This guide is for homeowners and tenants in London, St. Thomas and Elgin County who are heading into fall cleanup and want to get it right the first time. Below you will find the exact bag, bundle and branch rules, how fall leaf collection differs from regular yard waste, what St. Thomas residents can do, and the specific fall debris the City will simply leave at the curb.
Key takeaways
- London collects yard waste on green weeks only, not every week. Check your address in the City’s Zone Finder.
- Paper bags, certified compostable bags and reusable containers between 30 and 125 litres are accepted. Plastic bags are not.
- Branch bundles must be tied, no more than 1 metre long, with no branch thicker than 10 centimetres.
- Maximum weight is 20 kilograms, or 44 pounds, per container or bundle.
- Stumps, sod, soil, rocks, fence boards, deck lumber and shed debris are not yard waste and will not be collected.
On this page
- When is yard waste picked up in London, Ontario?
- Bag, container and weight rules
- Branches, brush and bundles
- Why grass clippings are treated differently
- Fall leaf collection: October 1 to December 15
- Free drop-off options in London
- Yard waste in St. Thomas and Elgin County
- What the City will not take
- When to call Get R Gone
- Frequently asked questions
When Is Yard Waste Picked Up in London, Ontario?
The City of London collects yard waste from homes between late March and December, on scheduled weeks rather than every week. Those weeks are commonly called green weeks, and your specific dates depend on your collection zone.
Three timing details from the City of London yard waste and composting page are worth memorizing:
- Set material out by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your green week, and no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before.
- When that Monday is a statutory holiday, the deadline moves to 7 a.m. Tuesday.
- Pickup can happen any day during that green week, including Saturday, and crews come only once.
That last point trips up a lot of people. If you put bags out on Thursday because your regular garbage day is Friday, the yard waste truck may have already passed your street on Tuesday. Once it is gone, you are waiting for the next green week.
To confirm your dates, use the City’s Zone Finder or the collection calendar and enter your address. Printed calendars are also available at City Hall, EnviroDepots, the W12A Landfill and London Public Library branches. For a broader look at how the whole system works this year, see our 2026 garbage collection guide for London homeowners.
Bag, Container and Weight Rules
Yard waste has its own container requirements, and they are enforced. The Municipal Waste and Resource Materials Collection By-law WM-12 sets out the specifics.
Reusable containers
Cans must be watertight metal or plastic with a properly fitting lid, and hold no less than 30 litres and no more than 125 litres. Lids must detach easily and cannot be attached with hinges, ropes or bungee cords. Full weight, container included, must not exceed 20 kilograms.
Paper yard waste bags
Paper bags are accepted and must not exceed 100 centimetres in height by 76 centimetres in diameter. Again, the loaded bag cannot exceed 20 kilograms.
Certified compostable bags
Translucent certified compostable bags are permitted, but they must be certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute, the US Composting Council or the Bureau de normalisation du Québec. Size must be at least 65 by 90 centimetres when empty and no larger than 80 by 125 centimetres.
Plastic bags
Polyethylene bags are not permitted for yard waste, full stop. A black or clear plastic bag full of leaves is the single most common reason yard waste gets left behind at the curb.
A practical note on weight: wet leaves are dramatically heavier than dry ones. A paper bag that weighs 8 kilograms on a dry Saturday can pass 20 kilograms after two days of October rain. Fill bags to about two-thirds if rain is in the forecast, and store them under cover if you can.
Branches, Brush and Bundles
Storm cleanup and late-season pruning are where most fall projects run into limits. The rules for branches and brush in London are specific:
- Branches must be securely tied into compact bundles with twine.
- Bundles must be no more than 1 metre in length.
- No single branch or limb may exceed 10 centimetres in diameter, which is roughly 4 inches.
- Each bundle must weigh no more than 20 kilograms.
- Bundles go at the edge of the roadway or a designated collection point.
If you took down a mature limb, cleaned up after a windstorm, or removed a tree, the 10 centimetre diameter limit is where curbside collection stops being an option. Trunk sections and large limbs need a different plan.
Why Grass Clippings Are Treated Differently
Under By-law WM-12, the definition of yard material includes garden trimmings, hedge trimmings, leaves, fall leaves, brush, Christmas trees and plant matter, and it expressly does not include grass clippings.
If you need to get rid of clippings, EnviroDepots accept them for $2.00 per bag, while other yard waste is free. The better move for most lawns is simply to leave clippings on the grass. Mulched clippings return nitrogen to the soil and reduce how much fertilizer the lawn needs, which is one of the easiest wins in fall lawn care.
Fall Leaf Collection: October 1 to December 15
Fall leaves get their own treatment in London. By-law WM-12 defines “fall leaves” as leaves that are on the ground between October 1 and December 15, and they are subject to a separate collection program defined by the City Engineer.
Practically speaking, that means September is your yard waste and pruning window, and October through early December is the heavy leaf window. If you are planning a fall project, this is the sequencing that works best:
- September: prune hedges, cut back perennials, clear garden beds, tackle the brush pile that built up over summer.
