County supporting residents during ice storm cleanup measures

Midhurst/March 31, 2025 – As the County and our area municipalities and cities respond to the ice storm, please find helpful information below to assist residents in need. This information is relevant as of 12:00 p.m. on March 31, 2025. For the most up-to-date information on services and supports to assist residents in need, please visit our website simcoe.ca/IceStorm.

Emergency Warming Centres
Emergency Warming Centres have been opened in many communities, including Tay, Barrie, Orillia, and Midland. Regular Shelters and Winter Warming Centres remain open during this time.

Waste Drop-Off Sites
To support the cleanup process from the March 30^th ice storm that affected homes and businesses across the region, County of Simcoe waste drop-off sites will be accepting brush debris, free of charge, from March 31 through April 5, 2025. Timing and extensions will be determined as cleanups continue.

The County anticipates that all regular waste drop-off sites will be open as per their regular operating schedules, although some may operate without power. Where necessary due to potential power outages, for additional materials (beyond brush debris), it is possible that some sites may only be accepting cash transactions and may be based on volume rates (rather than scaled rates).

Waste Collection
Waste collections for regular Monday routes will continue where possible. If areas are missed due to debris or ongoing road closures on March 31^st, residents are to leave material curbside and we will attempt to collect those locations during the week up to and including Friday, April 4, 2025.

We would like to remind residents that all food and organic waste (packaging removed) can go in the organic green cart.

Brush Waste Curbside Collection

In an effort to clean up the significant quantities of brush in the County of Simcoe leaf and yard waste trucks will only be accepting bundled brush not in bags from April 14^th to 25^th.  We ask residents to be patient as, due to volume, not all material may be able to be collected within the first few weeks of yard waste collection.

Brush waste will be collected curbside bi-weekly starting the week of April 14^th. To participate, residents are asked to place material out on the Monday of your garbage week by 7 a.m. 

For curbside collection, brush must be bundled as follows:

• Secured with natural twine
• No larger than 2 meters in length and 30 cm in diameter (logs are not accepted at the curb)
• Individual branches should not exceed 7 cm in diameter

Brush that is not bundled or exceeds size limits may be left behind. Unbundled brush, large branches and logs are accepted at all County Waste Facilities. Brush debris will be accepted free of charge at Waste Facilities, from March 31 through April 5, 2025. Timing and extensions will be determined as cleanups continue.

LINX Transit
All LINX Transit routes are currently operating across the County, however, delays can be expected to regular schedules.

Forestry
Residents are being advised to avoid entering County Forests until further notice.

Social and Community Services Offices
Some Social & Community Services offices, including Barrie and Midland, may be closed due to ongoing power outages. Orillia is open as they are able to operate using backup power.

Paramedic Services
Paramedics are upstaffed following the ice storm. They are prioritizing calls and navigating road impacts to respond as quickly as possible.

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Up-to-date Information
For the most up-to-date information on services and supports to assist residents in need, please visit our website at simcoe.ca/IceStorm