Barrie Turns to Landfill Property as Emergency Snow Storage Amid Historic Winter

After weeks of relentless snowfall, the City of Barrie has begun using part of a landfill property as a temporary snow storage site, a move officials say was unavoidable as winter cleanup efforts stretch into unprecedented territory.

City staff confirmed the vacant land on Ferndale Drive North is now being used to stockpile excess snow, following the exhaustion of available space at the city’s operations centre. Since Nov. 1, Barrie has received an estimated 300 centimetres of snow more than 9.5 feet overwhelming standard snow removal and storage systems.

The decision comes as Barrie remains under the longest continuous Significant Weather Event declaration in its history, a designation that has been in place since Dec. 28, 2025. The declaration allows road maintenance crews additional time to restore safe driving conditions while navigating extreme weather challenges.

According to Dave Friary, the city’s director of operations, the landfill site will be used strictly for snow and not for household waste. The snow is being placed on an unused portion of the property, a method the city says has been safely employed during heavy winters in the past.

“There’s no set end date,” Friary explained, noting that the duration will depend on future snowfall and the ongoing need to remove large snowbanks from city streets and tight urban areas.

Residents living near the site may notice an increase in overnight truck traffic as snow hauling continues. To address concerns, the city has implemented mitigation measures, including the construction of a berm designed to limit noise and light disruption during nighttime operations.

City officials emphasized that this winter has far exceeded previous snow events in both scope and cost. While past Significant Weather Events typically lasted only a few days with minimal financial impact, the current situation has required sustained effort, higher coordination, and significantly increased spending.

“This is the largest volume of snow we’ve ever had to remove,” Friary said. “The intensity and compressed timeline of this winter have made it unlike anything we’ve dealt with before.”

Barrie officials say the Significant Weather Event will remain in effect until roads, cycling lanes, and other affected infrastructure are fully restored to safe conditions. The city has committed to providing ongoing updates as cleanup progresses and weather conditions evolve.

For now, crews continue working around the clock, as Barrie digs out from a winter that has already made local history.