The City picks up yard waste every other week on garbage collection day from approximately mid-March to mid-December as well as Christmas trees in January. Check your collection schedule to confirm collection dates. Yard waste can also be taken to one of the City’s Drop-Off Depots year-round.
The 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 85,000 tonnes of yard waste from landfill each year.
Consider leaving fallen leaves and branches on your lawn in the fall to provide essential habitat for native pollinating insects over the winter. Fallen leaves also add nutrients to your garden soil and insulate perennial plants. In the spring, cleaning up your yard too early will harm nesting pollinators. The earliest to start tidying is once the weather has consistently been above 10 degrees (including overnight temperatures) for at least a week. Learn more about leaving the leaves for pollinators and soil health.
Items Accepted as Yard Waste
Leaves, twigs and roots
Trimmings from trees, hedges and shrubs
Small tree branches (see set out information below)
Plant material including brush cuttings and weeds (such as crab grass) – remove excess soil from weeds
Christmas trees (curbside collection on designated days in January and Drop-Off Depots year-round)
Items Not Accepted as Yard Waste
Grass clippings
Leave grass clippings on your lawn or put them in an outdoor composter to help build healthy, nutrient-rich soil. Grass clippings are 90 per cent water and return moisture to your lawn, reducing the need for watering and fertilizer by 30 per cent.
*Sod
*Soil (pulled weeds with excess soil removed can be placed in yard waste)
*Wood with a diameter greater than 7.5 centimetres (3 inches)
Kitchen waste (such as fruits and vegetables)
Pet waste
To dispose of the items marked by an asterisk (*), please contact a private company.
All invasive plants must be placed in a securely tied plastic bag and set out as garbage, not yard waste, to prevent spread. Examples of invasive plants include:
giant hogweed
dog-strangling vine
garlic mustard
Manitoba maple
Norway maple
buckthorn
Japanese knotweed
Proper Set Out
General yard waste
Place yard waste in kraft paper yard waste bags or rigid open-top containers with an external height no less than 55 centimetres (cm) and no greater than 95 cm, with the exception of blue and grey boxes previously used for recycling). Yard waste in plastic bags or cardboard boxes will not be collected.
Place yard waste 0.5 metres (m) from your Garbage Bin. If you receive daytime collection, set out yard waste no later than 7 a.m. and no earlier than 8 p.m. the night before your collection date. If you receive night-time collection, set out yard waste between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on your collection date.
Store yard waste on your own property (close to your home) between collections, not on City property.
Secure brush and branches in bundles using natural fibre rope (burlap or twine). Do not bundle with metal or plastic rope. Bundles must be no longer than 1.2 m (4 feet), no wider than 0.6 m (2 feet) and no heavier than 20 kilograms (44 lbs).
The diameter of wood set out for collection cannot exceed 7.5 cm (3 inches). For items that exceed this size, make arrangements with a private company.
Yard waste that meets the above size requirements can also be taken to one of the City’s Drop-Off Depots year-round. Fees may apply.
Note: Residents employing landscaping contractors to maintain their properties are responsible for making sure contractors follow the rules as well.
Christmas trees
Remove all lights, tinsel, decorations, etc. and do not set out in a stand, skirt or in any type of bag.
Place tree next to your Garbage Bin for pickup and ensure it is clear of snow and ice.
If you live in a multi-residential building, speak to your property manager.
Christmas trees that are not collected on designated days in January must be placed out for yard waste pickup when yard waste collection resumes in the spring or taken to a Drop-Off Depot. (Christmas trees do not need to be cut down to a maximum length of 4 feet, like brush and branches.)
Note: Artificial Christmas trees should be taken apart, if possible, and set out as an oversized item on garbage collection day.
