Curbside branch collection starts next week

Fall branch collection begins next week and runs through Nov. 27.

Curbside branch collection is available to all residents living in single-family homes and apartments with six units or less, a release from Niagara Region said.

Residents must tie branches in bundles with a maximum weight of 22.5 kilograms, a maximum size of 1.5 metres and amaximum diameter of 0.5 metres.

Branches inside the bundle must not exceed seven centimetres in diameter and must be at the curb by 7 a.m.

Residents can also drop off branches and yard waste at the Region’s waste and recycling dropoff depots year-round, free of charge.

Woodland bylaw updated

The planning and economic development committee put the finishing touch on an updated woodland conservation bylaw after a comprehensive review and engagement process.

The updated bylaw includes changes to meet current and future needs and align itself with provincial legislation and management practices.

The changes include the transfer of responsibility for enforcing the bylaw back to the Region from Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, an exemption for remediation efforts on contaminated lands and additional regulations for tree removals associated with a building permit.

More than 350 residents completed an online survey about the bylaw, while 79 attended an online open house in June 2020.

Face-coverings now apply to apartments

Regional council passed a bylaw to amend Niagara’s temporary face-covering bylaw to include common areas of residential apartment buildings and condominium buildings, including lobbies, elevators and other common-use facilities.

Councillors emphasized that the bylaw includes exemptions because some people can’t wear amask because of health conditions — and many disabilities are invisible.

The bylaw requires residents to wear face-coverings in all enclosed public places and on regional and municipal transit. On Sept. 17, council voted to extend the bylaw until April 1, 2021.

There are mechanisms in place to rescind the restrictions should conditions change.