If your lawn is covered in leaves, the City of St. Thomas will pick up the extras at the curb. Leaf and yard waste collection started the week of October 20th and runs every week until Friday, November 27th. Set your extra yard waste out on your regular garbage day.
Garbage collection days in St. Thomas run Tuesday to Friday, and the collection calendar has a map that shows your day. You can also look it up in the free Recycle Coach app.
The City takes grass, leaves, weeds, plants and brush. Put them in paper yard waste bags that weigh no more than 45 pounds (20 kilograms) each. Brush goes out in bundles that weigh no more than 45 pounds and are no longer than 3 feet (0.9 metres), with no branch thicker than 2 inches (5 centimetres). Have it all at the curb by 7 a.m., within 1 metre (3 feet) of the road. The City says material that does not meet these rules may be missed.
The City asks you to try other things before you fill the curb. Mulching leaves into your lawn feeds the soil. Leaves dug into garden beds give plants nutrients and protection over the winter. After that, use your green cart, and set out the rest at the curb.
The green cart is picked up every two weeks, on the opposite week from recycling. Leaves and yard waste can go in it, along with brush up to 40 centimetres (15 inches) long and 5 centimetres (2 inches) across. Close the lid, and do not use plastic bags. Only bags with the Biodegradable Products Institute logo are accepted, or you can put material in loose.
If you miss your pickup, or want the leaves gone sooner, the Community Recycling Centre at 330 South Edgeware Road accepts yard waste and brush. Up to five bags per visit are free. More than that costs money, so check the rates on the City’s recycling centre page before you go. The centre is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed Mondays. Bring proof that you live in St. Thomas or a nearby municipality the centre serves, such as a driver’s licence. The centre takes Visa, Mastercard and debit, not cash.
If dropping leaves off at the Recycling Centre, keep in mind the hours switch to part-time winter hours on November 24th: Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sources: City of St. Thomas 2026 Collection Schedule · City green bin and leaf collection page · Community Recycling Centre
By Anthony Zruna · About the LocVox Newsroom
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