Public Works

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

The Public Works Office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am - 4:00pm.

Closed for lunch from 12:00-1:00pm.

Phone: 705-869-1751

Location: 596 Second Ave.

For afterhours emergencies, please contact 705-222-7932

Public Works is proud to provide citizens with the following services:

The Town of Espanola contracts Green for Life for residential and commercial curbside garbage collection. To contact Green for Life call 705-869-2447.

Regular household pick-up  is scheduled on Friday mornings at 6:00 a.m.

Each household is permitted two bags of trash weighing no more than 50lbs.  

Yard waste disposed in bags is counted as part of the two bag limit. We encourage you to dispose of yard waste at the Yard Waste Depot on Panache Lake Rd.

If you have more than the two bag limit, additional bag tags (limit of 2 per month per address) are available at the Town Office for curb side pick-up only .

Each  business is permitted eight bags of trash per week weighing no more than 50lbs.

In the winter months, Garbage & Recycling Container Placement:

Have a cleared, leveled area and pathway within 1 meter (3 feet) of the snow bank. We recommend the right side of the driveway when facing the street.
DO NOT place garbage and recycling on top of snowbanks -these will not be picked up.
Placing garbage and recycling containers out at 7:00 a.m. on the day of pick up will avoid bags from freezing to the ground and being buried by snow.
Ensure garbage containers are cleared of snow and avoid using white bags as they tend to be missed next to a white snow bank.

Click the link below for garbage can and blue box placement examples in the winter:

Examples of where to place your garbage & recycling

In the summer months, residents must place their garbage and recycling at the road edge.

Road edge is defined as:

Residents with Roads that have cement curb and gutter: The placement of garbage and recycling shall be at the edge of curb
Homes with a sidewalk: The placement of garbage and recycling shall on the street side of the sidewalk.
Street with paved shoulders: The placement of garbage and recycling shall be in the low spot of the should near the vehicular travelled path.
Streets with Gravel shoulders: The placement of garbage and recyclables is within 3 to 5 feet or 1m to 1.6m of pavement edge.

Garbage and recycling not properly placed will not be picked up by the GFL.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL GUIDELINES

Garbage that is not presented as described below will not be picked up.

Please place garbage in one large tightly sealed bag per container/can and ensure that there are no loose items in your container/can.

1. BAG and SEAL your garbage

Place garbage securely in sealed bags (with no holes). Please note we cannot collect loose items at this time.
If your container has a lid, ensure it is fully closed to avoid loose windblown items.

2. DO NOT place used tissues/ napkins/ wipes, etc. loose in ANY CONTAINER

Items for cleaning or personal use (including masks and gloves) MUST be disposed of in tightly-sealed garbage bags and placed in the garbage ONLY.

3. If you’re sick, bag it TWICE

If you, anyone in your household, or anyone you’ve been in contact with is sick, place your garbage in a bag, then put that bag in a second bag. If in doubt, bag it twice!

LANDFILL

The Landfill site is owned/operated by and located at:
Dodge Haulage Limited
1653 Bass Lake Road
Espanola, ON P5E 1P9
Phone: 705-869-3867
Hours: Mon. – Sat. 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

The Town of Espanola contracts Green for Life for residential recycling collection.

2026-Espanola Recycle Calendar.pdf

Be recycle ready!

Place all recycling at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection. Please check the recycling calendar to determine your scheduled collection day. Recycling is picked up on alternating weeks, with paper/cardboard picked up on one week and containers picked up on the other week.
Please keep recyclables separate from your garbage.
Flatten and break down cardboard to save space in your bin and ensure it’s collected.
Blue box containers set out for collection cannot exceed 18-24 gallons.
Rinse containers to remove any residue. Contaminated recycling will be left behind.
Reminders for winter recycling bin placement:
- Have a cleared, leveled area and pathway within 1 meter (3 feet) of the snow bank. We recommend the right side of the driveway when facing the street.
- Keep bins away from snowbanks – this can endanger workers and will prevent your recycling from being picked up.
- Placing recycling containers out at 7 a.m. on the day of pick up will avoid bags from freezing to the ground and being buried by snow.
In the summer months, place recycling at the edge of the road. Road edge is defined as:
- Residents with roads that have cement curb and gutter: The placement of recycling should be at the edge of curb
- Homes with a sidewalk: The placement of recycling should be on the street side of the sidewalk.
- Street with paved shoulders: The placement of recycling should be in the low spot of the should near the vehicular travelled path.
- Streets with Gravel shoulders: The placement of recycling should be within 3 to 5 feet or 1m to 1.6m of pavement edge.
Examples of where to place your garbage & recycling

Yard Waste Depot

The Yard Waste Depot is open from the second Friday in May to the first Monday in November (subject to change due to conditions).

