As fall transitions into winter, leaf and yard waste collection will be ending the week of Dec. 7 depending on your regular collection day. Before raking up your lawn and putting materials curbside, the City of Vaughan is here to provide three things you need to know about leaf and yard waste:

1. Do your part to protect pollinators and the environment.

Keeping some leaves on the ground will shelter bees and other pollinators through the winter, which can positively benefit the environment and us both now and in the future. Here are actions to consider:

• Hold off on raking leaves. Doing this will provide added nutrients to soil and save little bugs and pollinators from being exposed to harsh winter conditions. Plants provide winter shelter for butterflies, moths, bees and other pollinating insects.
• Leave plants that stand up straight and have seed heads alone, like sunflowers, thistles and blackberry lilies. These flowers are not only beautiful, but they also provide vital winter food for butterflies and shelter to lay eggs. Birds also nest in these places over the winter.

You can also save some leaves and add them to your backyard composter. If you’re looking to purchase one from the City, visit vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan. For more information on protecting pollinators, visit vaughan.ca/environment.

2. Bag leaf and yard waste properly and place it to the curb before collection ends the week of Dec. 7.

If leaving some leaves on the ground isn’t an option, set out leaf and yard waste for collection. Remember to place it at the curb no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before and no later than 7 a.m. on your regularly scheduled collection day. Materials can be placed in Kraft paper bags or open-top rigid containers with handles, up to 121 litres (32 gallons) in size, and clearly marked “Leaf and Yard Waste.” Yard waste stickers can be mailed out by request through Access Vaughan by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.

Kraft bags that are wet or weathered and are unable to hold the material during collection will be left behind for repackaging and will be collected the following week.

Acceptable leaf and yard waste materials include:

• plant material (no soil) and leaves
• bundles less than 1.5 metres (five feet) in length and 0.6 metres (two feet) in diameter, weighing less than 20.5 kilograms (45 pounds)
• individual branches that are less than 10 centimetres (four inches) in diameter, bundled securely
• pumpkins, straw and cornstalks

Materials that do not belong in leaf and yard waste include:

• stumps and root balls
• any leaf and yard waste material contaminated with household waste or non-leaf and yard waste such as green bin organics
• sod, soil, rocks or stones

Collection times may change without notice. Sign up for the City’s Recycle Coach App through the Apple App Store or Google Play for a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put to the curb each week. Visit vaughan.ca/WasteCalendar to view the collection schedule. Visit vaughan.ca/waste for leaf and yard waste program details and requirements.

3. Drop off excess leaf and yard waste at a York Region Waste Depot.

If you have leaves to dispose of after the curbside collection has ended, the York Region Waste Depot located in Vaughan at 130 McCleary Crt. accepts leaf and yard waste year-round for a fee. Visit york.ca/WasteDepots for details on how to properly dispose of leaf and yard waste at the depot and for hours of operation.

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