{"title":"Castlegar yard waste collection and drop-off","question":"Where does yard waste and brush go?","slug":"yard-waste","place":{"path":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"garbage-and-recycling","name":"Garbage, recycling and waste"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Castlegar","url":"https://www.castlegar.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Castlegar, yard and garden trimmings go in the green-lid organics cart, collected weekly, if pieces are under 2 inches thick and 12 inches long. The City's yard waste facility closed March 31, 2025; larger amounts go to the RDCK Ootischenia Landfill, 671 Columbia Road.","aliases":["castlegar branches disposal","castlegar leaves grass clippings","castlegar yard waste drop off","castlegar brush"],"cost":"Curbside collection is included in the organics fee ($156.47 a year in 2026). At Ootischenia Landfill, yard and garden waste is free in May and October (one pick-up truck load per customer a day); otherwise $70.75 per tonne or $14.00 per m3.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Ootischenia Landfill","value":"671 Columbia Road, Castlegar, BC","note":"Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (April 1 to October 31) or 4:00 p.m. (November 1 to March 31). Closed statutory holidays."},{"type":"phone","label":"Civic Works (curbside organics)","value":"250-365-5979"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Residential Curbside Collection and Disposal Bylaw 1408 (PDF)","url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1408-Residential-Curbside-Collection-and-Disposal-Bylaw-1.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Castlegar garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/garbage-collection/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/trail","name":"Trail","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/warfield","name":"Warfield","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/rossland","name":"Rossland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/salmo","name":"Salmo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/yard-waste/"}],"topic":{"title":"Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/yard-waste/"},"facts":{"curbside":{"label":"Curbside collection","value":"Yes. Yard and garden trimmings go in the green-lidded organics cart, collected weekly: grass clippings, leaves, flowers, plants, weeds, brush and small branches.","short":"Yes, weekly in organics cart","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/curbside-waste-management-program/organic-waste/","title":"Organic Waste, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Organic Waste","quotes":["Flowers, grass clippings, plants, leaves + weeds","Brush and small branches"]},{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/curbside-waste-management-program/","title":"Curbside Waste Management Program, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Curbside Waste Management Program","quotes":["Organics Cart: Weekly Collection"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"preparation":{"label":"How to set it out","value":"Prunings less than 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and no more than 12 inches (30 cm) long. Keep it loose and dry, with no plastic bags (paper yard waste bags are fine as liners). Carts with oversize pieces may be left behind.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/curbside-waste-management-program/organic-waste/","title":"Organic Waste, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Organic Waste","quotes":["Plant, tree or hedge prunings less than 2 inches in diameter and no more than 12 inches in length"]},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1408-Residential-Curbside-Collection-and-Disposal-Bylaw-1.pdf","title":"Residential Curbside Collection and Disposal Bylaw 1408, consolidated to December 2025 (PDF)","section":"Bylaw 1408, definition of Yard and Garden Waste","quotes":["that do not exceed the dimensions of 30 cm (1 foot) in length and 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter"]},{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/curbside-waste-management-program/curbside-waste-faqs/","title":"Curbside Waste FAQs, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Curbside Waste FAQs","quotes":["Yard waste that is too large. Twigs, stems and flowers must be no larger than 2” in diameter and 12” in length.","Line your bin with paper yard waste bags, crumpled newspaper, or brown cardboard like pizza boxes."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"drop_off":{"label":"Drop-off","value":"The City's yard waste facility closed March 31, 2025. Ootischenia Landfill, 671 Columbia Road, takes yard waste year-round (Mon-Sat, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 1 to October 31; 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. November 1 to March 31; closed statutory holidays).","short":"Ootischenia Landfill, 671 Columbia Road","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/2025/01/17/city-of-castlegar-to-close-yard-waste-facilit/","title":"City of Castlegar to close yard waste facility, City of Castlegar","section":"City notice, Jan 17, 2025","quotes":["The City of Castlegar’s yard waste facility at 2101 6th Avenue will permanently close as of March 31, 2025."]},{"url":"https://rdck.ca/environmental-service/environmental-services/waste-recycling/hours-of-operation/","title":"Hours of Operation, RDCK","section":"RDCK page: Facility Operating Hours","quotes":["671 Columbia Road, Castlegar, BC","Monday to Saturday | 8:30 am – 5:30 pm","Monday to Saturday | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm","Closed on all Statutory Holidays"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Bylaw 1408 still refers to a City yard waste site at 2161 6th Avenue (the fire hall address); the City's January 2025 notice says that facility is closed. Bylaw not updated, treat as outdated."