City guide · Woodstock, ON
Woodstock Yard Waste: What to Know This Fall
In Woodstock, you have three ways to get rid of fall yard waste. Rake loose leaves to the curb for City pickup from October 19 to November 23, 2026. Take leaves, grass and brush to the free Yard Waste Depot at 944 James St., open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Or mulch leaves into your lawn. Leaves never go in bags at the curb, and yard waste doesn't go in your new green bin.
When is leaf pickup in Woodstock this fall?
The City's 2026 calendar lists curbside leaf collection from Monday, October 19 to Friday, November 27. Crews rotate through the city the whole time.
The date that matters most is Monday, November 23. That's the last day to rake leaves to the curb. The final week is for clean-up. After November 23, any leaves you still have must go to the depot or stay on your property.
| What | 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Curbside brush week | October 5 to 9 |
| Leaf collection starts | October 19 |
| Last day to rake leaves to the curb | November 23 |
| Leaf collection ends | November 27 |
The City's leaf web page still showed last year's dates on October 1. The printed 2026 calendar has the new ones. Check both before your last big rake.
How do the nine leaf zones work?
The City splits Woodstock into nine zones for leaf pickup. Staff keep rotating through them for the length of the program. So your street gets more than one visit, but not on a set day.
A few examples from the City's list:
- Zone 4 runs south of Devonshire to north of Dundas, west of Wellington.
- Zone 7 runs south of Dundas to Bower Hill and Parkinson, west of Norwich.
- Zone 9 runs south of Parkinson to north of the 401.
Use the City's leaf collection map to find yours. Not sure? Call 519-539-2382, ext. 3104 or 3102.
The program depends on the weather. It has to be cold enough for the leaves to fall. But it has to stay warm enough that piles don't freeze or get snowed on. If it snows, the City moves staff to snow clearing first. That's one more reason not to wait until the last week.
How should you pile leaves at the curb?
The City's trucks pick up from the road edge, not from your grass. So where and how you pile matters.
- Rake leaves close to the curb, as neatly as you can.
- Keep them loose. Bagged leaves won't be picked up.
- Don't rake onto the boulevard. The equipment can't reach it.
- Keep piles under 1 m (3 feet) wide from the curb edge.
- Keep leaves out of bike lanes.
- Keep catch basins and storm drains clear, so streets don't flood.
- Don't park on a pile. Crews can't collect under a car.
Kids love leaf piles. The City asks you to keep them out of the ones at the road.
What can't go in a curbside leaf pile?
Only leaves. The City lists these as off limits:
- Brush and branches
- Grass clippings. They're denser than leaves and can damage the equipment.
- Dirt, stones and rocks
One bad pile can break a machine and slow down the whole program. Keep it clean.
Can yard waste go in the green bin in Woodstock?
No. Woodstock's green bin pickup started on January 5, 2026, and it's run by Oxford County. The County's list of items that don't belong in the green bin includes leaf and yard waste.
That means leaves, grass and hedge clippings stay out of the green bin. Use the curb (leaves only, in season), the depot, or your own lawn and compost.
Where is the Woodstock Yard Waste Depot?
The Yard Waste Depot is at 944 James St., between Clarke Street and Springbank Avenue. It's open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dropping off leaves is free.
The depot has three piles. Sort your load into the right one:
- Yard waste: leaves, grass (no sod), weeds, house and garden plants, pumpkins, natural sawdust, and hedge and tree clippings up to 7 cm (3 inches) thick.
- Brush: limbs and branches under 10 cm (4 inches) across and under 1.8 m (6 feet) long. Brush gets chipped and composted.
- Woodchips: chipped brush and woodchips. You can also take woodchips home for free.
No plastic bags go in any pile. Bring your leaves in bags if you like, but empty them and take the bags home.
What does the depot turn away?
The depot won't take dirt, rocks, sod, topsoil, stumps, logs or lumber. Items still in plastic bags get refused too. The City sends those to the Oxford County Waste Management Facility in Salford.
The City points out one perk of the depot. Leaves you drop off can't blow back onto your yard or your neighbour's before the truck comes.
What about branches and brush this fall?
The City runs a curbside brush week from October 5 to 9, 2026. Your brush must be at the curb by 7 a.m. Monday. The rules from the City calendar:
- Tie brush and limbs in bundles.
- Keep each bundle under 2 m (6 feet) long.
- Keep each bundle under 23 kg (50 lbs).
- Remove roots and dirt.
The calendar asks you to send the City a request with your name and address, so your pile isn't missed. Missed the week? Take brush to the depot instead.
Can you mulch leaves instead of raking them?
Yes, and the City suggests it. Mow over the leaves and leave the bits on the lawn. They feed the grass and help the soil hold water. Our post on mulching leaves with a lawn mower covers when it works and when a pile is too thick.
A backyard composter works too. The City says not to pack leaves down, and to stir the pile now and then to let air in.
Mulching also skips the deadline. You don't have to beat November 23 if the leaves never leave your yard.
Should you keep mowing in Woodstock in October?
Yes, while the grass still grows. Woodstock has no climate normals station of its own. The nearest ones put the average first fall frost at October 6 in Stratford and October 13 at London's airport. Grass slows after that, but it doesn't stop all at once.
The long grass rule still applies in fall. Chapter 0771 of the City's code says grass and weeds can't top 20 cm (8 inches). That includes the strip between your lot and the road. A late mow also chops up leaves, so your last cleanup goes faster. Our last mow of the season guide explains when to stop.
Pulling weeds as part of cleanup? Our partner crews don't spray, and we don't give chemical advice.
Can a crew handle your Woodstock fall cleanup?
Yes. Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Woodstock. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.
Your crew can rake leaves into loose, tidy piles at the curb before November 23. They can handle the rest of a fall cleanup, like clearing beds and cutting back shrubs. They can also keep up regular mowing until the grass stops. Ask your crew how they handle haul away to the depot for big loads.
We measure your yard from satellite images, so no one needs to visit. Your price depends on lawn size, leaf volume, beds, slopes, gates and haul away. It 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. More local notes are on our Woodstock lawn care page.
Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.
Woodstock Yard Waste Questions
Can I bag leaves for pickup in Woodstock?
No. The City only picks up loose leaves raked to the curb. Bagged leaves won't be collected. You can bag them to drive to the depot, but empty the bags there and take them home.
What is the last day to put leaves out in Woodstock in 2026?
November 23, 2026. Pickup runs until November 27, but that last week is for clean-up. After November 23, take leaves to the Yard Waste Depot or keep them on your property.
Is the Woodstock Yard Waste Depot free?
Yes, dropping off leaves is free. The depot is at 944 James St. and open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. Sort your load into the yard waste, brush or woodchip pile.
Can grass clippings go in the green bin in Woodstock?
No. Oxford County's green bin doesn't take leaf and yard waste. Leave clippings on the lawn, or take them to the Yard Waste Depot. Don't add them to curbside leaf piles either.
Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Woodstock 2026 City Services Calendar, Fall loose leaf collection, Yard Waste Depot, Oxford County green bin, Chapter 0771, London climate normals, Stratford climate normals.
