Windsor scheduling pickup of flood-damaged items

Property owners in Windsor who have had damage from last week's rainstorm are being asked to schedule a pickup for those items.

The City of Windsor has arranged special garbage collections on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for people who have contacted 311 to schedule a special pickup and are not going through their insurance carriers. This provides residents flexibility in getting damaged items to the curb and give collectors a chance to visit addresses missed the previous day.

For claims going through insurance, the carrier will schedule the pickup.

Mayor Drew Dilkens said the city is committed to helping residents clean up after torrential rains, amid a major transformation of the city's sewage and wastewater disposal systems.

"Basement floods are just terrible, and the City of Windsor is working hard to implement our $4.9 billion sewer master plan, which will dramatically reduce basement flooding issues," said Dilkens in a media release. "While we implement this plan, we are here to help residents in any way we can, including a special pickup of damaged household goods. This is one way we are helping impacted families navigate the exceptional challenges flooding presents."

The city has requested that residents follow these guidelines for disposing of storm-damaged goods.

• Flood-damaged materials can include couches, rugs that are cut and bundled in 1.2-metre lengths, furniture and building materials. For the safety of the collectors, please remove any nails from all wood and drywall.
• All loose items must be placed at the curb in garbage bags weighing no more than 20 kilograms, and placed side by side, not stacked. The hard-sided garbage container by-law will be waived for this special collection only.
• Collection crews will not pick up appliances, electronics or metal items. Please bring these items to the public drop-off facility off Central Avenue and the E.C. Row Expressway. Tipping fees apply to appliances with compressors only.
• Household chemical waste, paint cans and other chemicals are not to be placed at the curb. Please visit the city's website for proper disposal of those items, free of charge.
• Flood-damaged material should be placed at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day, and not in the alley. Regular residential garbage pickup continues in addition to pre-scheduled flood service pickups.

Bookings will be taken through Thursday at 11:30 a.m. by calling 311 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.

Jill Braido, of the city's corporate communications department, told BlackburnNewsWindsor.com that as of Monday afternoon, 261 residents had reported flooding.