Last Yard Waste Pickup 2025: Toronto and GTA Collection Guide

How to get ready for your last yard waste pickup of 2025

Most GTA municipalities wrap up curbside yard waste collection between late November and mid-December, then pause until spring (usually March or April). Your exact last pickup date depends on your address and collection zone — check your municipality's online waste collection calendar to confirm.

Here's what to do for your final pickup:

• Use the right containers. Brown paper yard waste bags or rigid, reusable open-top containers only - no plastic bags or cardboard boxes.

• Know what's accepted. Most municipalities don't accept grass clippings at the curb, so stick to leaves, small branches, and garden debris.

• Keep it manageable. Each bag, bundle, or container should be light enough for one person to lift - aim for about 20 kg (44 lb) or less.

• Set it out on time. Put everything at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day and avoid leaving bags out days in advance.

  
  

This guide is for homeowners in the Greater Toronto Area, including Toronto and the regions of Peel, Halton, York, and Durham.

What counts as yard waste in the GTA

Across Toronto and the GTA, most municipalities use very similar rules. In general, yard waste means organic material from your lawn, trees, and garden that can safely be composted.

What’s usually accepted at the curb

These items go in paper yard waste bags or rigid, open-top containers labelled "Yard Waste":

• Leaves (raked from lawns, driveways, and walkways)

• Small sticks, twigs, branches, shrub trimmings (cut to size and bundled)

• Brush and hedge clippings

• Garden plants and flowers (shake off any soil first)

• Non-woody weeds (except invasive species)

• Fallen fruit from trees

• Natural seasonal décor like pumpkins (candles removed), cornstalks, and straw bales

• Christmas trees: Many municipalities run special collections in January. Trees must be bare - no lights, tinsel, or stands.

What usually does not belong in yard waste

These items aren't accepted as yard waste. Most go out as garbage, though some need to be dropped off at a depot:

• Grass clippings

• Sod (pre-grown grass with soil attached)

• Soil, dirt, clay, and rocks

• Tree stumps, large logs, and very thick branches above your municipality’s diameter limit

• Root balls with soil attached

• Treated or painted wood, lumber, and construction materials

• Plastics (bags, flower pots and trays, plant tags)

• Household garbage of any kind

• Kitchen waste and food scraps (fruits, vegetables, leftovers, etc.)

• Pet waste, litter, and bedding

• Ashes from fireplaces or firepits

• Invasive plants like giant hogweed, dog-strangling vine, garlic mustard, or Japanese knotweed - bag these separately and set out as garbage to prevent spreading.

GTA Yard Waste Specifications by Municipality

Across the Greater Toronto Area, yard waste rules are broadly similar. Most municipalities:

• Require brown paper yard waste bags or rigid, reusable open-top containers for curbside collection  

• Do not accept plastic bags or cardboard boxes for yard waste  

• Use weight limits of around 20 kg (44 lb) per bag, container, or bundle  

• Limit branch and brush bundles to roughly 1.2 m (4 ft) long and a manageable width  

• Restrict branch diameter to about 7.5–10 cm (3–4 in)  

• Do not accept grass clippings at the curb, and instead encourage residents to grasscycle or use depots where allowed  

• Ask residents to set waste out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day

The main differences by region are the exact weight limit, whether you need a yard waste sticker on rigid containers, and a few local exceptions such as Burlington’s grass clippings window or specific depot rules.

Key differences by region

City of Toronto

• Weight limit: 20 kg (44 lb) per bag, container, or bundle  

• Stickers on rigid containers: Not required, but clear “Yard Waste” labelling is recommended  

• Grass clippings: Not accepted in curbside yard waste  

• Notes: Invasive plants such as giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed must go in the garbage, not yard waste. Christmas trees are collected on designated dates in January.

Peel Region (Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon)

• Weight limit: 20 kg (44 lb) per bag, container, or bundle  

• Stickers on rigid containers: Yes, “Yard Waste” sticker required on containers  

• Grass clippings: Not accepted at the curb; residents are encouraged to grasscycle or use depots where allowed  

• Notes: Yard waste must be set out in paper bags, labelled rigid containers, or tied bundles. Ash tree material has special handling rules because of Emerald Ash Borer controls.

Halton Region (Oakville, Halton Hills, Milton)

• Weight limit: 23 kg (50 lb) per bag, container, or bundle  

• Stickers on rigid containers: Yes, yard waste label required  

• Grass clippings: Not accepted at the curb; must be grasscycled or taken to the Halton Waste Management Site  

• Notes: Yard waste is not accepted in blue boxes or any plastic bags, including “compostable” plastic.

Burlington (within Halton)

• Weight limit: 23 kg (50 lb) per bag, container, or bundle  

• Stickers on rigid containers: Yes, yard waste label required  

• Grass clippings: Accepted with yard waste from October to May; outside that window, residents are encouraged to grasscycle  

• Notes: Follows Halton’s general rules, with the seasonal grass clippings exception above.

York Region  

(Markham, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Whitchurch-Stouffville)

• Weight limit: About 18 kg (40 lb) per bag, container, or bundle is typical, but some local limits may be higher  

• Stickers on rigid containers: Often required; paper bags do not need stickers  

• Grass clippings: Not accepted at the curb, but may be dropped at certain depots (for example, the Richmond Hill Compost Facility)  

• Notes: Yard waste must be in kraft paper bags or open-top containers. Always check your local municipality’s page for specific limits and depot rules.

