Leaf and Yard Waste

		Plastic bags have been banned for the disposal of leaf and yard waste in York Region.  Residents must now use either kraft paper bags or open top rigid containers, like an old garbage can for their yard waste material.    Please ensure that the container(s) is labelled so collection crews can identify it (them) correctly.    Yard waste in plastic bags will  no longer be accepted.   Information about yard waste alternatives (including grasscycling, backyard composting, leaf mulching or a yard waste label for your reusable container are available from York Region.  Please contact us at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 5746 to request yours.   Please Note: Because yard waste is banned from landfills, a single bag of yard waste could result in the entire load being rejected! Rather than throwing your yard waste in the garbage, do your part and separate it out so we can compost it.

 

The use of disposable plastic bags is, from an environmental perspective, an unsustainable practice.  By switching to kraft paper bags we are making a change for the better, here's how:

 

Less Material Going to Landfill
Plastic bags don't break down and they cannot be recycled so they must go to landfill.   Kraft paper bags decompose with the yard waste to make compost.

 

Improves the Quality of Compost
It's difficult to remove pieces of plastic from compost, and because the plastic does not break down in the composting process, it ends up contaminating the soil.  Using paper bags produces a higher quality of compost.

 

Saves Money
By switching to kraft paper bags, Regional tax payers will save money through reduced processing costs. 

 

To reduce the amount of yard waste you generate, try:

Alternatively, you can put your yard waste at the curb for collection to be recycled into compost (check your local municipal collection schedule) or take it to public drop-off depots. 

 

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a control order on February 27, 2004 under the Plant Protection Act.  The control order restricts the movement of nursery stock, trees, leaves, logs, lumber, wood, wood chips or bark chips from broad-leaf deciduous trees outside of the Regulated Area prior to being processed to approved specifications.  The boundaries of the Control Order are south of Rutherford Road, north of Steeles Avenue, east of Highway 27 and west of Dufferin Street.  Those living and conducting business within the affected area must deliver their wood, leaves and yard waste to the location below.

Location: 8000 Dufferin Street in Vaughan, just south of Highway 407 on the west side.  The site is also a City of Vaughan Public Works Yard.

 

Hours to Receive Loads: Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. By appointment only.

 

Site Contact: Rob Zander (905) 830-4444 ext. 5721.

 

Material Accepted: nursery stock, trees, logs, lumber, wood, wood chips or bark chips from broad-leaf deciduous trees, leaves and yard waste within the Asian Long Horned Beetle Regulated Area.

Residential sources – no charge

 

 

Vehicle Type	User Fee Per Load
Pick up Truck	$25.00
1 Tonne Truck	$72.00
1 Tonne Van	$72.00
Single Axle with Box	$90.00
Cube Van	$110.00
Landscape Trailers	$110.00
Single Axle Dump Truck	$160.00
Double Axle Dump Truck	$220.00
Tri-Axle or 40 Cubic Yard Bin	$450.00
50 Cubic Yard Bin	$500.00

 

Note:  Customers also have the option of providing a ticket from a certified weigh scale and paying on a weight basis ($100 per tonne). Fees and hours of operation are subject to change without notice.

 

Payment Methods: VISA, Mastercard, cheque or cash

 

For more information about your municipal yard waste collection program, click on the following links:

Aurora	East Gwillimbury	Georgina
King	Markham	Newmarket
Richmond Hill	Vaughan	Whitchurch-Stouffville

 

 

For more information, please e-mail us at: yardwaste@york.ca or call the Region at (905) 895-1200 and press 3 for waste management information.