Yard Waste

• This collection is for natural trees only
• Remove decorations, lights, tinsel, wire, nails, stands and plastic tree bags
• Trees longer than 1.8 metres (6 feet) must be cut in half so that they fit in the truck
• Ensure trees do not become stuck or frozen in snow banks

Registration is required annually in order to receive curbside collection of Christmas Trees. If you did not register to receive curbside collection you may:

• take your tree to the Region of Durham's Waste Management Facility, 1640 Ritson Road North (fees may apply); OR
• remove the tree from the curb and wait until Spring yard waste collection starts in April:
  • Trees longer than 1.8 metres (6 feet) must be cut in half so that they fit in the truck

Trees must be removed from the curb.

Registering your residential address for our Christmas tree collection program helps us to better plan our collection routes resulting in a more efficient collection program. In the past, our collection trucks had to drive down every street looking for trees placed at the curb. With a list of pre-registered addresses in hand, we will be able to better schedule our collection staff saving time and gas while also reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. 

Natural trees collected are taken to the Region of Durham compost facility where they are composted. Since the trees are composted into soil it is important to make sure all decorations and plastic bags are removed before they are 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 centimetres x 90 centimetres (26 inches x 36 inches).

• Use our online Large Item Collection Tool to book a pick up; or
• Call Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311

• Twigs and brush that are secured in bundles no longer than 1.2 metres (4 feet) in length and not heavier than 20 kg (44 lbs.)

• Branches must not exceed 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter

• brush and leaves

• Garden trimmings, weeds and plants

• Corn stalks

• Fallen fruit from trees
• Pine needles and cones
• Pumpkins and gourds are collected on the first yard waste day after Halloween

• Soil, sod, stones and clay
• Grass clippings
• 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

Each spring, the Region of Durham offers free compost to area residents as a thank you for separating and diverting organics and leaf and yard waste from the waste stream.

• Region of Durham Spring Compost Give Away Events