Durham Region  

(Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, Whitby, Oshawa)

• Weight limit: 20 kg (44 lb) per bag, container, or bundle  

• Stickers on rigid containers: Not typically required; clear “Yard Waste” labelling is recommended  

• Grass clippings: Not accepted in curbside yard waste; residents are encouraged to grasscycle or use depots where allowed  

• Notes: Yard waste must be set out in paper yard waste bags or open-top reusable containers. Plastic bags and cardboard boxes are not accepted. Schedules and rules can vary slightly by local municipality, so always confirm with your local calendar.

Official yard waste guidelines

For full details on what’s accepted and how to set out yard waste, see your municipality’s waste collection guidelines.

• City of Toronto Waste

• Peel Region Waste

• Halton Region Waste

• City of Vaughan Waste

• Durham Region Waste

To bag or not to bag: your yard waste options

With the last yard waste pickup coming up, you don't have to bag every leaf. Here are a few ways to handle your yard this fall, depending on how much time you want to spend and what you want your property to look like before winter.

Rake and set out for collection (bagging)

This is a good choice if you want high-traffic areas and sidewalks clear, or if you prefer a tidy lawn before winter. 

Bag leaves in brown paper yard waste bags or rigid containers and set them out for your municipality's last pickup. Quick, straightforward, and clears everything off your property.

Leave some leaves for pollinators and soil health

This works well for garden beds and under trees, especially if you care about pollinators and soil health.

You don't need to bag every leaf. Many bees, butterflies, and other pollinators overwinter in leaf litter and dead stems, so leaving leaves in place under shrubs and in garden beds gives them shelter while slowly enriching your soil.

Rake leaves off lawns, paths, and steps where they get slippery, but leave a light layer in beds and under trees. In spring, wait until temperatures stay above 10°C (including overnight) before cleaning up - this gives overwintering insects time to emerge safely.

Mulch leaves into your lawn or beds

This is a good choice if you mow regularly and want fewer bags at the curb.

Run your mower over dry leaves to chop them into small pieces. When you mulch leaves into your lawn, they break down over winter, feed the grass, and help soil hold moisture - all while cutting down on the bags you need to haul out. If you end up with thick layers, move some of the shredded leaves into garden beds.

Grasscycling

In most GTA municipalities, grass clippings are not accepted in curbside yard waste. The best alternative is grasscycling, which means leaving short clippings on the lawn instead of bagging them.

Grass clippings break down quickly and return nutrients and moisture to the soil, reducing the need for fertilizer and cutting down on yard waste. To grasscycle, mow more often so clippings stay short, mow when the grass is dry, and avoid cutting off more than one third of the grass height at a time.

Compost a portion at home

To compost leaves, mix 2–3 parts dry leaves with 1 part green material (food scraps, coffee grounds, or grass clippings). Keep the pile as damp as a wrung-out sponge, turn it now and then, and in a few months you’ll have compost for your garden beds.

If a full compost pile feels like too much, make leaf mould instead: bag moistened leaves in breathable bags or heap them in a corner and leave them for a year or two. They’ll break down into a dark, crumbly material that’s great for mulching and improving soil.

Use loose leaf collection if your street qualifies

Some neighbourhoods in Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, and Brampton have loose leaf collection programs in areas with mature trees. If your street is included, you can rake leaves to the curb without bagging and the city will collect them with vacuum trucks.

Check your municipality’s loose leaf page or online waste collection calendar to see if your address is covered and when collection happens on your street.

Hand it off to a local Pro

This is a good choice if you have big leaf loads, tight timelines, or you're short on time.

If your last curbside pickup has passed or you'd rather skip the raking, hire a yard Pro for fall clean-up. Local Pros can rake, bag, and haul everything away - even when municipal collection has ended for the season. Smaller city yards typically run $150–$250, while larger or full-service jobs range from $500–$800+ depending on yard size and leaf volume.

How to prepare yard waste for collection so it actually gets collected

Once you know what you're putting out, here's how to prepare it so collection crews will take it:

Bundling branches

Cut branches and brush into manageable pieces and tie them with natural fibre twine (no wire or plastic ties). Keep bundles within your municipality’s length, width, and weight limits; if a bundle feels too heavy to lift comfortably, split it into two.

Labeling containers

If you're using a rigid container instead of paper bags, label it clearly as "Yard Waste." Some municipalities (Peel, Halton, York) require specific yard waste stickers on containers - check your local guidelines or the table above to see if your region needs them.

When in doubt, split it up

Bags, bundles, or containers that are too heavy or oversized may be left behind. If you're not sure whether something will pass, it's better to divide it into two lighter loads.

Need help with fall clean-up?

Even if you’ve missed your last yard waste pickup – or know you won’t get through it all in time – you don’t have to tackle everything yourself.

Quartermaster connects you with neighbour-referred yard and lawn Pros who can rake and bag leaves, bundle branches, haul yard waste away, and get your yard ready for winter. All bookings are backed by our Good Neighbour Guarantee, with coverage up to $2,500.

Browse yard and lawn Pros in your neighbourhood →

Related guides

• Fall Home Maintenance 2025 Checklist for GTA Homeowners

• Winterizing Your Outdoor Faucets