Collection takes place weekly on the following dates. Please set out your leaf and yard waste on your regular collection day:

• August 4 to 8
• August 17 to 21
• August 31 to September 4
• September 14 to 18
• September 28 to November 13

Leaf and yard waste will not be collected outside of these weeks.

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. 

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

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 $62 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. 

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. 

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)

Grasscycling

The concept of 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.