- Early October: handle any structural work such as fence, deck or shed removal while the ground is still dry and firm.
- Mid October to late November: stay on top of leaves in stages so you never fight a soaked, compacted mat in December.
Always confirm your dates against the current collection calendar, because leaf and yard waste dates shift each year.
Free Drop-Off Options in London
If you miss your green week or generate more than the curb can handle, drop-off is straightforward. Yard waste is accepted at no charge at all City of London EnviroDepots, and leaves and brush are free at the W12A Landfill.
The four locations are Clarke Road North at 21463 Clarke Road, Clarke Road South at 28 Clarke Road, Oxford Street at 1450 Oxford Street West, and the W12A Landfill and EnviroDepot at 3502 Manning Drive.
Two things to remember. The 10 centimetre branch diameter limit still applies at the depots, and payment for anything chargeable is credit or debit only, with no cash accepted.
Yard Waste in St. Thomas and Elgin County
St. Thomas runs its own program. Leaf and yard waste collection has historically taken place in the fall on residents’ regular waste collection days, with material accepted in paper bags or bundles, so watch the City’s announcements and the 2026 curbside waste collection calendar for exact dates.
For anything beyond curbside, the Community Recycling Centre at 330 South Edgeware Road accepts yard waste and brush, with up to 5 bags per visit free of charge and larger volumes at $15 per load. The centre also serves Southwold, Central Elgin, Aylmer and Malahide residents, and proof of residency is required.
Posted hours as of March 2026 are Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A $30 minimum charge applies to any load containing chargeable material, and payment is by Visa, Mastercard or debit only.
What the City Will Not Take
This is the part that catches homeowners mid-project. The following fall cleanup debris is not yard waste, and it will not be collected at the curb:
- Tree stumps and root balls
- Trunk sections and limbs thicker than 10 centimetres
- Sod, soil, rocks and gravel
- Fence boards, posts and rails
- Deck lumber, railings and pressure-treated wood
- Shed panels, roofing and demolition debris
- Patio furniture, gazebos and pergolas
- Above-ground pools, liners and pool decking
- Old hot tubs
- Landscape timbers, planters and retaining wall blocks
- Broken garden tools, hoses and metal edging
In other words, the City handles the organic material your yard produces. It does not handle the structures in your yard that have reached the end of their life. Fall is exactly when those two projects tend to collide.
When to Call Get R Gone
Bagging leaves is a job most people can handle. The moment a fall cleanup turns into demolition or a volume problem, a crew and an enclosed truck make more sense than a dozen trips in the back of an SUV.
Get R Gone helps London and St. Thomas homeowners with fall projects such as:
- Brush, branch and storm debris piles that exceed curbside limits
- Shed and deck removal, including tear-down and haul-away
- Fence removal and old landscape timber cleanup
- Hot tub removal and above-ground pool teardown before winter
- Garage, shed and basement cleanouts as the season turns
- Construction and renovation debris from fall projects
Every load is sorted with a donation-first mindset, reusable items are routed to local donation partners, clean wood and metal go to recycling streams where possible, and only what genuinely cannot be reused is disposed of. Pricing is volume-based with a free on-site quote, and you can see how that works in our guide to junk removal costs in London and St. Thomas or in how junk removal works.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is yard waste collected in London, Ontario?
The City of London collects yard waste from homes between late March and December during designated green weeks. Material must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your green week, or Tuesday if the Monday is a statutory holiday. Check your address in the City’s Zone Finder for exact dates.
Can I use plastic bags for yard waste in London?
No. Polyethylene plastic bags are not accepted for yard waste in London. Use paper yard waste bags, certified compostable bags approved by BPI, the US Composting Council or BNQ, or reusable containers between 30 and 125 litres. Each container or bag must stay under 20 kilograms.
How big can branches be for yard waste collection?
Branches must be tied into compact bundles no longer than 1 metre, with no individual branch exceeding 10 centimetres in diameter. Each bundle must weigh 20 kilograms or less. Larger limbs, trunk sections and stumps are not accepted and need private removal.
Are grass clippings picked up with yard waste in London?
No. By-law WM-12 excludes grass clippings from the definition of yard material. Clippings can be taken to a City EnviroDepot for $2.00 per bag, while other yard waste is free. Leaving clippings on the lawn is usually the better option because they return nutrients to the soil.
Where can St. Thomas residents take yard waste and brush?
The Community Recycling Centre at 330 South Edgeware Road accepts yard waste and brush, with up to 5 bags per visit free of charge and larger volumes at $15 per load. Proof of residency is required, a $30 minimum applies to chargeable loads, and payment is by card or debit only.
Plan the Fall Cleanup Once, Not Three Times
Yard waste collection in London and St. Thomas works well when you know the dates and the limits. Bag the leaves properly, tie the brush correctly, get it out by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your green week, and the City handles the organic side of fall for free.
For everything the City will not touch, from stumps and fence boards to an old shed or hot tub, contact Get R Gone for a free, no-obligation on-site quote in London, St. Thomas and surrounding communities. Donation first. Junk removal second.
