City guide · Kingston, ON
Kingston Yard Waste and Leaf Collection Explained
Kingston picks up yard waste at the curb for free each fall, but brush and leaves come in different weeks. In 2026, brush pickup started the week of September 21. Leaf pickup starts the week of October 26 and runs by zone to late November. Have it out by 8 a.m. on the Monday of your week. Leaves go in paper bags or rigid cans, never plastic.
When is leaf and brush pickup in Kingston this year?
The City splits Kingston into five zones, A to E. Each zone gets one brush week and one leaf week. Here are the 2026 weeks from the City's yard waste map:
| Zone | Brush week | Leaf week |
|---|---|---|
| A | Sept. 21 to 25 | Oct. 26 to 30 |
| B | Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 | Nov. 2 to 6 |
| C | Oct. 5 to 9 | Nov. 9 to 14 |
| D | Oct. 13 to 17 | Nov. 16 to 20 |
| E | Oct. 19 to 23 | Nov. 23 to 27 |
The City changed the zone lines this year. So don't trust last year's fridge note. Look up your address on the map at CityofKingston.ca/Collection. You can sign up for reminders there too, which is the easy way to not miss a week.
If you're in Zone A or B, your brush week has already passed. Zones C, D and E still have brush pickup coming up in October.
What time does it need to be at the curb?
By 8 a.m. on the Monday of your collection week. The truck can come any day that week. So if it's out Monday morning, you're covered.
Sometimes the City shows up early, before your week. Don't panic. The City says it will come back during your scheduled week.
The simple plan is to set things out on Sunday night. Keep bags and piles on your side of the curb. Don't block the sidewalk or the road.
How do you set out brush in Kingston?
Brush means trimmings from small trees and bushes. Here are the City's rules:
- Each piece under 15 cm (6 inches) thick
- Each piece under 90 cm (3 feet) long
- Cut ends facing the street
- No stumps, logs or root balls
You can leave brush loose or bundle it. Bundles have the same size limits. Tie them with string, twine or jute. Don't use plastic tape. Bundles are faster and safer for the crew to lift, so they're worth the extra minute.
Brush week is a good time to get hedge and shrub trimming done. Cut it a few days before your week, and the clippings go out with everything else.
What bags and containers can you use for leaves?
Kingston only takes leaves in these:
- Brown (kraft) paper leaf bags
- Bushel baskets
- Garbage cans or other rigid containers with handles
Each bag or can must weigh less than 20 kg (44 pounds). Wet leaves get heavy fast. Fill bags half way after a rain, or let the leaves dry before you rake.
Write your address on any can or basket you want back. A plain can is easy to mix up with a neighbour's.
Can you use plastic bags?
No. The City won't pick up leaves in plastic bags, even compostable ones. It won't take bags that look like plastic either. Paper leaf bags are sold at most hardware stores.
Can you rake leaves into a pile at the curb?
No. The City says plainly that loose leaves raked to the curb won't be collected. Bag them or put them in a can.
What else can go out in leaf week?
Leaf week takes more than leaves. You can also put out small sticks and garden waste, like old tomato plants and vegetable garden scraps. Use the same paper bags or cans.
A few things never go out in leaf week:
- Brush (that's brush week only)
- Soil and sod
- Root balls
- Invasive plants like Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip
Put the wrong thing out in the wrong week and it stays at the curb. Brush in leaf week won't be taken, and leaves in brush week won't be taken either.
What if you miss your week?
Take it to the Kingston Disposal Site at 189 Lappan's Lane. Leaf and yard waste drop off is free for Kingston residents, all year. Go straight through the gates, and staff will show you where to unload.
| Day | Yard waste hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Saturday | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
One catch for now: construction has closed the large wood area at Lappan's Lane. Leaves and small brush under 8 cm (3 inches) thick are still fine there. Bigger branches, trunks and stumps go to Tomlinson Organics at 2069 Joyceville Rd., which is also free. Call them at 613-546-0884 for their hours.
Hiring help? The City says businesses may pay fees at the Lappan's Lane drop off and should stop at the scales first. Ask your crew how they handle haul away.
Do you have to bag every leaf?
No. The City says leaves make good mulch, and grass clippings can stay on the lawn to feed it. A thin layer of leaves in your flower beds and under shrubs is fine.
The lawn is different. A thick, wet mat of leaves can smother grass over the winter. Clear the heavy layers off the lawn, the walks and the driveway. Mulch the light ones in with the mower.
Weeds showing up under the leaves? Our partner crews don't spray, and we don't give advice on weed killers or other chemicals.
How should you plan your fall cleanup around your week?
Kingston's first fall frost comes around October 12 on average, based on Environment and Climate Change Canada's long-term normals. Leaves keep dropping for weeks after that. If you're in Zone A, your leaf week is October 26, so many trees won't be bare yet.
A plan that works for most Kingston yards:
- Before your brush week: trim shrubs, cut back dead branches and bundle them.
- Through October: rake the first leaves while they're dry. Bag them and store the bags in the garage.
- The weekend before your leaf week: do the big cleanup. Clear the lawn, the beds and the driveway.
- Sunday night: set it all out so it's at the curb by 8 a.m. Monday.
- After your week: late leaves go to Lappan's Lane, or into the mower on the last cut.
Keep mowing while the grass still grows. The City's tip is to keep grass about three inches long, and Utilities Kingston says to cut no more than one third of the height at a time. Kingston's Yards By-law 2007-136 also says turfgrass can't go over 20 cm (8 inches). For more local rules, soil and weather notes, see our Kingston lawn care page. Our fall lawn cleanup checklist covers the full job, step by step.
Can someone else do the fall cleanup for you?
Yes. Kingston's split weeks mean two rounds of work, plus raking in between. Lots of people would rather have it done on time.
Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Kingston. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.
Your crew can do a fall cleanup timed to your leaf week, with leaves bagged the way the City wants. They can keep up your regular mowing until the grass stops growing too.
We price every yard by its size from satellite images, so no one needs to come by. A cleanup price depends on lawn size, how many leaves there are, gates, slopes, hedge length and whether you want it hauled away. You get your price by text in 60 minutes. You keep the same crew every visit, and they text you a photo when the job is done. 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.
Kingston Yard Waste Questions
How do I find my yard waste zone in Kingston?
Look up your address on the map at CityofKingston.ca/Collection. The zone lines changed in 2026, so check even if you knew your zone last year. You can set up reminders there too.
Does Kingston pick up leaves in plastic bags?
No. Use brown paper leaf bags, bushel baskets or rigid cans. Plastic bags, even compostable ones, stay at the curb. Keep each one under 20 kg (44 pounds).
Can I put brush out in leaf week?
No. Kingston picks up brush and leaves in separate weeks. Brush set out in leaf week won't be taken. Take it to 189 Lappan's Lane instead, or hold it for next fall.
Is yard waste drop off free in Kingston?
Yes, for residents. The Kingston Disposal Site at 189 Lappan's Lane takes leaf and yard waste for free all year. It's open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: 2026 brush and leaf pickup, household waste collection, yard waste zone map data, Kingston Disposal Site, Yards By-law, Utilities Kingston, Kingston climate normals.
