Yard & Garden Waste

Invasive plant and vine material should not be disposed of through the green bin program or through drop-off at the Garbally Road yard. Improper disposal could result in the spread of invasive plant material to our natural environment. To safely dispose of invasive plants, please bring them to the regional disposal site:

• place all plant and vine parts in garbage bags
• label these “INVASIVE PLANTS”
• take your bags to Hartland Landfill at 1 Hartland Avenue

Reduce the wait time caused by seasonally higher drop-off volume by consolidating your loads. Try to come every other weekend, if possible. Please note, there is a single truckload limit. To facilitate lining up safely, please access Garbally Road from the Jutland Road intersection. Plan to arrive before 1:30 p.m to ensure that your yard waste can be collected before 2 p.m. 

Check the Public Works Yard webcam to view the current vehicle line-up (only available between 7 a.m and 2 p.m. on Saturdays).

• if vehicles are lined up to outside the gate, you can expect to wait up to 15 minutes
• generally, the maximum wait time to dump yard waste at peak hours is approximately 20 minutes
• if, at 1:45 p.m. the lineup of vehicles is to the gate already, it’s unlikely you will get to dump your yard waste before the yard closes for the day 

Leaves and garden waste can be dropped off year-round at the Public Works Yard, 417 Garbally Road on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

In fall 2023, leaves can also be dropped off at the Parks Yard in Beacon Hill Park, 100 Cook Street, on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. from Nov. 5 to Dec. 10.

Pile your leaves on the boulevard in advance of the collection start date for your neighbourhood. Bags are not required for leaf collection. City trucks will make one pass down each street following each collection start date. Collection dates are weather-dependent, and crews prioritize areas that are prone to flooding. Crews will start leaf collection in your zone on the collection start date and continue for the following three to four weeks.

Image

Contact us for leaf collection from October 16 to December 15 for service within five business days. Leaves must be bagged in clear, certified-compostable bags. Bags must contain leaves only — no other garden waste is accepted. Service is limited to one pick-up per household. Call us at 250.361.0600 or email parks@victoria.ca.

• bags are not required for leaf drop-off or for neighbourhood collection, but if you use them, always use clear, certified-compostable bags
• do not place leaves in other types of bags, boxes or containers
• keep streets, sidewalks and storm drains clear of leaves
• ensure leaf piles and bags are placed on the grass boulevard, and are visible and accessible from the street
• avoid placing leaf piles on or against trees, power poles, signs and fire hydrants
• for properties without a grassy boulevard, place your leaf piles on your property
• please follow the ‘No Parking’ signs that will be placed by crews before collection begins

Leaves and yard waste are accepted in your green bin. If you have a lot of leaves, participating in the leaf collection program frees up your green bin for other yard and garden waste. 

The following items are not accepted:

• ivy clippings
• pine needles
• soil
• blackberry canes
• rocks
• morning glory
• roots
• garden refuse
• stumps
• compost
• lawn clippings
• branches
• any construction lumber or branch material from commercial tree contractors and landscaping companies

Absolutely. Mulched leaves are a valuable source of nutrients for potted plants, flowers, shrubs and trees. By composting your own leaves, you also help reduce emissions caused by leaf blowers, trucks and other equipment used by the leaf pick-up service.

For more information on backyard composting, contact the Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre at 250.386.9676 or visit the Compost Education Centre.

If you spot blocked sewer grates at risk of causing flooding, and you're unable to clear it, please contact Public Works at 250.361.0400.

For inquiries about the residential leaf collection program, please contact us at 250.361.0600 or parks@victoria.ca.

Please note that only tree branches can be chipped and collected. All other yard waste can be taken to the Public Works Yard for disposal. Please follow these tips:

• Tree branches between 2.5 cm/1” to 25 cm/10” in diameter only will be picked up.
• Each household can have one branch pile no bigger than about 1 × 1 × 2.5 metres or 4 × 4 × 6 feet, which is about the amount a half-ton pickup truck can hold.
• Brances should be loosely stacked with their cut ends together.
• Branches should not be placed in bags or boxes or tied with string or wire.
• If your property does not have a grass boulevard, the branch piles can be placed on public or private property behind the sidewalk or in the driveway behind the sidewalk. Please do not place branch piles on the sidewalk or roadway.
• Piles left in rear lane ways will not be chipped.

Before pruning, please consult the City's Tree Protection Bylaw for guidance

Items that are not accepted for chipping include:

• tree branches less than 2.5 cm/1” in diameter or more than 25 cm/10” in diameter
• shrubs and plants
• ivy clippings
• holly
• blackberry canes
• rose canes
• morning glory
• knotweed species
• garden refuse
• compost
• lawn clippings
• loose leaves
• soil
• rocks
• roots
• stumps
• construction lumber
• material from commercial tree contractors.