Yard Waste

Yard waste collection occurs every other week on the same day as your garbage is collected from mid-April until early December. Check your collection schedule by downloading the Durham Region Waste App or using our schedule lookup tool on the Collection Schedule page

Residential yard waste

Please keep in mind that there may be delays in service during the spring and fall due to higher than average volumes of material. We appreciate your patience!

Acceptable yard waste

Paper bags or clearly marked open top containers weighing less than 20 kg (44 lbs.) including:

brush and leaves
Garden trimmings, weeds and plants
Corn stalks
Fallen fruit from trees
Pine needles and cones

Twigs and brush can be tied and bundled for collection. Bundles no longer than 1.2 m (4 ft.) in length and not heavier than 20 kg (44 lbs.) are accepted. Branches must not exceed 10 cm (four in) in diameter.

Pumpkins and gourds are collected on the first yard waste day after Halloween.

Reminder: Do not rake or blow your leaf or yard waste onto the street. This can plug catch basins and cause flooding. Leaves on roadways can also cause slippery road conditions. Any fouling of the road with yard waste will be subject to enforcement.

Non acceptable yard waste

Soil, sod, stones and clay
Grass clippings – for more information about property standards, visit our Healthy Lawn page
Hay/straw bales
Tree stumps, trunks and large branches
Lumber
Plastic flowers and plant pots
Yard waste set out in plastic bags
Artificial Christmas trees and trees in plastic bags

Christmas tree collection

Place the tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2025
Trees will be collected sometime between Monday, January 12, and Friday, January 16.
- Delays in collection may occur due to weather or higher-than-normal volumes

Collection requirements:

Remove decorations, lights, tinsel, wire, nails, stands and plastic tree bags (because the trees are composted)
Trees longer than 1.8m (6’) must be cut in half so that they fit in the truck
Ensure trees do not become stuck or frozen in snow banks

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I missed collection week?

Take your tree to a private waste management site (fees may apply). Please note that the Region is not accepting Christmas trees at this time.
Remove the tree from the curb and wait until spring yard waste collection starts in April. Trees not removed from the curb may be subject to enforcement.

What happens to the trees once collected?

Natural trees collected are taken to the Region of Durham facility, where they are composted. Since the trees are composted into soil, it is important to ensure all decorations, wires and plastic bags are removed before they are collected.

How can I get my artificial Christmas tree collected?

If you have an artificial tree you want to dispose of, a residential large item collection can be booked for items that are too large to fit into a regular sized garbage bag. Regular sized garbage bags are no larger than 66 cm x 90 cm (26 in x 36 in).

Materials left at the curb?

Before calling Service Oshawa to report a missed collection, please review common set out mistake on the Waste Tips page.

Compost giveaway events

Each spring, the Region of Durham offers free compost to community members to thank them for separating and diverting organics and leaf and yard waste from the waste stream. For more information about the compost giveaway, visit the Region's Waste Special Events page

Yard waste and the environment

Help us preserve our natural environment, always dispose of yard waste properly by using the curbside collection program or use a backyard composter to make the most of the nutrients in your garden!

Consider the pollinators!

Rethink your lawn and garden routine by not mulching and tidying your yard in the fall. Instead, leave bare ground, berries, seed heads, leaves, twigs, dry stems and dead branches to provide habitat and shelter during the winter months.

In the spring, hold off on your garden clean up until late spring early or early summer to give pollinators a chance to emerge before disturbing their habitat.

Discover pollinator plants and garden and how to get started

Contact Us

Service Oshawa
Oshawa City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7
Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: service@oshawa.ca

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