Collection for 2024 begin on April 8.

When collection is complete:

• mulch your leaves and grass clippings into your lawn (this is great for overwinter pollinators), or
• bring bags directly to the landfill for free.

Important: leaf and yard waste will not be collected outside of the collection dates noted above. It cannot be included with your regular waste, as it does not belong in the landfill.

Leaf and yard waste collection occurs on the same day as your weekly garbage and recycling during its collection period. All leaf and yard waste must be put to the curb for collection after 7 p.m. the day before collection or before 7 a.m. the day of collection. An unlimited number of bags can be set out.

Helpful Hint: To prevent paper bags from getting wet underneath, you can use labelled reusable containers or you can place the paper bags on top of a plastic tarp. This prevents the paper bags from breaking when collected by the pitchers.

Waste Collection Calendar 

Size and Weight: 

Leaf and yard waste collection must follow the following size and weight requirements: 

• All leaf and yard waste must be under 22 kgs (50lbs)
• All bundled branches must be placed out in 1 meter long by 3 feet wide sections
• All yard waste must be placed out in paper leaf and yard waste bags or in a labelled reusable container for collection
• Christmas trees will not be collected if stuck to or on top of a snow bank, shovel out an area prior to setting your tree out for collection. 

Restrictions:  

Leaf and Yard waste paper bags or containers that contain the following will not be collected: 

• Animal feces
• Dirt/Soil
• Sod
• Flower pots and plastic trays
• Kitchen organic waste (food scraps) 
• Root balls 
• Tree trunks 
• Stumps 
• Large branches 
• Plastic bags 
• Glass 
• Gravel/Stone

Branches are collected with Leaf and Yard Waste (see tab above) in the spring and fall, and bi-weekly in the summer.

Branches must be set out in tied bundles no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet.

Please note that cured wood and construction waste is not accepted as part of the Leaf and Yard Waste program. These items must be brought directly to the landfill.

Outside of Leaf and Yard Waste collection, branches are not collected at the curb. Branches can be brought directly to the landfill at 2590 Cornwall Centre Road. The charge for disposing of branches is a $10 minimum, or $65 per tonne.

The City of Cornwall also offers a once annual Christmas tree collection service. This service is for REAL trees only, large fake trees must be delivered to the landfill, or dismantled and placed in a garbage bag. If your Christmas tree is still in good condition consider donating it to a family in need. 

Collection dates are January 8 to 12, 2024. Pease set your Christmas tree out on your regular collection day that week.

Christmas trees are collected once a year for one week in January, there is currently no limit to the amount of Christmas trees you can put at the road. Please place your Christmas trees out on the same day as your recycling and garbage collection date during that week. If you miss the Christmas Tree collection, your tree must be taken to the landfill for recycling, it will not be collected with the garbage. There is a fee associated with the recycling of Christmas trees, it is $65.00 per tonne or $10.00 minimum fee. 

Christmas Trees must be put to the curb for collection after 7:00 pm the day before collection or before 7:00 am the day of collection. For example if Christmas Tree collection happened on Monday, a resident could place their Christmas tree out after 7:00 pm on Sunday, but before 7:00 am on Monday. 

Helpful Hint: To prevent Christmas Trees from being left behind, please ensure that they are not on top of a snow bank or frozen into a snow bank. This helps us collect the Christmas trees in a time efficient matter. 

Grasscycling

Grasscycling is simple – when cutting the grass, simply remove the bag from your lawnmower and leave the clippings on the lawn.

The clippings provide water and nutrients to the lawn as they decompose, making it easier to maintain a healthy lawn. It also cuts out the time and effort needed to bag the clippings and reduces the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill.

There are numerous other benefits to grasscycling:

• Grass clippings naturally fertilize the lawn, meaning less chemical fertilizer is needed
• Going bagless and leaving clippings on the lawn also reduces the need for watering and reduces greenhouse gas emissions

How to grasscycle:

• Cut your grass regularly, cutting no more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade at one time.
• Remove the lawn mower bag before mowing your lawn.
• Set the mower blade height to 8 cm (3 in) before cutting.
• Cut grass when it’s dry so it spreads evenly on your lawn and won’t clump.
• It’s quicker to cut the grass when the blade is sharp.
• Try not to over-water or over-fertilize.