Leaf and yard waste collection is picked up every other week, on garbage collection day, from mid-March into December.

For more information on how to participate in the City's yard waste collection service, see your local collection calendar. Here are some helpful reminders (PDF) about how to participate in yard waste collection. The City has a policy regarding approved containers to use for curbside collection of leaves and yard waste. If you want to use kraft paper yard waste bags, see Frequently asked questions: All about kraft bags.
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Tree limbs, trunks and stumps
This type of waste is not collected or accepted at City's Drop-off Depots if the diameter of the wood exceeds 7.5 cm (3 inches). If items exceed this size, please make arrangements with a private company specializing in handling this type of waste.

Emerald Ash Borer 
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a destructive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees, is in Toronto. The regulated area has expanded to include Durham Region in the east, to Essex County in the west, from  Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in the south, to Wellington County in the north. It is not harmful to humans and only targets ash trees (not Mountain Ash trees because they're not of the ash species).

Despite the Toronto appearance of the Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle that attacks and kills ash trees, residents do not need to make any adjustments to their leaf and yard waste collection set out.

The only change will affect anyone accustomed to moving any type of firewood or ash wood material outside of Toronto. This is no longer allowed. EAB spreads to new areas mainly when firewood or any materials from ash trees are moved out of an infested area. To slow the spread of EAB from infested areas, firewood from any tree species or any ash tree material (e.g. nursery stock, trees, leaves, logs, lumber, wood, wood chips and bark chips from all ash species) cannot be moved outside of the City of Toronto. This comes as a direct order from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the lead agency dealing with invasive pests.

The CFIA and the City of Toronto are asking the public's help in watching for the insect and signs of infestation. Should you have reason to believe that an ash tree is infested with EAB, please call the CFIA at 1-866-463-6017. More information is available on the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca and on Toronto's Forestry website.

Leaf and yard waste (less than 3 inches in diameter) is collected and accepted at City Drop-off Depots.

Tree limbs, trunks and stumps are not collected or accepted at City's Drop-off Depots if the diameter of the wood exceeds 7.5 cm (3 inches).

Material exceeding these dimensions is the responsibility of the resident for proper disposal.