Spring cleaning? Here's when you can get your yard waste picked up in Waterloo Region and Guelph
Bi-weekly pick up in Waterloo region, but only one day for Guelph residents
Now that nicer weather has arrived, regional residents are heading outside to do some spring cleaning around the yard.
Residents in Waterloo region have regular yard waste pick up during the summer.
In Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, yard waste is collected bi-weekly from March to November.
In the townships, collection is bi-weekly in the towns and can also be dropped off at designated waste transfer stations between March and November.
In Guelph, yard waste collection will take place in May.
For those who follow the Week A collection schedule, yard waste will be picked up during the week of May 16 to May 20.
Residents on the Week B collection schedule will have yard waste collected from May 9 to May 13.
What you can chuck
Yard waste includes leaves, plant trimmings, grass clippings, weeds, branches and pine cones.
Large stumps, stones, plastic, treated wood and sod, soil and sand are not considered yard waste.
The Region of Waterloo's website warns that wood waste contaminated with emerald ash borer or spruce budworm shouldn't be placed with yard waste. Instead, the wood waste should be taken to the Cambridge or Waterloo transfer stations and staff should be told it is contaminated so it is disposed of appropriately.
The Guelph website recommends using some yard waste on lawns and gardens, such as using mulched leaves to help control weeds in your lawn, or leaving grass clippings on the ground to decompose and release organic matter and nutrients into the lawn.