Leaf and Yard Waste

Curbside leaf and yard waste collection is available to urban area residents who receive green bin service. Leaf and yard waste is collected at the curb four times annually - twice in the spring and twice in the fall.

We compost in Muskoka. The District reminds residents that leaves are not collected at the curb as part of curbside garbage limits.

Making sure leaf and yard waste material doesn’t enter the garbage is an important part of the District of Muskoka’s waste management strategy to extend the life of our Rosewarne Landfill.

When buried in the landfill, leaves create methane (a greenhouse gas) as they break down. Even better, diverting this material allows us to create valuable compost, used as a soil amendment.

2023 Collection Days: Urban Households

Curbside leaf and yard waste collection is set for the weeks of October 16 and October 30 for residents in urban areas. If you don't reside in an urban area, or miss the collection dates, household leaf and yard waste can be delivered to any transfer station at no cost.

Please note, material must be set at the curb by 7 a.m. on Monday, October 16 and/or Monday, October 30 and remain there for the week until it's collected.

Collection will occur at some point during the week, not necessarily on your regular collection day. Collection will only occur once during the dedicated weeks for each road.

All residents can deliver leaf and yard waste for no charge to any of our transfer stations during operating hours.

If you’re not sure whether you receive curbside leaf and yard waste collection, check our maps below for included roads.

Please note fees will apply for branches larger than 1.5 inches in diameter. Fees can be found on our Drop-off Locations and Landfill page.

Maps

Urban areas are highlighted in green on the maps.

Bracebridge
2023
Georgian Bay
2023
Gravenhurst
2023
Huntsville
2023
Muskoka Lakes
2023

Some easy ways to get rid of your leaves

Urban areas: Bag them in paper leaf bags and put them to the curb on scheduled collection days in the spring and fall for curbside collection.
Leave your leaves! Mulch leaves and leave them on the lawn for healthy grass next summer.
If you live in a rural area and don't receive leaf and yard waste curbside collection, deliver residential leaf and yard waste to a licensed waste facility at no charge. Please note that branches exceeding 1.5 inches in diameter are subject to our "Chippable wood/brush" tipping fees found here.

Acceptable containers

Kraft paper bags are ideal and designed for leaf and yard waste material.
Reusable containers such as garbage cans, blue boxes or open-top containers that can be dumped and left behind are acceptable. Please watch your weight!
Our crews manually lift your leaf and yard waste - maximum weight per yard waste bag/container and its contents must not exceed 20 kg (44 lbs). Includes bundled branches/twigs.

Set-out requirements

Place paper yard waste bags/containers and bundles at the curb by 7 a.m. on scheduled leaf and yard waste scheduled collection days only. Leaf and yard waste is not collected as part of normal garbage limits.
Do not place yard waste containers/bags or bundles on the roadway or blocking the sidewalk as it may pose as a hazard to vehicular traffic and other residents. Proper placement will also help avoid damage to containers/bags and will reduce interference.
Keep yard waste containers/bags and bundles separate from your neighbours.
Crews manually lift your leaf and yard waste. Help crews by not overfilling paper bags/containers.

Branches and twigs

Sticks and twigs should not exceed 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) in diameter and must be bundled and tied. Bundles should be no bigger than 60 cm x 90 cm (2 feet x 3 feet). Also acceptable in paper yard waste bags is:

Leaves and yard rakings with debris
Tree trimmings, small branches
Brush, hedge trimmings (branches exceeding 1.5 inches in diameter are subject to our "Chippable wood/brush" tipping fees found on our Drop-off Locations and Landfill page.)
Household and garden plants

Report missed collection

Missed Collection Form