Weekly leaf and yard waste collection starts next week!

Learn what materials are accepted

It’s just about time to start planting new flowers and doing your spring yard cleanup. That’s why the City of Vaughan’s weekly leaf and yard waste collection is starting the week of April 15!

Here’s everything you need to know to be prepared ahead of your yard waste collection day:

• Starting next week, the City will pick up yard waste materials every week on your regularly scheduled collection day. Biweekly collection will begin the week of June 10. 

• Place your materials at the curb no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before collection day and no later than 7 a.m. on collection day. Collection times may vary.

• Leaf and yard waste must be placed out in Kraft paper bags or open-top rigid containers with handles of up to 121 litres (32 gallons) in size and clearly marked “Leaf and Yard Waste.” Plastic bags are not permitted.

• Keep the Kraft paper bags dry – wet or degraded bags cannot be picked up as they will break during collection. If the forecast calls for inclement weather overnight – like strong winds or heavy rain – wait until the morning to place out your materials.

• If you are not using a paper bag, you can place materials in a bin with a yard waste sticker. Stickers are mailed out upon request by calling Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or emailing service@vaughan.ca. They are also available at select community centres while supplies last.

• Consider purchasing a backyard composter to turn yard waste materials into compost!

You can also drop off yard waste at select York Region Waste Depots – fees apply. The depots accept larger materials, including branches (no larger than 30 centimetres in diameter and 1.8 metres in length), flowers, plants, leaves, shrubs and more. For more information, visit york.ca/WasteDepots.

What materials are accepted at the curb?

• Branches

• Flowers and plants

• Leaves

• Shrubs

• Twigs

• Vegetable garden waste

• Weeds

What materials are not accepted curbside?

• Soil, rocks or stones

• Stumps and root balls

Why does leaf and yard waste collection start later in April?

The City’s leaf and yard waste weekly collection begins the third week of April each year to help protect native and pollinator-friendly species. You’re encouraged to help protect pollinators by delaying seasonal yard work until later in the spring when temperatures are around 15 C and above. Yard waste and plants shelter butterflies, moths, bees and other pollinating insects in winter. In early spring, these insects still hibernate inside leaves, stems and twigs, and collecting those materials too early might indirectly harm both the pollinators and the environment.

Understanding and respecting the environmental impacts of leaf and yard waste collection affirms Vaughan’s commitment to environmental stewardship through protection and proactive environmental management. Learn more about pollinators at vaughan.ca/environment.

Visit the City’s leaf and yard waste webpage for more information.

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