Tips to get the most out of our spring yard waste program
Unusually warm weather earlier this year certainly has some of us ready for spring cleaning. It’s the perfect time to get working outdoors, as Waterloo Region’s curbside yard waste collection has just begun. Cambridge and Waterloo residents started their collection the week of March 25, and Kitchener and Townships residents start the week of April 1.
The yard waste pickup is well-used by Waterloo Region residents. In 2023, approximately 19,000 tonnes of yard waste material was collected at the curb, an increase of 2,000 tonnes from 2022.
To get the most out of this service, follow these tips:
- Place yard waste out every other week, opposite your garbage collection week.
- If you’re using bags, use only paper yard waste bags. Plastic is not accepted.
- A re-usable container marked as yard waste can also be used. Learn more about yard waste containers.
- Propane tanks, tires and clay pots are not included in the program and are dangerous to staff. Learn how to properly dispose of these items.
What happens to yard waste?
Yard waste material collected at the curb is shredded on a 16-acre composting site at the Cambridge Waste Management Facility. This shredded material is tested for quality and then placed into long rows. The internal temperature of the piles is monitored each week and the rows are regularly turned to maintain the best composting environment. Compost material is tested for maturity and compliance with provincial guidelines and regulations. Finally, it is screened to remove any larger pieces that haven’t decomposed, before residents can pick it up for free.
Larger branches and Christmas trees are handled slightly different and are chipped into fresh mulch.
After the composting is finished, the material is available for pick up at both the Cambridge and Waterloo waste management locations. It is a beautiful, rich, earthy material that can be added to vegetable or flower gardens. Starting March 25, residents can bring their own containers and shovels to pick up the material (up to five bushels) at no cost. The sites are open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from spring to fall, while supplies last.
A final reminder: as tempting as it is, please do not put yard waste bags out to the curb on your non-collection weeks. The paper bags will start to degrade once exposed to the elements and makes it difficult to collect.
For more information about this or any other waste management program, download the Region’s Waste Whiz App or check out our website.
