City guide · London, ON
London Yard Waste and Leaf Collection: A Fall Guide
London picks up leaves and yard waste at the curb on your green week, from late March to December. Set it out by 7 a.m. on the Monday of that week. Use paper bags, compostable bags or a reusable can of 30 to 125 L. Plastic bags get left behind. Each bag or bundle must weigh 20 kg (44 lb) or less. You can also drop yard waste at an EnviroDepot for free.
When is yard waste pickup in London?
London collects yard waste on set "green weeks," not every week. City policy gives you nine green week pickups a year. They run from late March to December, and they cover yard waste, fall leaves and Christmas trees.
The City doesn't list the dates on its yard waste page. They're on your collection calendar, and they depend on your address. As of October 8, we couldn't read this fall's dates as plain text, so check the calendar yourself.
Here's where to look:
- The collection calendar on london.ca. Enter your address to see your green weeks.
- The Recycle Coach app. It also tells you what goes where.
- The City at 519-661-4585 if your yard waste wasn't picked up.
With only a few green weeks left this fall, missing one hurts. Set a reminder for each one now.
What time do you put yard waste out in London?
Have it at the curb by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your green week. Don't put it out before 6 p.m. the night before.
When that Monday is a statutory holiday, the deadline moves to 7 a.m. Tuesday.
The truck can come any day that week, Saturday included. But it only comes once. If your bags go out on Wednesday and the truck passed on Tuesday, they sit there until the next green week.
So the safe move is simple. Rake on the weekend, bag it, and set it all out Sunday evening after 6 p.m.
Which bags and containers does London take?
You get three choices:
- Paper yard waste bags
- Certified compostable bags
- A reusable container that holds 30 to 125 L
Plastic bags are not accepted. The City says it twice on its yard waste page, so take it seriously.
Using a can? The lid has to come off easily. No hinges, no ropes and no bungee cords. The crew needs to tip it fast.
Can't decide between bags and a can? Our post on yard waste bags vs bins lays out the trade offs.
How heavy can a yard waste bag be in London?
Each container or bundle can weigh up to 20 kg (44 lb).
Dry leaves rarely get close. Wet leaves can. October rain soaks through paper fast. Here's how to stay under the limit:
- Rake on a dry day when you can.
- Fill damp bags about three quarters full.
- Store full bags in the garage or under a tarp until Sunday night.
- Lift each bag before you carry it out. If it strains your back, split it.
How do you put out branches and hedge trimmings?
Tie branches with twine into bundles no longer than 1 m (about 3 ft). Or drop them into your yard waste container.
Each branch must be less than 10 cm (about 4 inches) across. Bundles follow the same 20 kg (44 lb) limit as bags.
This matters in fall, when many London homeowners give cedars and shrubs one last tidy. Our guide on when to trim cedar hedges covers the timing. If you'd rather hand it off, see our hedge trimming page.
What counts as yard waste in London?
Goes out on your green week
- Leaves
- Plant trimmings
- Brush and branches under 10 cm (about 4 inches) across
- Pumpkins, with the candle and any metal or plastic removed
- Christmas trees, later in the season
Not yard waste
- Grass clippings. There's no curbside pickup for them.
- Soil, sod and dirt
- Rocks and stumps
- Anything in a plastic bag
The pumpkin rule is handy in a few weeks. Set it out the green week after Halloween, in a container with your leaves. Painted pumpkins go in the garbage instead.
Spot weeds or lawn disease while you clean up? Our partner crews don't spray, and we don't give chemical advice.
What do you do with grass clippings in London?
Leave them on the lawn. That's the City's own advice. Clippings add nutrients to the soil and help it hold moisture.
If you must bag them, EnviroDepots take bagged clippings for a fee per bag. The curb won't take them at all.
Leaving clippings works best when you mow often and never take off too much at once. Our post on grasscycling explains how.
Where can you drop off leaves in London?
Any of these three EnviroDepots takes yard waste at no charge. The same rules apply: no plastic bags, and branches under 10 cm (about 4 inches) across.
| EnviroDepot | Address |
|---|---|
| Clarke Road South | 28 Clarke Road |
| Oxford Street | 1450 Oxford Street West |
| Clarke Road North | 21462 Clarke Road |
All three keep the same hours:
- Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
They close on most statutory holidays and the Civic Holiday. A drop-off run is a good backup if you miss a green week, or if leaves keep falling after your last one.
Can you skip bagging your leaves?
Often, yes. The City says the best thing to do with fall leaves is to mulch and compost them. You can mulch some leaves right into the lawn with your mower. They break down and put nutrients back into the soil.
The City also suggests layering leaves in your composter after each batch of kitchen scraps. EnviroDepots sell home composters, and one model is billed as a good fit for fall leaves.
Mulching has a limit, though. London is "the Forest City," and its tree canopy covers about 27% of the area inside its growth boundary. On a street under big maples, a thin layer mulches fine. A thick, wet mat does not. Rake that up first. Our post on mulching leaves with a lawn mower shows when each one makes sense.
Should you keep mowing in October in London?
Yes, while the grass still grows. At London's airport, the average first fall frost lands around October 13. Grass slows down after that, but it doesn't stop on the spot.
London's Yard and Lot Maintenance By-law (PW-15) also still applies. Lawns can't go over 20 cm (8 inches). Our post on the London long grass by-law covers the details. For soil, watering and neighbourhood notes, see our London lawn care page.
A short, clean last cut also makes leaf pickup easier. Leaves sit on top of short grass, so they rake and mulch faster.
Can a crew handle your London fall cleanup?
Yes. Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in London. 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, keeping each bag under 20 kg. They can tie hedge trimmings into bundles the City will take. Ask how they handle haul away if you'd rather not wait for your green week.
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.
London Yard Waste Questions
When is leaf pickup in London, Ontario?
Leaves go out with yard waste on your green week. Green weeks run from late March to December. Your address sets the dates, so check the collection calendar on london.ca or the Recycle Coach app.
Can I put leaves in plastic bags in London?
No. The City won't collect yard waste in plastic bags. Use paper bags, certified compostable bags or a reusable container of 30 to 125 L.
Does London pick up grass clippings?
No. There's no curbside pickup for grass clippings. The City says to leave them on the lawn. Bagged clippings can go to an EnviroDepot for a fee.
What if I miss my green week?
The truck only comes once that week. Hold your bags for the next green week, or take them to an EnviroDepot. Yard waste drop-off there is free.
Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: London yard waste and composting, EnviroDepots, collection calendar, collection frequency policy, By-law PW-15, Forest Capital of Canada, London airport climate normals.
.jpg){kind=link}