For the 2026 Season the Depot will be:

Opening May 15, 2026

Closing November 2, 2026

LOCATION: Snow dump site on Panache Lake Road.

Espanola residents are encouraged to take advantage of this service to clean up their property and dispose of leaf & yard waste, branches, and brush at no charge. The Depot is closed during the Winter. 

This program is a benefit for Espanola residents, so please respect the guidelines to ensure continued operation.

Cameras have been installed at the Yard Waste Depot on Panache Lake Road. Should illegal dumping become a recurring issue, the site will return to restrictive weekday hours.

The following are NOT accepted:

Wood 4” in diameter or larger
Lumber and wood construction materials
Plastic bags of any kind (including biodegradable)
Garbage of any kind

This property is under camera surveillance. Any materials left at the site will be considered illegal dumping and may be subject to enforcement.

It is against the law to carry an unsecured load.  Please cover to keep from littering.

This facility has no affiliation with the landfill.

Thank you for your co-operation.

For further information, please call the Public Works Department at 705-869-1751.

Household Hazardous Waste Day 2026 Flyer

The 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held on April 25, 2026.

Public Works cannot accept any hazardous waste other than this one day per year when the event is hosted.

COMMON HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
✓ Ammonia ✓ Cosmetics ✓ Metal Polish
✓ Solvents ✓ Anti-freeze ✓ Disinfectants
✓ Oven Cleaner ✓ Bleach ✓ Art Supplies
✓ Drain Cleaner ✓ Paint ✓ Flea Powder
✓ Waxes ✓ Pesticides ✓ BBQ Starter
✓ Herbicides ✓ Light Bulbs ✓ Rat Poison
✓ Engine Oils & Fuel ✓ Insecticides
✓ Swimming Pool Chemicals ✓ Propane Tanks ✓ Wood Preservatives
✓ Batteries weighing 5kg or more only

No pharmaceuticals, PCB’s, commercial, agricultural, industrial, pathological, explosives, infectious or radioactive waste will be accepted.

NEW: CFL, fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, HID, UV, germicidal and LED bulbs and tubes are all now accepted.

Reminder: Single-use and rechargeable batteries such as button cells, AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, lantern batteries, sealed lead acid batteries and replacement batteries for products such as drills, cell phone, laptop, etc. that weigh 5kg or less are no longer accept at Household Hazardous Waste Day events. Home Hardware and Canadian Tire in Espanola are disposal locations for these types of batteries at no cost. Only batteries weighing more than 5kg will be accepted at hazardous household waste day events.

Pharmaceuticals or used needles are no longer accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Day events. Medication, sharp containers, etc., can be disposed of at any local pharmacy at no cost. Public Health Sudbury & Districts also has a yellow used needle drop off box/kiosk outside their office at the Espanola Mall.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:

Joel Yusko, Manager of Environment Services & Special Projects

Phone: 705-869-1751

Email: [email protected]

Monday to Friday – 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Battery Recycling

The Town of Espanola will no longer be a disposal location for single-use or rechargeable batteries weighing 5kg or less. New Provincial regulations have moved to an Individual Producer Responsibility System, which makes producers accountable for the recycling of their products once consumers are finished with them. Current battery disposal locations in Espanola include Home Hardware and Canadian Tire. There are disposal boxes/bins at the customer service desk/entrances to these local businesses.

Examples of single-use and rechargeable batteries include button cells, AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, lantern batteries, sealed lead acid batteries and replacement batteries for products such as drills, cell phone, laptop, etc. that weigh 5kg or less.

These types of batteries are no longer be accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Day events due to this service being offered locally during regular business hours and at no cost. Only batteries weighing more than 5kg will be accepted at future hazardous household waste day events.

Please contact the Public Works Dept. at (705)869-1751 with any questions related to this matter.

Our Public Works Department maintains over 82 km of paved, gravel and surface treated roads within the community.

We look after the Town’s sidewalks and maintain their condition.

