Guelph Yard Waste and Leaf Pickup: A Fall Guide

Guelph picks up yard waste every other week, on your grey cart (garbage) day. Have it at the curb by 6:30 a.m. Use paper yard waste bags or a can labelled "yard waste." Plastic bags stay at the curb. Each bag, can or bundle must weigh under 20 kg (44 lb). Some streets also get a loose leaf pickup in the fall. The City says its 2026 leaf dates are coming soon.

When does Guelph pick up yard waste?

Every other week, on the same day your grey cart goes out. The 2026 season started on March 30.

Put your bags and cans at the curb by 6:30 a.m. that day. Crews start early, so setting out the night before is the safe bet.

As of October 1, the City's yard waste page doesn't list a last pickup date for this fall. Don't guess. Check before you plan your final raking weekend.

How do you check your yard waste week?

• The Guelph Waste app sends you reminders. It's free on Apple and Android.
• The City's yard waste page at guelph.ca/yardwaste has the latest notes.
• Solid Waste Resources takes questions at 519-767-0598.

Set the app reminder now. With pickup only every two weeks, missing one in November means a month of bags in the garage.

Does Guelph have loose leaf collection?

Yes, on some streets. In loose leaf areas, the City picks up leaves raked to the curb, with no bags. Not every street is in the program.

The City shows the areas on its Live Leaf Collection Map. On October 1, its leaf page said: "Loose leaf collection dates for 2026 coming soon." So the dates and streets for this year aren't out yet.

Here's what to do in the meantime:

• Open the Live Leaf Collection Map from the City's leaf page and find your street.
• If you're in the program, wait for the 2026 dates before raking piles to the curb.
• If you're not, plan on paper bags, a labelled can or mulching.

Don't rake leaves to the road early. A pile that sits for weeks can blow back onto lawns, block a drain or cover a bike lane.

Which bags and containers does Guelph take?

You have two choices for leaves and garden trimmings:

• Paper yard waste bags
• A reusable can clearly labelled "yard waste"

The can has rules of its own. It needs two handles and a lid. It must hold less than 100 L. It has to stand 24 to 30 inches (61 to 76 cm) tall.

Plastic bags are a hard no. The City won't collect yard waste in them. Yard waste can't go in your carts either.

Stuck between paper bags and a can? Our post on yard waste bags vs bins compares the two.

How heavy can a yard waste bag be in Guelph?

Under 20 kg (44 lb). That goes for every bag, can and bundle.

Dry leaves are light. Wet leaves are not. A paper bag that sits in the rain can pass the limit fast. Since pickup is every other week, your bags may wait outside for days.

• Keep full bags in a garage or shed, or under a tarp, until pickup day.
• Fill bags about three quarters full if the leaves are damp.
• Fold or roll the tops closed so rain can't pool inside.
• Lift a bag before you carry it out. If it strains your back, split it.

How do you bundle branches and hedge clippings?

Tie brush, branches and limbs with string or twine. Plastic ties and wire aren't allowed.

Each bundle can be up to 1 m (3 ft) long and 0.6 m (2 ft) wide. Branches must be under 5 cm (2 in) across. Bigger limbs don't belong at the curb.

This matters in October, when many people trim cedars and shrubs one last time. Our guide on when to trim cedar hedges covers the timing.

What does Guelph accept as yard waste?

Accepted at the curb

• Leaves
• Shrub trimmings and woody plants
• Branches under 5 cm (2 in) across
• Garden trimmings

Not accepted

• Grass clippings. The City says to leave them on the lawn.
• Soil, sand and stones
• Anything in a plastic bag

That grass clipping rule surprises people new to Guelph. Clippings left on the lawn break down and act like natural fertilizer, the City says. So you never need to bag them.

Spotting weeds or lawn disease during cleanup? Our partner crews don't spray, and we don't give chemical advice.

Where can you drop off leaves in Guelph?

The Waste Resource Innovation Centre at 110 Dunlop Drive takes yard waste all year. It's for Guelph residents. Public drop-off hours are:

Day	Hours
Tuesday to Friday	9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday	8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There's a fee, charged by weight, with a minimum per load. Check the City's page for the current rate before you go.

The drop-off is handy if leaves keep falling after the last curbside pickup. It also helps if you have a big load and don't want to store bags for two weeks.

Can you skip bagging your leaves?

Yes, and the City of Guelph suggests it. Mow over dry leaves and leave the bits on the lawn. The City calls mulched leaves "great fertilizer." It also says using leaves at home is less work and saves you money.

The City has a few other ideas:

• Spread shredded leaves under trees and shrubs, or in garden beds, as mulch.
• Keep a pile by your composter to mix with food scraps.
• Once the ground freezes, pile leaves around plants to protect the roots.

Mulching works best on a thin layer. A thick mat of wet maple leaves needs raking first. Our post on mulching leaves with a lawn mower shows when each one makes sense.

Should you keep mowing in October?

Yes, while the grass still grows. The City's lawn tips say to set the mower at 7.5 cm (3 inches). Mow when the lawn reaches about 11 cm (4.5 inches).

Guelph's Yard Maintenance By-law also caps grass and weeds at 20 cm (8 inches). That still applies in the fall.

Environment Canada has no climate normals station named for Guelph. The two nearby stations, Waterloo Wellington and Fergus, put the average first fall frost at October 2 to 6. Grass slows down after that, but often keeps growing a while. For watering rules, soil and neighbourhood notes, see our Guelph lawn care page.

Can a crew handle your Guelph fall cleanup?

Yes. Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Guelph. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.

Your crew can rake and bag leaves in paper for a fall cleanup, and keep each bag under 20 kg. They can tie hedge clippings into bundles the City will take. They can also keep up regular mowing at the right height until the grass quits. Ask your crew how they handle haul away if you'd rather not store bags.

We measure your yard from satellite images, so no one needs to visit. A cleanup price depends on lawn size, leaf volume, gates, slopes, hedges and haul away. Your price comes by text in 60 minutes. You keep the same crew every visit, with a photo after every cut. Book the season through the Worry-Free Lawn Season and your first cut is free.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

Guelph Yard Waste Questions

Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Guelph yard waste, Guelph leaves, Waste Resource Innovation Centre, water smart lawn care, Yard Maintenance By-law, Waterloo Wellington climate normals.