Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Leaf and Yard Waste

Since 1996, the Province of Nova Scotia's Solid Waste-Resource Management Regulations made under Section 102 of the Environment Act have banned the disposal of leaf and yard waste in landfill sites.  As a result, the Solid Waste Department does not collect leaf and yard waste curbside unless a small amount has been placed inside your green cart with other organic waste.  To assist residents with excess leaf and yard waste, the department operates three seasonal leaf and yard drop-off sites and one year round leaf and yard drop-off site.  Residents are also encouraged to try backyard composting, grass cycling and/or leaf cycling to help manage some of their leaf and yard waste. 

Leaf And Yard Waste Recycling Options

• Residents can place some leaf and yard waste in their green cart along with other organic waste. Leaf and yard waste that does not easily fit inside your green cart should be brought to one of the seasonal leaf and yard drop-off sites that operate in CBRM.

• Residents can bring large amounts of leaf and yard waste to one of three SEASONAL leaf and yard waste drop-off sites that operate one day a week between mid-May and mid-November. Leaf and yard waste can also be dropped off year round at  the Waste Management Facility on SPAR Road.  This site is open 8am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.

• Residents can recycle their leaf and yard waste by backyard composting, grass cycling and/or leaf cycling.

 

The Solid Waste Department will accept leaf and yard waste the following ways:

• Placed inside your green cart along with other organic waste.  The lid of the green cart must be able to close properly.  Collectors are unable to empty carts if the lids are not shut.   

• Dropped-off to one of the three seasonal leaf and yard waste drop-off sites operating between mid May and mid November or to the year round leaf and yard drop-off site located at the Waste Management Facility.

Please remember, leaf and yard debris placed loose or in bags curbside will not be removed by collectors.

 

Using Your Green Cart for Leaf and Yard Waste Disposal

Leaf and yard waste ACCEPTED curbside inside a green cart includes:

• Grass clippings
• Leaves from plants and trees
• Plant and garden waste
• Small branches and twigs less than 1 inch in diameter
• Brush and Hedge clippings

Leaf and yard waste NOT ACCEPTED curbside inside a green cart includes:

• Tree branches and tree limbs larger than 1 inch in diameter
• Tree stumps and logs
• Sods, soil and sand
• Rocks and bricks
• Treated wood
• Leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste placed next to green cart inside bags. 

 

Curbside collection reminders for leaf and yard waste placed inside a green cart:

• Leaf and yard waste that does not fit inside a green cart should be taken to one of the weekly seasonal leaf and yard drop-off sites or to the permanent leaf and yard drop-off site at the Waste Management Facility.

• The lid of green carts must be able to close once leaf and yard debris has been added. 

• Leaf and yard debris placed loose or in bags curbside will not be removed by collectors.

• Sods are not accepted in green carts or placed loose curbside.  Sods should be brought to the leaf and yard waste drop-off site at the Waste Management Facility. 

• Tree limbs, branches, brush or hedge clippings must not extend over the top or sides of the green cart.

• Tree limbs and branches, placed inside your green cart, must be no larger than 1 inch in diameter. 

 

Disposal of Leaf and Yard Waste at a Drop-Off Site 

Leaf and yard waste drop-off sites:

The Waste Management Facility on SPAR Road in Sydney accepts leaf and yard waste year round for proper management and recycling.　The department also operates three seasonal leaf and yard waste drop-off sites located in Glace Bay, New Waterford and North Sydney. The seasonal sites are open one day a week  between mid-May and mid-November.

Leaf and yard waste ACCEPTED at the leaf and yard waste drop-off sites include:

• Grass clippings and leaves
• Plant and garden waste
• Brush and hedge clippings
• tree branches and tree limbs less than 1 inch in diameter*
• Sods**

* Tree branches and tree limbs larger than 1 inch in diameter and tree stumps must be brought to the leaf and yard waste site located at the Waste Management Facility on SPAR Road.

**  Sods are only accepted for disposal at the leaf and yard waste drop-off site located at the Waste Management Facility.

Leaf and Yard Waste Drop-Off Site Locations

SYDNEY Leaf and Yard Waste Drop-Off Site:  Open year-round

Depot Location:                         Waste Management Facility located on SPAR Road in Sydney

Days of Operation:                    TUESDAY to SATURDAY (YEAR ROUND)

Hours of Operation:                   8am to 4pm

 

SEASONAL Leaf and Yard Drop-Off Site locations (Mid-May to Mid-November)

 

NORTH SYDNEY Leaf and Yard Waste Drop-Off Site:  Open for the season Thursday, May 16.

Depot Location:                         Drop-off site located Ferris Street (off King Street) in North Sydney

Days of Operation:                    THURSDAYS

Hours of Operation:                  1pm - 6pm 

 

GLACE BAY Leaf and Yard Waste Drop-Off Site:  Open for the season on Saturday, May 18.

Depot Location:                         Public Works Yard located on West Avenue in Glace Bay

Days of Operation:                    SATURDAYS

Hours of Operation:                  9am to 3pm

 

NEW WATERFORD Leaf and Yard Drop-Off Site: Open for the season on Saturday, May 18.

Depot Location:                         Public Works Yard located on Ling Street in New Waterford

Days of Operation:                    SATURDAYS

Hours of Operation:                  9am to 3pm

 

Leaf and yard waste drop-off site disposal reminders:

• Large tree stumps, branches and brush should be taken to the leaf and yard waste drop-off site located at the Waste Management Facility.

• Sods will not be collected inside green carts or loose curbside.  They should be taken to the leaf and yard waste drop-off site located at the Waste Management Facility. 

• Excess leaf and yard waste that does not fit inside a green cart, can be brought to one of the leaf and yard waste drop-off sites.

• Residents who transport grass clippings and leaves in plastic bags, will be required to remove the contents on site and take the empty plastic bags with them.

• Residents are asked to properly secure and tarp leaf and yard waste before travelling to a leaf and yard drop off site.

• Tree branches and limbs should not be sticking out of your green cart. Lids must be closed. 

• Collectors will not remove loose or bagged leaf and yard waste.