---
title: Esquimalt yard waste collection and drop-off
question: "Where does yard waste and brush go in Esquimalt?"
place: Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/esquimalt
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: municipal
owner_body: Township of Esquimalt
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/yard-waste/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/yard-waste.json"
---

# Esquimalt yard waste collection and drop-off

**Question:** Where does yard waste and brush go in Esquimalt?

**Short answer:** In Esquimalt, yard waste does not go in the garbage or kitchen scraps bins. Take it to the Esquimalt/View Royal drop-off at 605 Canteen Road, open Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is free for Esquimalt and View Royal residents with proof of residency.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Esquimalt, https://www.esquimalt.ca)  
**Cost:** Free for Esquimalt and View Royal residents with proof of residency. Non-residents and commercial haulers pay at Ellice Recycle (regular depot rates).  
**How long:** Open Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed statutory holidays.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Esquimalt/View Royal Yard and Garden Transfer Station, 250-883-8683 (Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- In person: Esquimalt/View Royal Yard and Garden Transfer Station, 605 Canteen Road
- In person: Ellice Recycle (non-resident owners and commercial haulers; fee), 524 David Street, Victoria
- Phone: Engineering and Public Works, 250-414-7108

## Key facts

- **Curbside collection:** Yard waste is not collected in the Township's garbage or kitchen scraps bins and may not be placed in them. Residents bring it to the drop-off at 605 Canteen Road.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw 2014, No. 2815, s. 15.4, 15.1](https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/solid_waste_collection_and_disposal_bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall deposit yard waste in any regulation garbage or kitchen scraps container for" … "An occupier of property within the Township may utilize the yard waste transfer station for the"
  - Source: [Garbage bin information, Banned materials](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/garbage/regulation)
  - Official wording: "yard and garden waste- In 2006, the Capital Regional District banned yard and garden waste from the garbage."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to set it out:** Accepted at the drop-off: leaves, branches up to 3 inches in diameter, grass clippings and soft garden materials.
  - Source: [Yard & Garden Waste, Accepted compost materials](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/yard-garden-waste)
  - Official wording: "Branches up to 3” in diameter"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Drop-off:** Esquimalt/View Royal Yard and Garden Transfer Station, 605 Canteen Road, Tuesday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed statutory holidays; phone 250-883-8683. Non-resident owners and commercial haulers use Ellice Recycle, 524 David Street, Victoria (fee).
  - Source: [Yard & Garden Waste](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/yard-garden-waste)
  - Official wording: "Hours of operation are Tuesday to Sunday from 8 am –5 pm. The facility is closed for statutory holidays." … "Esquimalt/View Royal Yard and Garden Transfer Station is located at 605 Canteen Road." … "Telephone: 250-883-8683" … "can drop-off their yard and garden waste at Ellice Recycle located at 524 David Street, Victoria for a fee."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cost:** Free for Esquimalt and View Royal residents with proof of residency. Non-residents and commercial haulers pay at Ellice Recycle (regular depot rates).
  - Source: [Yard & Garden Waste](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/yard-garden-waste)
  - Official wording: "This service is free to Esquimalt and View Royal residents. Please have proof of residency with you when you use this service." … "Regular depot rates will apply at this location."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not accepted:** Rock, concrete and soils.
  - Source: [Yard & Garden Waste, Not accepted](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/yard-garden-waste)
  - Official wording: "- Branches up to 3" in diameter - Grass clippings - Soft garden materials ### Not accepted: - Rock - Concrete - Soils" … "- Grass clippings - Soft garden materials ### Not accepted: - Rock - Concrete - Soils Find out more about CRD Organic Waste Recycling Options." … "- Rock - Concrete - Soils Find out more about CRD Organic Waste Recycling Options. Related links"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2014, No. 2815 (Part 6, Yard Waste)
  - Source: [Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw 2014, No. 2815, s. 1.1](https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/solid_waste_collection_and_disposal_bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL BYLAW, 2014," … "NO. 2815."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Township's garbage and kitchen scraps bins are not for yard waste, and the [Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 2815](https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/solid_waste_collection_and_disposal_bylaw.pdf) bans it from them. No Township page describes curbside yard-waste pickup. Residents bring it to the Esquimalt/View Royal Yard and Garden Transfer Station at 605 Canteen Road.

## Steps

1. Load leaves, branches up to 3 inches in diameter, grass clippings and soft garden materials.
2. Take them to 605 Canteen Road, Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed statutory holidays). Phone 250-883-8683.
3. Bring proof of residency. Drop-off is free for Esquimalt and View Royal residents.

## Good to know

- Not accepted: rock, concrete and soils.
- Non-resident owners and commercial haulers use Ellice Recycle, 524 David Street, Victoria, and pay a fee. The bylaw says non-residents without ID pay the fee set at the time.
- No bundle or bag size or weight limits are stated on the Township's [Yard & Garden Waste page](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/yard-garden-waste). Ask Public Works at 250-414-7108 if you have a large load.
- Burning yard waste is prohibited. See [backyard fires](backyard-fire).

## Official forms and pages

- [Yard & Garden Waste, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/yard-garden-waste)
- [Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw 2014, No. 2815 (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/solid_waste_collection_and_disposal_bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Esquimalt garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/garbage-collection.md)
- [Esquimalt backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-fire.md)
- [Esquimalt bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/yard-waste.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/yard-waste.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/yard-waste.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/yard-waste.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/yard-waste.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/yard-waste.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/yard-waste.md)

## Sources

- [Yard & Garden Waste, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/yard-garden-waste) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Garbage bin information, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/garbage/regulation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw 2014, No. 2815 (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/solid_waste_collection_and_disposal_bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Township of Esquimalt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/yard-waste/_