Yard Material Collection in London
 

New!  Compostable Bags Required for Yard Material Collection

Effective January 1, 2010, the City of London requires residents to use only certified compostable bags, paper bags, or reusable containers for their yard material collection. Residents will no longer be permitted to use standard, non-compostable, clear or orange plastic bags for their leaves, garden clippings or other yard trimmings.   

Acceptable containers are:
1. Certified compostable bags (see guidelines below)
2. Paper yard material bags
3. Reusable containers (e.g. garbage pails)

Acceptable certified compostable bags will be identified by one of the two logos identified below:

Plastic bags that are labeled 'degradable', 'biodegradable' or 'oxo-degradable', but do not carry the BPI or BNQ logos are not accepted. Please note, paper bags are accepted in our programs but do not carry these logos.  Non-compostable plastic bags, even if they are marketed to consumers as suitable for yard material programs, are not accepted in our program.  Plastic bags do not compost. By using paper bags, certified compostable bags or reusable containers, you will be helping to produce better quality compost and reduce the cost of the composting process.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

The City of London provides a yard material collection program using a "Green Week" waste collection system. Materials that can be placed at the curb for collection include plant and hedge trimmings as well as brush and leaves. Sod, stumps, grass clippings and garbage are unacceptable materials for collection.

 Use these links to help you find out the dos and don'ts of yard material collection as well as answers to frequently asked questions. The Waste Management By-Law WM-12 (PDF) governs the collection of municipal garbage, recyclables and yard materials.

How can I dispose of yard materials?
How should I package the yard materials?
What do I do with my grass clippings?
Are leaves vacuumed at the curb?
Can I take my leaves to the depots?
Where are the depots and when are they open?
How do I know when there are collections for yard materials and other items?
Why were my yard materials not picked up?
What should I do with my Hallowe'en pumpkins?
What should I do with my Christmas tree?
Where can I get a composter?
Where can I get compost made from the City's leaf and yard materials?
Contact us

How can I dispose of yard materials?

There are two ways to dispose of yard materials. The City provides curbside collection during dedicated weeks or you can take your yard materials to a depot.

• Curbside collection - see your Waste Reduction & Conservation Calendar for the dedicated "Green Weeks" that indicate yard material collection. Place yard materials at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Monday of the dedicated collection week. Pick-up can take place anytime during the week (including Saturday) and will only happen once during that week.

• Depots - there are three EnviroDepots available for the drop-off of residential yard materials.

How should I package the yard materials?

• As of January 1, 2010, standard plastic bags are not accepted for yard material set-out at the curb.  Plant trimmings, clippings, brush and leaves may be set-out in reusable containers, tied into bundles, paper yard waste bags or Certified Compostable bags which will have a logo on them identifying as such.

• Tie brush in bundles; the branches must be less than 1 meter (39 inches) in length and each branch less than 10 centimeters (or 4 inches) in diameter. 

• Or deliver yard materials to a Depots - garden trimmings, brush and leaves are accepted at London's Community EnviroDepots. Branches do not have to be tied but must be less than 1 meter (39 inches) in length and each branch less than 10 centimeters (4 inches) in diameter.

What do I do with my grass clippings?

Leave them on your lawn! This adds nutrients to the soil and helps to hold moisture in your lawn. By "grass cycling" you will fortify and strengthen your turf naturally. Grass clippings provide a great source of slow-release nitrogen for the grass and humus for the soil.

There is no curbside collection for grass clippings. Bagged grass clippings can be taken to the Community EnviroDepots for $1 per bag.

Are leaves vacuumed at the curb?

Loose leaf vacuum service in the core area was discontinued in 2003 to reduce program costs. The fall leaf collection service is now standardized so that all City residents receive the same service. This saves the City $140,000 each year, which is used to offset other program costs.

Can I take my leaves to the Depots?

Yes. The EnviroDepots will accept leaves for composting. 

Where are the Depots and when are they open?
 

How do I know when there are collections of yard materials and other items?

The Waste Reduction and Conservation Calendar contains the scheduled dates for garbage and recycling collection, the scheduled weeks for yard materials collection and the days that the Household Special Waste Depot is open. It also contains all the necessary instructions to participate in the City's waste management programs.

Why were my yard materials not picked up?

Your yard materials may not have been collected for a number reasons including:

• Grass clippings are not collected curbside. You can dispose of grass clippings at the yard material EnviroDepots. There is a $1 per bag disposal fee.

• Yard materials must be set out for collection in reusable containers, kraft paper bags or Certified Compostable bags featuring a logo identifying as such.

• Branches must be tied in bundles for pick up. Also, branches longer than 1 meter (or 39 inches) in length and/or greater than 10 centimeters (or 4 inches) in diameter will not be collected.

• Stumps, sod and rocks are not collected. See the back of the Waste Reduction & Conservation Calendar for private disposal locations for these items.

What should I do with Hallowe'en pumpkins?

Residents that receive curbside leaf and yard material collection can now also set their Hallowe'en pumpkin out on the same collection week. Remove the candle and any metal or plastic from the pumpkin and place in the same container with yard materials or fall leaves. Pumpkins are heavy, so be sure the container is not over the weight limit of 20 kilograms (44 lbs). If you have missed your collection, or do not have access to curbside pickup, the EnviroDepots will accept pumpkins for composting.

What should I do with my Christmas tree?

Depots are set up throughout the city for one week after Christmas to collect trees for chipping. Trees will be collected as garbage if they are set out at the curb. The trees will not be collected during the week after Christmas because of the increased amount of household garbage at the curb. If you set your tree at the curb for collection, make sure that it doesn't get buried in snow or frozen to the ground or it will not be collected.

Where can I get a composter?

Backyard composters are available for City of London residents to purchase ($30 each, taxes included, cash only please) at the Oxford Street Community EnviroDepot and the Clarke Road Community EnviroDepot. You can also purchase a composter at your local hardware store.

Where can I get compost made from the City's leaf and yard materials

Compost made from yard materials collected curbside and from the depots is available in the spring at various compost events. These events will be advertised in various ways including the City's website. Bagged compost is available at the Community EnviroDepots and you can get larger quantities of compost from the processing contractor, Try Recycling.

Contact Us

If you require more information, please contact us at 519 661- 4585 during business hours or by .