},"cost":{"label":"Cost","value":"Curbside collection is included in the organics fee ($156.47 a year in 2026). At Ootischenia Landfill yard and garden waste is free in May and October (one pick-up truck load per customer a day) and otherwise $70.75 per tonne or $14.00 per m3 (RDCK fees from January 1, 2026).","short":"Curbside in $156.47 a year; landfill $70.75 a tonne","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1408-Residential-Curbside-Collection-and-Disposal-Bylaw-1.pdf","title":"Residential Curbside Collection and Disposal Bylaw 1408, consolidated to December 2025 (PDF)","section":"Bylaw 1408, Schedule A","quotes":["(b) Additional Garbage Collection Service $ 160.07 (c) Organics Collection $ 156.47 (d) Recycling Collection $ 4.65"]},{"url":"https://rdck.ca/environmental-service/environmental-services/waste-recycling/household-hazardous-waste-round-up/yard-garden-waste-seasonal-free-tipping/","title":"Yard and Garden Waste, Seasonal Free Tipping, RDCK","section":"RDCK page: Yard & Garden Waste","quotes":["During the months of May and October (only) the following Resource Recovery Facilities accept Yard & Garden waste for FREE:","Disposals are limited to one pick-up truck load per customer, per day.","commercial loads and loads greater than 2.5 m3 must be taken to a LANDFILL ONLY"]},{"url":"https://www.rdck.ca/environmental-services/resourcerecovery/user-fees/","title":"User Fees, RDCK","section":"RDCK page: Disposal Fees","quotes":["Yard & Garden Waste | $70.75/tonne or $14.00/m3"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_accepted":{"label":"Not accepted","value":"Curbside: soil, sod, rocks and plastics (including compostable plastic bags). At the landfill: tree stumps, noxious weeds, rocks, sand, soil, fruit or vegetable material and chipped wood waste are charged regular tipping fees.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/curbside-waste-management-program/organic-waste/","title":"Organic Waste, City of Castlegar","section":"City page: Organic Waste","quotes":["Soil, sod and rocks","Plastics (including biodegradable or compostable)"]},{"url":"https://rdck.ca/environmental-service/environmental-services/waste-recycling/household-hazardous-waste-round-up/yard-garden-waste-seasonal-free-tipping/","title":"Yard and Garden Waste, Seasonal Free Tipping, RDCK","section":"RDCK page: Yard & Garden Waste","quotes":["tree stumps;","rocks, sand and Waste Soil;","chipped Wood Waste;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Residential Curbside Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 1408 (s. 42); RDCK Resource Recovery Facilities Regulatory Bylaw No. 3065 (landfill)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1408-Residential-Curbside-Collection-and-Disposal-Bylaw-1.pdf","title":"Residential Curbside Collection and Disposal Bylaw 1408, consolidated to December 2025 (PDF)","section":"Bylaw 1408, s. 42","quotes":["Yard Waste generated at a residential premises in excess of the organics collection cart"]},{"url":"https://www.rdck.ca/environmental-services/resourcerecovery/user-fees/","title":"User Fees, RDCK","section":"RDCK page: Disposal Fees","quotes":["Resource Recovery Facilities Regulatory Bylaw No. 3065"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nYard and garden trimmings go in the green-lid organics cart, collected weekly: grass clippings, leaves, flowers, plants, weeds, brush and small branches. Prunings must be less than 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and no more than 12 inches (30 cm) long. Keep it loose and dry, with no plastic bags; paper yard waste bags are fine as liners. Carts with oversize pieces may be left behind.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Put trimmings in the organics cart on collection day (see the garbage answer for set-out rules).\n2. For larger amounts or oversize branches, take them to the Ootischenia Landfill, 671 Columbia Road, which takes yard waste year-round.\n3. Check the landfill's hours and fees before you go.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The City's yard waste facility closed March 31, 2025, according to a City notice. [Bylaw 1408](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1408-Residential-Curbside-Collection-and-Disposal-Bylaw-1.pdf) still names it, so treat the bylaw as out of date and confirm with Civic Works at 250-365-5979.\n- Not accepted in the cart: soil, sod, rocks and plastics, including compostable plastic bags.\n- At the landfill, tree stumps, noxious weeds, rocks, sand, soil, fruit or vegetable material and chipped wood waste are charged regular tipping fees.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/curbside-waste-management-program/organic-waste/","title":"Organic Waste, City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/curbside-waste-management-program/curbside-waste-faqs/","title":"Curbside Waste FAQs, City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1408-Residential-Curbside-Collection-and-Disposal-Bylaw-1.pdf","title":"Residential Curbside Collection and Disposal Bylaw 1408, consolidated to December 2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://castlegar.ca/2025/01/17/city-of-castlegar-to-close-yard-waste-facilit/","title":"City of Castlegar to close yard waste facility, City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://rdck.ca/environmental-service/environmental-services/waste-recycling/household-hazardous-waste-round-up/yard-garden-waste-seasonal-free-tipping/","title":"Yard and Garden Waste, Seasonal Free Tipping, RDCK","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://rdck.ca/environmental-service/environmental-services/waste-recycling/hours-of-operation/","title":"Hours of Operation, RDCK","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdck.ca/environmental-services/resourcerecovery/user-fees/","title":"User Fees, RDCK","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.castlegar.ca/services/utilities-infrastructure/curbside-waste-management-program/","title":"Curbside Waste Management Program, City of Castlegar","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/yard-waste/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/yard-waste.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/yard-waste.json"}}