Residents in parts of the Upper Ottawa Valley are being reminded not to put large household items at the curb too early ahead of upcoming municipal collection days.
Large item collection for residential properties in the Town of Petawawa, the City of Pembroke and the Township of Laurentian Valley is scheduled to take place May 25 to May 29 on residents’ regular collection days.
Officials say items should not be placed at the curb before Sunday, May 24, and warned that scavenging materials set out for collection is prohibited under municipal bylaws.
Residents are required to sort materials into four separate piles to allow multiple collection trucks to pick up different types of items.
Accepted scrap metal and non-freon appliances include barbecues, bicycles, exercise equipment, microwaves and appliances such as washers, dryers and dishwashers.
Freon-containing appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, water coolers and dehumidifiers will also be accepted. Officials said freon does not need to be removed beforehand, but refrigerator and freezer doors and lids must be removed and all food contents emptied.
Other acceptable large items include mattresses, box springs, carpets, furniture, luggage, large plastic household items and artificial Christmas trees removed from their boxes. Electronic waste such as televisions, computers, radios and speakers will also be collected.
“Residents are encouraged to review the list of acceptable items to ensure only proper materials are set out for collection,” Brian Lewis, director of operations for the City of Pembroke, said in a statement.
Lewis said items including tires, wooden pallets, construction materials and anything placed in cardboard boxes or garbage bags will not be collected. Property owners are responsible for removing unacceptable materials.
Officials are also warning residents not to place hazardous waste such as propane tanks, paint cans or batteries at the curb.
Laurie Benjamin, general manager of the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre, said batteries and flammable liquids left inside discarded items can create a significant fire risk during collection and processing.
“Batteries that remain in these items can ignite during shredding, creating a serious fire hazard,” Benjamin said.
Municipal officials said all acceptable materials must be manageable by two people, weigh less than 80 pounds and measure no more than six feet long or 27 cubic feet in size.
Items smaller than nine inches by 14 inches by 22 inches, materials placed in garbage bags or boxes, renovation debris, lumber, textiles and improperly sorted piles will not be collected.
More information on waste management programs is available through Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre.
(Steve Berard)