Winter Parking Restriction - As per By-law No.2030/07

During night hours in winter months, no person shall park a vehicle on any highway under the jurisdiction of the municipality, between the hours of two (2) o'clock in the morning and seven (7) o'clock in the morning, during the period from the first day of November in one year until the last day of March in the next year, except physicians or emergency calls and operators of authorized vehicles.

The Department also provides Seniors snow shoveling during the winter months.

Ontario Clean Water Agency operates and maintains the Town's water supply and distribution system, and the sanitary sewer and wastewater collection system.

Watering Permission Form

LAWN WATERING BYLAW 2675/15 REMINDER

Residents are reminded to adhere to the watering bylaw. The Lawn Watering Bylaw is in effect year round. Even numbered houses may only water on even numbered days while odd numbered houses may only water on odd numbered days. On days where residents may water, they may only do so between 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Homes equipped with electronic watering systems may water on any day from 3:00am – 6:00am. Violations of the watering bylaw may be reported to By-Law Enforcement at 705-673-3647. There is a $120.00 fine for watering when not permitted.

THE MYTH ABOUT "FLUSHABLE WIPES"

When the Public Works Dept. troubleshoots problems in the sanitary sewer collection system, “flushable wipes” are often found to be the culprit. As the wipes don’t breakdown with the water like toilet paper, they have a tendency to hang-up in the pipe and create a blockage. It is hard to blame the system users for flushing them down their toilets due to their marketing as “flushable”, however they are an epidemic and major cause of sewage back-ups in every sanitary sewer collection system. Please dispose of personal wipes in the wastepaper basket and DO NOT flush any wipe material that is not conventional toilet paper down your toilet. This will help prevent blockages that have the potential of backing up entire subdivisions. Thank you for your cooperation.

View more information on our water system and treatment plant with our annual and summary reports:

2024 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report - Revised

2023 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report

2022 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report

2021 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report

2020 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report

2019 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report
2018 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report
2017 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report
2016 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report
2015 Espanola WTP Annual and Summary Report

You can view more information on the Town of Espanola wastewater treatment plan with our annual reports:

2024 Espanola Annual Report - Wastewater Treatment Plant

2023 Espanola Annual Report - Wastewater Treatment Plant

2022 Espanola Annual Report - Wastewater Treatment Plant

2021 Espanola Annual Report - Wastewater Treatment Plant

2020 Espanola Annual Report - Wastewater Treatment Plant

2019 Espanola Annual Report – Wastewater Treatment Plant
2018 Espanola Annual Report – Wastewater Treatment Plant
2017 Espanola Annual Report – Wastewater Treatment Plant
2016 Espanola Annual Report – Wastewater Treatment Plant
2015 Espanola Annual Report – Wastewater Treatment Plant

Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan 2025-2029
Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan 2020-2024
Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan 2014

A permit is required for driveway and/or culvert installations or for the resurfacing of an existing driveway.

Please contact Public Works for more information or to submit an application.

Driveway Bylaw.pdf

Driveway Application.pdf

The Town of Espnaola has a Watermain Swabbing Maintenance Program to ensure safe, high quality drinking water in Espanola. This annual routine distribution system maintenance work will help reduce the effects of water degradation and is one of the most effective water distribution system maintenance procedures. This procedure will also help maintain the watermains to ensure the infrastructure will perform in times of emergency.

Swabbing involves scouring the watermain with foam swabs and high velocity water. These swabs are injected at a hydrant and pushed along the watermain to be removed further down the main through another fire hydrant. The fast moving water scours and cleans the mains. The hydrants are left open until the water runs clear. This helps to keep your water clean, fresh and flowing freely.

The procedure requires that water be turned off briefly while each section of watermain is prepared for swabbing. During swabbing, the pressure will be reduced considerably, and residents are asked not to run water during this time. Once the watermain has been cleaned, normal pressure will be restored.

Discolored water within private services is a possibility after swabbing is complete. If discolouration occurs, please run your faucets until the water is clear. The discoloured water does not pose a health hazard.

If the water does not clear up after a few minutes, please contact Espanola Public Works at 705-869-1751

All residents and businesses located within the swabbing maintenance area will be notified by mail in advance. Notice will also be posted to the Town website and social media channels. For more information, please call 705-869-1751.

