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Leaf and yard waste

Yard waste is collected weekly year-round, and branches are picked up in the spring and fall. Put everything out on your regular collection day. There's no limit on the amount of yard waste you can set out.

Available for single-family homes and apartments with two to six units.

A calendar

Yard waste

Weekly, year-round, no limit on amount

Branch with leaves

Branches

Spring and fall only — four weeks each season

An analog clock reading 12:20

Out by 7 a.m.

On your regular collection day, no earlier than 5 p.m. the night before

Yard waste

Place yard waste in an acceptable compostable bag or container at the curb. There's no limit on how much you can put out each week.

Twigs and clippings must be no more than 1.5 cm (0.5 in.) in diameter and 30.5 cm (12 in.) in length.

Grass clippings are not accepted in yard waste bags. Leave clippings on your lawn or drop them off at a landfill free of charge.

Grass clippings break down in a few days, boost soil's fertility by up to 30 per cent, and reduces the amount of organic matter being sent to landfill sites.

Backyard composting

You can compost yard waste at home instead of setting it out for collection. Backyard composters are available for purchase at locations across Niagara.

What goes in a backyard composter

A healthy compost needs a mix of carbon-rich "browns" and nitrogen-rich "greens."

  • Browns: dry leaves, wood chips, sawdust, straw, twigs
  • Greens: fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings, plant trimmings, cut flowers, tea bags, eggshells

Do not compost: meat, bones, fish, fatty foods, butter, oil or salad dressing, dog or cat feces, diseased or insect-infected plants, stubborn weeds such as crabgrass, or weeds with mature seeds.

Branches

Branch collection runs for four weeks in the spring and four weeks in the fall, on your regular collection day. Branches may also be dropped off at any landfill year-round, free of charge.

Bundle and size requirements

  • Branches must be tied into bundles using string or twine
  • Maximum bundle weight: 22.7 kg (50 lbs)
  • Maximum bundle size: 1.5 m (5 ft.) long, 0.5 m (1.6 ft.) in diameter
  • Individual branches must not exceed 7 cm (2.8 in.) in diameter

Stumps, large limbs and tree trunks are not collected at the curb. Drop these off at a landfill year-round for free, or contact a private contractor for removal.

A flower

Spring branch collection

May 5 – 30

Leaf

Fall branch collection

Oct. 27 – Nov. 21

Free compost giveaway in spring and fall

Each year, Niagara Region gives away free bags of compost to residents in exchange for a donation to a local charity. Get up to three 20-litre bags at drop-off locations across Niagara while quantities last.

Learn about the compost giveaway.

Christmas tree collection in January

Real Christmas trees are collected on your regular collection day during the first full week of January. Remove all decorations before putting your tree at the curb by 7 a.m. Don't bag the tree.

Artificial trees are not collected — use large item collection to dispose of them. Trees can also be dropped off at any landfill free of charge year-round.

Have a question?

Contact the Waste Info-Line