Curbside yard waste collection is set to resume across Peel Region beginning the week of March 9, providing residents in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon with regular pickup services as the spring cleanup season begins. The regional program allows households to dispose of leaves, branches and other organic yard materials through scheduled curbside collection.
In Mississauga and Brampton, yard waste will be collected every week, while urban neighbourhoods in the Town of Caledon will receive pickup every two weeks. Residents living in rural parts of Caledon will have their yard waste collected on designated Fridays. Peel Region officials encourage residents to review their collection calendar or sign up for free waste collection reminders to stay informed about pickup dates.
To ensure collection, yard waste must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. Materials must be placed in kraft brown paper yard waste bags or in reusable containers clearly marked with the label “yard waste.” Plastic bags filled with yard waste will not be accepted by collectors.
Kraft yard waste bags must meet several requirements to be eligible for pickup. Each bag must weigh less than 20 kilograms when full, remain small enough to close at the top, and measure no more than 66 centimetres wide and 90 centimetres high. These bags are designed specifically for organic yard materials and help ensure that waste can be processed properly after collection.
Residents who prefer to use containers must ensure they follow the program’s guidelines. Containers must weigh less than 20 kilograms when full, include rigid handles and remain within the size limits of 60 centimetres wide and 95 centimetres high. The maximum capacity for a yard waste container is 125 litres and it must be clearly marked as yard waste using a sticker or permanent marker.
Acceptable yard waste items include leaves, yard rakings, tree branches, hedge trimmings, brush and garden plants. Seasonal items such as Halloween pumpkins are also accepted as long as candles or other non organic materials are removed. Grass clippings, however, are not accepted through curbside collection or at Community Recycling Centres.
Yard waste can be collected anytime between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on collection days, and workers may open bags to confirm that only approved materials are inside. Residents who are unsure whether an item qualifies as yard waste can use the region’s online waste sorting tool for guidance. Yard waste can also be dropped off at Community Recycling Centres, although drop off fees may apply.
Peel Region officials also remind residents that moving ash trees or ash tree wood remains prohibited due to the ongoing spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, a destructive insect that kills ash trees. Transporting infected firewood is one of the main ways the pest spreads to new areas. Residents planning camping trips or cottage visits are advised to buy firewood locally at their destination rather than bringing it from home.
