
If a tree on public property has fallen, but not touching a power line or blocking the road, contact 311 online.
It’s important that residents provide as much accurate detail as possible when providing information, including pictures if available, so that service requests can be properly triaged.
Once a request has been made, it is logged. We are asking residents to only make one request per location – please do not contact us for a follow-up, the location has been logged and we will get to the location as soon as possible.
Privately Owned Trees
Fallen trees or branches that have failed on private property are the responsibility of the property owner to clean up. However, residents are advised to contact 911 if the tree is in contact with a power line.
Residents are reminded to exercise extreme caution if addressing fallen trees or branches that have fallen on private property.
Do not leave fallen trees or branches from private property on the public boulevard. Instead, residents are advised to bring tree and branch debris to the Brady Road Resource Management Facility or to one of the City’s 4R Winnipeg Depots to dispose of them free of charge during operating hours.
Residents can also place small tree branches and other debris in their yard waste collection. For more information on yard waste parameters, please see: City of Winnipeg – Yard Waste Collection.
Moving Firewood
The Forest Health Protection Act and Regulations prohibit the storage of elm wood for any purpose. The restriction on the storage of elm wood is necessary as the elm bark beetle uses intact wood as a site to lay eggs and develop a new generation of elm bark beetles. For more information, see: City of Winnipeg – Dutch Elm Disease.
Residents are advised to dispose of ash trees directly to the Brady Road Resource Management Facility or to one of the City’s 4R Winnipeg Depots. No ash tree material is to be transported outside city limits in accordance with federal regulation related to emerald ash borer. For more information, see: City of Winnipeg – Emerald Ash Borer.
River Flooding Update
River levels have begun to increase at the James Avenue gauge as a result of the recent precipitation/snowfall. As of 8:58 a.m. today, the river level at the James Avenue gauge was 15.74 feet.
At this time, there are no properties at risk of river flooding.
The City will continue to monitor weather conditions and river levels to determine required flood protection measures. The City has 21,000 filled sandbags on hand in the event they’re required.
The City continuously reviews its flood preparation measures and activities, including monitoring river levels and weather conditions, preparing pumping stations, deploying temporary pumps to protect the sewer system, and closing outfall gates, as needed.
We will continue to monitor weather conditions and river levels to determine required flood protection measures.
Waterway Safety
Residents are advised to exercise extreme caution near waterways due to fast moving current. Parents and teachers are urged to speak to children and students about the dangers of waterways.
Basement Flooding
Basement flooding is a risk at any time of the year; however, the risk increases when river levels rise because the sewer system must rely heavily on pumping stations rather than gravity to carry the water runoff due to higher river levels.
Homeowners are reminded to take the following steps to protect their homes and property:
- To ensure maximum protection against basement flooding, arrange for a licensed plumber to install a sewer line backup valve and a sump pit with pump in the basement.
- Inspect backup valves and sump pump drainage systems to make sure they are functioning properly.
- Ensure drainage is directed away from the home by extending downspouts away from the basement walls and ensuring the earth is built up around the house.
Property owners are reminded it is against the law to drain sump pump water into the basement floor drain or any other part of the house plumbing system, as it can overtax the sewer system placing their basement and those of their neighbours at risk of flooding and damage.