There is good news and bad news about Meaford's leaf and yard waste collection site.

The good news: it's back open and accepting compost material from local residents.

The bad news: the hours are limited to 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every weekday, with no weekends - yet.
Meaford Mayor Francis Richardson confirmed after Monday night's planning council meeting that the leaf and yard waste compost site was in business again.

"It's back open. We agreed to do the work that is necessary and approved it in the budget. That was communicated to the Ministry and they said that was fine," said the Mayor.

Richardson said the municipality is no longer allowed to have the site wide open every single day for residents to drop off their leaf and yard waste.

"It's not wide open seven days a week anymore," he said. The hours for the site will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday.

"We are looking to open it on Saturdays in the future. We need to organize that," said Richardson, who said the site needs to be monitored by municipal staff from now on and that's why the new limited hours were enacted.

Councillor Lynda Stephens said once the municipality completes the necessary upgrades at the site the hours will expand into the weekends.

"The important this is that it's up and running and council has approved the construction. The time and dates will change once everything is finished," said Stephens. "It's a service for the community and we're all looking forward to having it going again," she said.

Construction at the site will add a concrete collection pad for the turning of the winrows. In addition, a berm with trees will be added to the north side of the site.

"It's going to be all set up according to the MOE's regulations and our Certificate of Approval," said Stephens.

In other waste management news, Saturday is Community Clean Up Day in Meaford.

The event will be based at Meaford Harbour where garbage bags can be picked up and dropped off.

Citizens are asked to help out and collect litter around their area to beautify the community with the long winter now over.

"I encourage people to clean up the areas around their homes. If you see some garbage pick it up, be proud of your community," said Stephens.

Some areas of town have been designated as problem areas and on Saturday volunteers hope to clean up as many of them as possible.