It is snowing, why has City Staff not cleared my street yet?
Once it begins to snow, salt trucks begin de-icing main roads and expressways and then continue their rounds throughout all City streets. After 2.5 cm of snow has fallen, expressway ploughing begins and after 5 cm, main roads in the City are ploughed.
Side streets are ploughed only after 8 cm or more has fallen, but only after the snow has stopped. It can take 15 – 20 hours after a snowfall to complete ploughing on all local streets. If your street has not been cleared approximately 20 hours after the snowfall has stopped, please contact 311 or our office at 416-392-4038.
My garbage was not picked up, what should I do?
While missed garbage collection can be very frustrating, there is often an explanation for why this has happened. Some common reasons for a missed collection include:
- Items not set out on time (must be at the curb by 7:00 am on the scheduled collection day)
- Presence of prohibited waste (e.g. hazardous waste, grass clippings/sod)
- Items not scheduled for collection on that particular week (e.g. you have put your garbage out on a recycling day)
- Waste not set out in proper container or with appropriate yellow tags attached
If your waste was not collected, please check page 7 of your Collection Calendar to ensure that you have met all of the City’s collection requirements. If you do not have a Collection Calendar please contact our office and we will be happy to send one to you. If your waste has not been collected and you have determined that you have met all of the collection requirements, please call either 311 or contact our office and we will arrange for your waste to be picked up.
We are supposed to separate our organics and garbage, but I saw the garbage collector deposit the organics and trash together in the same truck. Why should I bother to continue to separate my waste?
Though it looks like the organic material is going in the same place as the garbage, the trucks being used to collect the materials have two separate compartments. You can't see the two compartments unless you're standing at the back of the truck. One week the truck collects organics in one compartment and garbage in the other, and the following week organics in one and recyclables in the other. With this type of two-compartment vehicle, there are fewer trucks going up and down the streets of your neighbourhood on your collection day and the materials remain separated.
I received the wrong size bin, what should I do?
It is suggested that you try your current bin out for a few collection cycles to confirm if you really need to make a change. If you do, you can call 311.
In the case of Blue Bins, a household is allowed one free exchange prior to December 31, 2009.
If you need to exchange your Grey Bin, there is no exchange fee if you are downsizing your bin. If however you need a larger size Grey Bin, there is an exchange fee of $20.
Can I cut down a tree in my backyard?
Any tree located on your property is subject to the City’s Private Tree By-law if your tree has a diameter of 30 cm or greater and is at 1.4 m tall or taller. If the tree on your property is smaller than these dimensions, you do not need a permit to injure or remove the tree. If your tree is larger than these dimensions you will need to complete and submit an application, the required fee and all supplementary documents to the North York district office.
You may be exempt from requiring a permit if your tree is confirmed by Urban Forestry Staff to be 100% dead, imminently hazardous or terminally diseased.
For more information on the Private Tree By-law or the application process to obtain a permit to injure or remove a tree on your property, please contact Urban Forestry at 416-338-TREE (8733).
There is a tree on the boulevard in front of my home that needs care, can I cut it down or trim it?
The planting, care, maintenance, protection, preservation and removal of all trees located on any city street or boulevard is under the supervision of City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Staff.
If there is a tree on the boulevard in front of your home that you feel needs care or needs to be removed, please contact Forestry Staff at 416-338-TREE (8733).
There is a white mass in my tree that looks like a tent. There are worms living in it. Will it hurt my tree? What should I do?
If you notice a white tent in your tree that has what appear to be worms or caterpillars in it, it is likely that the tree contains Eastern Tent Caterpillars. Though these caterpillars are unsightly, there is only one generation of this insect per year and the damage to the tree is generally minimal as the insect stops feeding in late may, leaving the tree plenty of time to rejuvenate.
You can feel free to control Eastern Tent Caterpillars on your own property. You can do this in a variety of ways including pruning underlying branches when tents are first noticed, attract birds and other beneficial organisms to your yard by planting appropriate plants (herbs, flowers, ground covers and shrubs) in your garden, and remove and destroy any cocoons by scrapping them off of surfaces once you notice them.
If you notice Eastern Tent Caterpillars in trees on public property, you can report this to Forestry Staff at 416-338-TREE (8733).
What is Emerald Ash Borer? How do I know if my tree has this?
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a green beetle that attacks and kills ash trees and has been found in some areas of Toronto. EAB kills ash trees by feeding on the area beneath the bark and preventing the flow of water and nutrients within the tree.
New infestations of EAB are hard to detect and often by the time you see the signs and symptoms the tree is already heavily infected. An ash tree may be infected if there are S-shaped galleries located underneath the bark of the tree, D-shaped exit holes in the bark that are about 3.5-4 mm wide and notches on the leaves where adult beetles have been feeding. Learn more at www.toronto.ca/trees/eab.htm.
If you suspect an ash tree is infested with EAB, please call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at 1-866-463-6017.
How do I get a streetlight repaired?
To report a streetlight in need of repair, you can call our office at 416-392-4038, contact Toronto Hydro directly at 416-542-3195 or fill out a service request form on their website at www.torontohydroenergy.com/street_form.asp.
When you make your report, please identify the pole number when possible (this is usually located clearly on the pole itself), the nearest municipal street address and the closest major intersection.
Who do I contact if I see a pothole or a sinkhole?
The City of Toronto’s Transportation Division has a number of work crews that are assigned the job of fixing potholes and similar road issues. Please keep in mind that the City does not maintain the 400 series highways as these are overseen by the Ministry of Transportation.
To report either a pothole or a sinkhole, please call 311.
What does a City Councillor do exactly?
A City Councillor is elected to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the City. Councillors develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the City, determine which services the City provides, ensure appropriate policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council and maintain the financial integrity of the City. Councillors also engage in activities to ensure accountability and transparency of the operations of the City and carry out other duties of council that are set out under the City of Toronto Act, 2006.
Which bin do I put this item into - "What do I do with ?"
Toronto Solid Waste Management Services is pleased to introduce you to a new searchable database tool available on the City's website. Found at www.toronto.ca/recycling , and titled "What do I do with ?", this easy-to-use search tool helps residents learn what to do with their waste materials. Users type in the word(s) for the material in question and click on the "Search" button. A list of all possible options currently available via city services appears. This includes such information as what bin to use, whether it is a household hazardous waste and should be dropped off at a depot, or how to set the item out for collection.
I am experiencing flooding in my basement, what should I do?
If you experience flooding in your basement, please call 311 immediately. This phone number is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Water Staff will visit your home to assess the situation.
We also ask that you notify our office so that we can keep a record of the event. This helps us to determine if this is an isolated issue or if there may be a larger problem that we need to address.
It is also important that you contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report any property damage that you have sustained as a result of the flooding.
The City also has a Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program for eligible homeowners who have experienced basement flooding or wish to undertake flood protection activities. For more information on this program, you can contact our office, or visit the City’s website at http://www.toronto.ca/water/sewers/pdf/brochure.pdf.
