Spring Road Maintenance and Litter Cleanup

Peterborough, ON – Spring road maintenance and cleanup are underway across the city. This annual work includes litter collection, street sweeping, pavement crack sealing, pothole repairs and the return of weekly yard waste collection. 

Weekly Collection of Yard Waste 

Weekly yard waste resumes Tuesday, April 7 until the end of November. Residents can place unlimited quantities of yard waste when it's in reusable containers that are labelled, bushel baskets or paper yard waste bags. 

Yard waste set-out requirements: 

• Rigid open-top container with a maximum volume of 80 litres, with two fixed handles; lids must be removable and not secured 
• Bins must have two clearly identifiable yellow labels (available at City Hall, 500 George St. N.) 
• Brown paper bags or bushel baskets are accepted; no plastic bags 
• Damaged or broken bins will not be collected 
• Weight limit: 13 kg (30 lbs) 
• Brush must be bundled (max 1 m length, 30 cm diameter) 
• Set out after 6 p.m. the night before or by 7 a.m. on collection day 

Litter Cleanup 

City crews have begun litter cleanup and expect the work to continue over several weeks due to the volume of debris. 

As snow melts, litter that accumulated over the winter becomes visible in parks, along streets and on sidewalks. 

Litter can harm wildlife, pollute waterways and attract pests. Residents are encouraged to dispose of waste properly. If a garbage receptacle is full, residents can report it online at peterborough.ca/ServiceRequest. 

Recreation, Parks & Cultural Services maintains 390 garbage bins across more than 100 parks and along the City’s trail system and will begin litter cleanup in those areas in the coming weeks. A total of 334 tonnes of litter and garbage were collected from city parks and trails in 2025. 

For more information on litter cleanup, including how to request a litter clean-up kit visit, peterborough.ca/LitterAction. 

Street Sweeping 

City crews will sweep all roadways, City-owned sidewalks, trails and parking lots in April and May The work typically takes about seven weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions. Many areas may receive a second sweep as needed.  

This year, crews will begin in the west end, followed by south, east and north. Overnight crews will sweep arterial streets and the downtown area. 

City street sweeping removes winter sand and salt from roads and helps prevent debris from entering the stormwater system. Street sweeping also improves the cleanliness and appearance of streets, sidewalks and parking lots. 

Residents can assist by removing sports nets from streets, placing garbage and recycling containers on lawns or driveways and avoiding on-street parking during sweeping operations. Drivers are asked to proceed cautiously around street sweeping equipment. 

Crack Sealing Program 

Crack sealing in asphalt began at the end of March and is expected to continue through the summer into early fall. While no full road closures are planned, traffic may be reduced to one lane in each direction on collector and arterial roads and reduced to single-lane access with flagging operations on local streets. 

To review planned locations, visit the City’s construction map at peterborough.ca/ConstructionMap. Locations will be added to the map as they are approved throughout the season. 

Pothole Repairs 

City crews will patch potholes as weather conditions permit. Repairs are prioritized in high-traffic areas and locations where road damage poses safety concerns. 

Motorists are reminded to slow down, exercise caution and leave a safe distance when approaching maintenance crews. 

Road inspections and repairs are conducted year-round in accordance with Provincial Maintenance Standards, with increased focus during the spring thaw. 

Freeze–thaw cycles place stress on road surfaces as moisture enters cracks in the asphalt, freezes and expands. When temperatures rise, weakened pavement can break apart under traffic, resulting in potholes. 

Residents can report potholes by: 

• Using the online form at peterborough.ca/ServiceRequest 
• Calling Public Works at 705-745-1386 

Road Maintenance Programs 

In addition to seasonal cleanup work, several road maintenance programs will take place across the city this spring and summer. Restoration of utility cuts that were excavated over the winter will begin in late April and continue throughout the spring and summer. 

Half-Load Restrictions 

Commercial vehicles are restricted to half-loads on designated streets within the City of Peterborough until April 30, 2026. Half-load restrictions help protect roadways during the spring thaw, when pavement structures experience reduced load-bearing capacity due to freeze–thaw conditions.