City of Cornwall

Time: 

Leaf and Yard Waste is collected seasonally in the City of Cornwall. 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 7:00 pm the day before collection or before 7:00 am the day of collection. For example, if leaf and yard waste collection happened on Monday, a resident could place their leaf and yard waste out after 7:00 pm on Sunday, but before 7:00 am on Monday. 

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. 

Limit:

During Leaf and Yard Waste collection (spring and fall), an unlimited number of bags can be set out.

At all other times during the year, leaf and yard waste bags are included in residents' bag limit total, as they are not collected separately for the compost pile.

Size and Weight: 

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

• All leaf and yard waste must be under 27 kgs (60lbs)
• 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

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. 

Dates for Christmas Tree collection for 2020 can be found in the Waste Collection Calendar. 

Program Information: 

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 $62.00 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. 

Composting and Organics

Currently the City of Cornwall does not have an organics program, meaning we do not provide our residents with curbside organic waste (green bin) collection. 

The City does offer composters to residents wishing to participate in backyard composting. Composters are available for purchase at 360 Pitt Street for $60.00 (tax included). 

Composting

The City is promoting Composting in order to reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill. Organic waste that goes to landfill creates a harmful greenhouse gas called Methane. Methane has a potency that is 30 times higher then Carbon dioxide, which contributes to heat trapping in our atmosphere. 

The City of Cornwall currently composts leaf and yard waste material for this specific purpose, and is encouraging residents to help reduce their greenhouse gas impact by purchasing a composter and participating in back yard composting. 

Composting is fairly simply and can be completed all year round! For more information on Composting visit the resources listed below. 

• Composting in Cornwall 
• Guide to backyard composting 
• How to apply compost
• How to vermicompost (metro Vancouver brochure)