Checked October 14, 2026

London yard waste and home composting: bags, branches and grass

London, Ontario, Canada

Set London yard waste out by 7 a.m. on Monday of your scheduled green week. Crews collect once during that week. Grass clippings are not collected at the curb, and plastic bags are not accepted.

Key information

Set London yard waste out by 7 a.m. on Monday of your scheduled green week. Crews collect once during that week. Grass clippings are not collected at the curb, and plastic bags are not accepted.

On this page

Curbside preparation limits

Curbside preparation limits
Material or container	Verified rule
Reusable bin	30 to 125 litres; lid detaches easily
Bag	Paper or certified compostable; no plastic bags
Branches	Under 10 cm diameter; bundles up to 1 m long tied with twine
Container or bundle	Maximum 20 kg
Christmas tree	Up to 3 m, all ornaments removed, no plastic bag
Excluded from yard collection	Grass clippings, soil, sod, dirt, rocks and stumps

Sources: Yard waste and composting

Key checks at a glance

London yard waste and home composting: key checks

Green-week timing and holiday change
Collection runs from late March to December on the zone’s green weeks.
Leaves, grass and seasonal greenery
Mulch some leaves into the lawn or add dry leaves to a home composter between kitchen-scrap layers.
Composter versus digester
City depots sell home composters or digesters for $20 including tax, subject to availability.

Sources: Yard waste and composting

Green-week timing and holiday change

Collection runs from late March to December on the zone’s green weeks. Set out by 7 a.m. Monday, but not before 6 p.m. Sunday. If Monday is a statutory holiday, the setout time is 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Pickup can happen any time in the green week, including Saturday, and happens only once. A neighbour’s completed pickup does not mean the whole zone is done. Branches can be bundled or placed in a suitable container; lids must not be attached with ropes, hinges or bungee cords.

Sources: Yard waste and composting

Leaves, grass and seasonal greenery

Mulch some leaves into the lawn or add dry leaves to a home composter between kitchen-scrap layers. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients and retain moisture. Bagged grass can go to an EnviroDepot for $2 per bag.

Remove candles, metal and plastic from pumpkins. Unpainted pumpkins can be placed beside the Green Bin or cut up inside it, or collected in yard waste under the page’s Halloween guidance. Painted pumpkins go in garbage. Store a Christmas tree until spring yard collection, or take it to a depot after removing decorations.

Sources: Yard waste and composting

Composter versus digester

City depots sell home composters or digesters for $20 including tax, subject to availability. The page says five models but actually names four: FCMP dual-chamber tumbler, Enviro World FreeGarden 311 L, Gracious Living 352 L and Bardmatic digester. This guide preserves those four named options and does not invent a fifth.

Ordinary compost uses plant scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells and yard material as greens, balanced with dry leaves, shredded paper, cardboard and fine wood material as browns. Do not use diseased plants, weeds with seeds or treated or painted wood residue.

Pet waste, dairy, meat, bones, oils and fats are not recommended for a regular composter because of slow breakdown, pests and odour. The city says a digester can handle those materials. Bardmatic must be dug into the ground and digests material rather than producing ordinary finished compost.

Sources: Yard waste and composting