Phragmites Management

Phragmites Management Program Begins This July

The Town of Espanola will be undertaking a targeted invasive species management program along select road rights-of-way (ROWs) this July.

The program will focus on controlling invasive Phragmites (Phragmites australis), a large foreign grass that has become established in several areas in the community.

Why is Phragmites being managed?

Phragmites is one of Ontario's most aggressive invasive plant species. It can:

Outcompete and displace native vegetation
Reduce biodiversity and damage natural habitats
Impair drainage by blocking ditches and watercourses
Create visibility concerns along roads and intersections
Interfere with maintenance and public works operations
Without active management, Phragmites can continue to spread into new areas and become increasingly difficult and costly to control.

How will treatment occur?

The Town has retained a qualified contractor to undertake the treatment program.

Due to the density and extent of Phragmites infestations within the project areas, herbicide treatment has been identified as the most effective management tool currently available. The herbicide will be applied directly to individual Phragmites stands and will not be sprayed indiscriminately across wetlands, shorelines, or natural areas.

During the month of July, the Town of Espanola will be working to get rid of Phragmites from roadside ditches. Licenced staff will selectively spray this grass in dry weather where the grass is on fully dry ground. Signs will be posted as legally required by the Pesticide Act. The product to be used is RoundUp Weathermax (glyphosate). When dry, this formulation does not easily dissolve in water, remains tightly stuck to the plants, and is a short-lived chemical that decomposes in a few weeks. Staff are experienced in using herbicide cautiously, using as little as possible, and only hitting the invasive species.

What can residents expect?

Residents may notice:

Crews working along roadsides and drainage corridors
Temporary signage in treatment areas
Vegetation changing colour and dying back following treatment
Follow-up monitoring in subsequent seasons
Effective invasive species management often requires multiple years of monitoring and treatment.

Learn More

Additional information about invasive Phragmites, treatment methods, and project updates will be posted on the Town's website throughout the season.

Contact

Judith Jones

Contractor

Winter Spider Eco-Consulting

[email protected]

705-859-1027

Frequently Asked Questions

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While cutting can be helpful in controlling Phragmites standing in water, on dry ground cutting will do nothing to the extensive underground root system, and stems will grow back quickly. Cutting may temporarily reduce the height of phragmites, but it does not eliminate the extensive underground rhizome system that allows the plant to rapidly regrow. Cutting can also contribute to spread if seed heads or plant material are dispersed by wind, water, wildlife, or equipment.

Management approaches are selected based on site conditions, infestation size, effectiveness, environmental considerations, and available resources.

For these reasons, cutting alone is generally not an effective long-term control method. Herbicide treatment is used because it targets the underground root system, helping to prevent regrowth and reduce the spread of this invasive species.

The Town evaluated available management options and determined that herbicide treatment (a glyphosate product) is currently the most effective method for controlling dense Phragmites infestations within the project area.

The goal is to reduce the long-term environmental and operational impacts caused by the invasive species.

Yes. Any herbicide used as part of this program must be registered for use in Canada and applied according to federal and provincial requirements, product label directions, and environmental protection standards.

Herbicide treatments will be conducted by trained and qualified personnel, including certified contractors and qualified municipal staff, in accordance with all applicable regulations and product label requirements.

Treatment methods are designed to target invasive Phragmites while minimizing impacts on surrounding vegetation. Herbicide will be applied directly to individual Phragmites stands and will not be sprayed indiscriminately across wetlands, shorelines, or natural areas. However, as with any vegetation management program, some effects on nearby plants may occur depending on site conditions.

Without management, invasive Phragmites can continue to spread and dominate natural areas, reducing native biodiversity, impacting drainage systems, and creating operational and safety concerns.

The purpose of the program is to prevent further spread and support the restoration of healthier ecosystems over time.

Public Works

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Special Projects

Garbage

Recycling

Yard Waste Depot

Household Hazardous Waste Day

Battery Recycling

Roads and Sidewalks

Water and Wastewater

Water Treatment Plant

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Energy Plans

Driveway Permits

Watermain Swabbing Maintenance Program

Phragmites Management

Phragmites Management Program Begins This July

Why is Phragmites being managed?

How will treatment occur?

What can residents expect?

Learn More

Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't the Town simply cutting the plants?

Why is herbicide being used?

Is the herbicide approved for use?

Will treatment affect nearby vegetation?

Why not leave the Phragmites alone?