Crews are getting ready to freshen up the city after a long winter.

The City of Winnipeg says the annual spring cleanup will start Monday, April 22 at 10 p.m. The cleanup will take approximately five to six weeks at a cost of $6 million.

Other than streets and back lanes, cleanup will include sidewalks, active transportation pathways, boulevards, and medians on main routes, bus routes, and collector streets. Crew members will also be cleaning up City parks from litter and debris

Michael Cantor, Manager of Streets Maintenance said, "Our crews will be busy cleaning up sand and debris from more than 7,000 kilometres of streets, 1,600 kilometres of walkways, and over 50 bridges and medians. Be on the lookout for no parking signs and street cleaning equipment in your neighbourhood and remember to stay back and stay safe.”

For the spring cleanup operation to run smoothly and in a timely fashion, no parking signs will be placed on some streets to restrict parking during scheduled cleaning times but not all streets will have spring cleanup signage.

Signs will be posted only in areas where parked cars seem to be a problem for street cleaning. Motorists are asked to find an alternate parking spot in these designated areas or risk being ticketed and towed. 

Parking tickets will make your wallet $150 smaller and the cost of a tow is $120.23.

The City of Winnipeg says that you can do your part as well to assist with the spring cleanup efforts by not raking yard waste material or other debris onto streets as this can plug drains and cause ponding problems as well as increase the risk of basement flooding.

Debris should be put out for regular garbage collection. Compostable yard waste material (e.g., grass clippings, leaves), can be placed out for yard waste collection in any reusable containers without a lid, cardboard boxes, or paper yard waste bags.

The City says that this year's curbside yard waste collection program will start the week of April 29 for homes in yard waste collection area "A", and will begin the week of May 6 for homes in yard waste collection area "B.”

Residents can also drop off yard waste for free at the Brady, Pacific, or Panet 4R Winnipeg Depots.

Yard waste is collected at the curb once every two weeks, on the same day as recycling and garbage.

Residents can find out their yard waste collection day by visiting the City of Winnipeg's website.