The City of Clarence-Rockland collects leaves, branches, yard waste seasonally. From April to November residents will be able to place yard waste at the curb on the same collection day as their garbage and recycling.

The City does not collect compost, but encourages residents to participate in backyard composting.

Leaf, Branches and Yard Waste

Weekly from April to November

*In 2024, the last collection day will be November 29. 

Important: Leaf and yard waste will not be collected outside of the collection dates listed above. However, you always have the option to bring your leaves, branches, and garden waste to the Bourget Landfill site at any time. 

You can use your labeled reusable containers or kraft yard waste bags.

Tip: place the paper bags on a plastic tarp to prevent the paper bags from getting wet underneath. This prevents the breakage of the paper bags during collection.

Leaf and yard waste is collected on the same day as your weekly garbage and recycling. All leaf and yard waste must be placed at the curb for collection after 6:00 p.m. the day before collection or before 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection. An unlimited number of bags may be placed out.

Once the annual collection cycle has ended, you can:

  • Help pollinators through the winter by mulching your leaves and grass clippings into your lawn, or
  • Take the bags directly to the landfill at no charge to you.

Requirements and Restrictions

The following size and weight requirements must be met for leaf and yard waste collection:

  • All leaf and yard waste must be under 50 lbs (22 kgs).
  • All yard waste must be placed in paper leaf and yard waste bags or in a labeled reusable container for collection.
  • Bundles must not be more than 1.2m / 4ft in length and 60cm / 2ft in width.
  • Individual branches must be less than  1.2m / 4ft in length.
  • Yard waste should not be mixed with branches. 
  • Christmas trees will not be collected if stuck to or on a snow bank, shovel an area before placing your tree out for collection.


Paper bags or containers containing the following will not be collected for leaf and yard waste:

  • Animal feces
  • Dirt/Soil
  • Sod
  • Flower pots and plastic containers
  • Kitchen organic waste (food scraps)
  • Root balls
  • Logs
  • Tree stumps
  • Large branches
  • Plastic bags
  • Jar glass
  • Gravel/Stone
 Grasscycling

Grasscycling is easy. When you cut the grass, simply remove the bag from your mower and leave the clippings on the lawn.

The clippings provide water and nutrients to the lawn as they decompose. This makes it easier to maintain a healthy lawn. It also reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills by eliminating the time and hassle of bagging clippings.

The benefits of grasscycling:

Grass clippings are a natural fertilizer for the lawn, so less chemical fertilizer is needed.

Leaving grass clippings on the lawn also reduces watering needs and greenhouse gas emissions.

How to grasscycle:

  • Cutting no more than 1/3 the length of the grass, this means when lawns are growing fast, mowing about twice a week.
  • Cutting when the grass is dry to the touch.
  • Cutting when the height is between 3 and 4 inches (7 to 10 cm), once per week.
  • Ensuring that the mower blade is sharp.