Accepted and prohibited yard waste items

Yard waste that is collected is turned into compost, some of which is offered to the public for free at Community Environment Days. The City’s yard waste program allows it to divert approximately 80,000 tonnes of yard waste from landfill each year.

The City picks up yard waste every other week on garbage collection day from mid-March to mid-December.  Christmas trees are collected in January, please refer to your collection schedule.

Yard waste collection requirements:

  • Yard waste must be put out on the correct week/day according to your collection schedule during seasonal service delivery
  • Yard waste must be bundled or placed out in KRAFT paper bags or rigid open-topped containers (with an external height no less than 55 centimetres and no greater than 95 centimetres, with the exception of blue and grey boxes previously used for recycling), i.e. reusable container without a lid, extra garbage can, or bushel basket. No cardboard boxes or plastic bags.
  • There is no limit to the amount of yard waste set out at curbside
  • Yard waste must be placed out by 7:00 a.m.
  • Each KRAFT paper bag or open rigid container or bundle cannot weigh more than 20 kilograms/44 pounds
  • Metal ties are prohibited in bundling branches
  • Each bundle cannot exceed 0.6 m (2') in diameter X 1.2 m (4') in length to ensure they fit in collection vehicles
  • Material must be under 7.5 centimetres (3") in diameter
  • Items/containers out for collection must be accessible.

The following items are accepted as yard waste:

  • Plant cuttings, roots, leaves and weeds (incl. crab grass - clumps of dirt and/or sod must be removed from weeds)
  • Tree, hedge and shrub trimmings, brush cuttings, twigs and branches under 7.5 cm (3 in) in diameter, and bundles less than 2 feet in diameter and 4 feet in length
  • Christmas trees: if placing out for yard waste collection (not Christmas tree collection after Christmas), the Christmas tree does not need to be cut down to 4ft length or bundled/tied for curbside pickup.
  • Halloween pumpkins
  • Waste fruit from trees.
  • For branches and body wood (stumps, logs etc) over 3 inches in diameter see: Solid Waste Drop-Off Depots - Transfer Stations - residential waste - fees

The following items are prohibited in yard waste:

  • Grass clippings
  • Sod
  • Soil
  • Logs
  • Tree stumps
  • Kitchen waste (fruit and vegetables)
  • Giant Hogweed (should be placed in a secured plastic bag and must be placed in regular garbage).

Dog Strangling Vine

The Dog-Strangling Vine is considered an invasive species although it has been in Canada for more than 100 years. For some, it is considered a desirable plant due to its manner of growth and colourful flowers. For most it is a nuisance and in some cases major efforts are carried out to control its spread. The best method of disposal would be to place the plant in a secured plastic bag and put it out as garbage. Do not put it out for Leaf and Yard Waste collection because this will not control the spread. Actions are being taken in certain areas of the City (High Park, Rouge Valley) to curtail or eliminate this plant using various techniques including the use of chemicals, controlled burns, etc.

KRAFT bags vs. plastic bags

Kraft leaf and yard waste bags are protected with a wet-strength coating that resists water absorption. It rained during the pilot testing of the kraft bags and they held up just fine. Collection crews were able to pick up the bags intact.

Kraft bags hold considerably more than economically-priced plastic bags. Kraft bags are stronger than plastic bags and subsequently do not puncture from twigs as easily as plastic bags. Another benefit is that kraft bags are likely easier to use in terms of staying open when you're filling them with leaves/yard waste because they stand up and open without collapsing like plastic bags.

Plastic bags don't break down, so they aren't compostable and pieces of shredded plastic not only cause onsite litter, they contaminate the quality of the finished compost. By prohibiting plastic bags, the City is able to offer a richer, finer quality of compost.

Related Information: