Cleaning up yard waste after a weekend of pruning or a surprise windstorm shouldn’t be a headache. Yet many Canadians are unsure where those piles of branches belong or when the city will collect them.
Yard waste is picked up only on designated dates that align with your municipality’s collection schedule. Always check your local calendar or waste look-up tool before hauling bundles to the curb, because regulations can vary block by block. (e.g., Waterloo Region’s Waste Whiz, Toronto’s TOwaste, Hamilton’s Waste App, Guelph Waste, Ottawa Collection Calendar).
In this guide, we break down disposal options that keep your yard tidy and protect the planet.
What Counts as Yard Waste?
Yard waste can often be found in your backyard and includes:
- Branches, twigs, brush and hedge trimmings
- Small trunks and logs (diameter less than 10 cm)
- Stumps and root balls under local size limits
- Natural Christmas trees (undecorated)
Not Yard Waste:
- Treated lumber
- Painted wood
- Soil
- Sod
- Plastic pots
- Rocks
- Or pet waste
Miller Tip: If it didn’t grow in your yard, it doesn’t belong in the yard waste pile.
Preparation Checklist for Your Yard Waste
- Cut it to size: Trim branches to less than 1.2 m (4 ft) long and less than 7 cm (3 in) thick.
- Bundle or bag: Tie branches with natural twine; use paper yard bags for leaves and twigs.
- Keep it dry: Store bags under a cover to prevent tears and keep them from getting waterlogged and exceeding the 20 kg (44 lb) limit.
- Label containers: Mark reusable bins “Yard Waste” on both sides.
Common Limitations When It Comes to Yard Waste
- Weight cap of approximately 20 kg (44 lb) per bag or bundle.
- Oversized stumps or treated wood are not accepted curbside
- Contractors must haul away commercial quantities
- Many cities pause yard‑waste service from mid‑December to early spring.
Best-Practice Curbside Tips
- Use paper yard bags or clearly labelled bins, no plastic bags.
- Bundle branches less than 1.2 m (4 ft) long and 7 cm (3 in) thick, with a total weight of 20 kg (44 lb). Check local limits before you cut.
- Remove contaminants like soil, rocks, or plastic.
- Set out by 7 a.m. on collection day.
Composting: Turn Branches Into Garden Gold
Miller Waste Sytems operates Miller Compost facilities in Richmond Hill, Pickering, and Clarington that collectively process well over 100 000 tonnes of leaves and tree debris each year.
How It Works
- Receive and inspect: We remove potential contaminants.
- Grind and windrow: Branches are chipped, piled, and aerated.
- Hot composting: Compost reaches 55 °C+, killing weed seeds and pathogens.
- Screen and cure: The finished material is dark, earthy, and crumbly.
- Return to community: Material is sold to landscapers or given away on compost days.
Resident Drop-Off: Richmond Hill accepts branches up to 30 cm in diameter and 1.8 m in length.
Small twigs can be composted at home, but larger volumes are best handled by Miller Compost.
Private Disposal and Roll‑Off Bins
Need to clear a downed tree or overhaul the whole backyard? Miller’s commercial division delivers 10-to-40-yard roll-off bins that accept logs, brush, and stumps within size limits. Our team then collects the filled bin and brings it to a compost facility, saving you multiple dump runs.
| Service | Ideal For | Green Benefit |
| On‑site chipping | Tree‑service jobs | Chips left as mulch |
| Roll‑off bin | Large landscape projects | Material diverted to compost |
| Full‑service haul‑away | Post‑storm clean‑ups | One‑and‑done removal |
See our bin options on Miller’s website before you start piling branches.
Drop‑Off Depots and Community Events
Miller runs or partners with transfer stations in Ontario to accept separated yard waste:
During major storms, Miller works with our municipal partners to set up temporary brush drop sites so neighbourhoods can clear debris quickly and safely.
Note: Only paper bags accepted.
Environmental Wins of Proper Yard Waste Disposal
Proper yard-waste disposal diverts organic material from landfills and keeps nutrients in the soil.
- Miller Compost processes over 100,000 tonnes of yard waste annually, transforming it into nutrient-rich compost for local use.
- Compost returns nutrients to Canadian soils, supporting plant health, moisture retention, and reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers.
- In 2022, Canada diverted 3.1 million tonnes of organics from landfill—yard waste made up a meaningful portion of that total.
- Landfilled organics, including yard waste, still contributed to 23 Mt CO₂-e (3.3% of national GHG emissions) that year. Keeping organics out of landfills helps cut methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
- Municipal programs that encourage yard-waste diversion also align with forthcoming organics-ban policies in several provinces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Can I Toss Branches in My Garbage Bin?
Answer: Generally, no. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have province-wide bans, while many municipalities restrict yard waste in landfill-bound garbage. Use designated yard-waste programs.
Question: What if the City Left My Bundles Behind?
Answer: Check for tags that explain weight, size, or contamination issues, and correct them before the next pickup.
Question: Do Contractors Get Curbside Service?
Answer: Usually not. Commercial yard waste must be hauled privately unless your municipality allows contractor curbside pickup.
Miller’s Full‑Circle Recycling and Organics Facilities
In addition to composting, Miller Waste supports food-waste-to-energy initiatives at facilities like Escarpment Renewables and Maryland Farms Biogas AD Facility. These facilities use anaerobic digestion to turn food waste (not yard waste) into biogas for renewable energy.
We’re Here to Help
Need yard‑waste pickup, roll‑off bins, or a commercial organics solution? Miller Waste Systems serves Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and beyond.
Request a quote today and keep your green waste working for the planet.