Niagara Region | Winter 2025 | niagararegion.ca

Winter 2025 Issue

Holiday Wrap-Up: Your Guide to Post-Holiday Cleanup

The holidays are a time for celebration, but once the decorations come down, many households are left wondering: what do I do with all this stuff? Niagara Region offers convenient services to help you manage post-holiday cleanup.

Natural Christmas Trees

If you live in a single-family home or an apartment with six units or less, you can place your natural Christmas tree at the curb on your regular collection day between January 6 - 10. Things to remember:

• Set out by 7 a.m.
• Remove all decorations, tinsel, hooks and lights - they can damage equipment and cause litter
• Do not wrap trees in plastic
• Trees buried in snow cannot be collected
• Do not place trees on roads, sidewalks, walking paths or bike lanes

Prefer to drop off your tree? You can bring it to any Regional Waste and Recycling Drop-Off Depot free of charge.

Some of the trees collected are repurposed through partnerships with local organizations for ecosystem restoration projects by supporting wetlands, shorelines and wildlife habitats across Niagara.

Artificial Trees and Decorations

Artificial trees must be collected through the large item collection program, which can be booked online at niagararegion.ca/waste. Pick-ups must be booked at least two days before your regular collection day.

Before tossing anything, consider repairing decorations if possible. If repair isn’t an option:

• Broken decorations, extension cords, and string lights belong in the garbage
• Items with broken glass (including mirrors) must have the glass removed, wrapped securely in cardboard, and clearly labeled “BROKEN GLASS.” These items must be booked for large item pickup.

Gift Wrap and Packaging

When gifts are opened, the wrapping doesn’t have to go straight to waste. Tissue paper can go in your Green Bin, and most gift wrap is recyclable. Ribbons and bows can often be saved and reused for future celebrations. If they’re too worn to reuse, place them in the garbage.

Looking ahead, reuse is one of the easiest ways to reduce holiday waste. Keep gift bags, boxes and wrapping paper for next year, or try creative alternatives like wrapping gifts in reusable items such as tea towels, scarves or fabric. These small changes not only cut down on what ends up in the landfill, they help maintain holiday traditions and make the festive season more sustainable.

Strengthening What’s Beneath: Niagara Region Completes Critical Water Pipe Leak Repair

Niagara Region, and an experienced team of engineering and construction specialists, have successfully completed a major rehabilitation project on the Region’s Water Treatment Reservoir located at Mechanic Street and Keller Street in Niagara Falls. Although the work occurred entirely underground, it represents a vital investment in maintaining the long-term safety, reliability and performance of the community’s drinking water system.

Routine inspections identified a leak in the 14 million litre reservoir, which supplies drinking water to the City of Niagara Falls. Divers and remotely operated cameras confirmed that some of the concrete joints within the reservoir’s inlet and outlet pipes had shifted over time due to soil settlement. This movement created an offset and deterioration at the joint, leading to a leak in the reservoir, and the need for immediate repair.

Given the depth of the pipe at nearly 9m below ground, and the critical infrastructure surrounding it, traditional excavation was not a feasible option. Instead, the Region selected a modern, non-invasive rehabilitation method using carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP). This technique reinforces the pipe from the inside using layers of high-strength carbon fibre bonded with epoxy, creating a durable structural lining without reducing the pipe’s capacity. CFRP is widely used in large-diameter water pipelines across North America and has proven effective in strengthening aging infrastructure while minimizing public disruption.

The project, delivered within a four-week construction window, represents an investment of $1 million. Final inspections confirmed the pipe is now structurally reinforced and prepared to accommodate natural ground movement in the future.

This project highlights the Region’s continued commitment to proactive, cost-effective infrastructure renewal, giving Niagara Falls residents the benefit of safe, reliable drinking water for years to come.

Niagara Region Winter Roads: Working Together to Stay Safe

Niagara Region’s winter road maintenance team is ready for whatever the season brings, from the first flurries to the fiercest storms. As always, our crews are committed to keeping roads safe and clear around the clock. When winter weather hits, we all play an important role in keeping our community safe and helping snow-clearing operations run smoothly.

Here are a few helpful reminders for when winter weather is in the forecast:

Before You Head Out

1. Avoid unnecessary travel
   If you can, stay home until the storm has passed and roads have been treated and cleared.
2. Plan your route and give yourself extra time
   Know where you're going, anticipate delays and remember that winter conditions require slower travel. Leave early — speed and snow do not mix.
3. Reduce your speed
   This is one of the simplest and most effective safety tips. Snow and ice reduce traction, even for experienced drivers. Slow down.
4. Increase your following distance
   Stopping takes longer on slippery surfaces. Leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead.
5. Watch for icy areas
   Bridges, overpasses and shaded roadways freeze first. Drive as though ice is there — and reduce your speed accordingly.

Keeping You and Our Crews Safe-it’s our top priority

Our operators work long hours in challenging conditions to keep roads safe. Please help protect yourself and our crews by following these guidelines:

• Give snowplows and equipment lots of room to do their work.
• Stay well back from plows to avoid flying snow and chunks of ice.
• Never pass a plow while it’s operating. Plows create whiteout conditions in front of them, and passing can be extremely dangerous.
• Remember that plows have blind spots. Make sure the operator can see you.
• Watch for wing plows. These extend beyond the width of the truck — give extra space.
• Look for flashing blue beacons. They signal that a plow is actively clearing or applying materials and may lower a blade or wing at any time.
• Stay alert. Winter conditions change quickly.
• Keep children away from roadside snowbanks and any area where plows may operate.

We’re Working Hard for You Niagara, All Winter Long

Our crews work 24/7 before, during and after snow events to keep Niagara moving. Please remember that the people in those trucks are your neighbours, community members and fellow residents. A little patience and caution go a long way in helping everyone get home safely.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Niagara safe this winter!

Keep an eye out! The 2026 Niagara Region Waste Collection Guide will be delivered to mailboxes starting at the beginning of January.