{"title":"Fernie yard waste collection and drop-off","question":"Where does yard waste and brush go?","slug":"yard-waste","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"garbage-and-recycling","name":"Garbage, recycling and waste"},"owner":"regional","owner_label":"Regional district","owner_body":{"name":"Regional District of East Kootenay","url":"https://www.rdek.bc.ca"},"short_answer":"In Fernie, grass, leaves and smaller twigs and sticks go in the weekly curbside organics cart. Other yard and garden waste can go to the Regional District of East Kootenay's (RDEK) Fernie Transfer Station at 6000 Highway 3, where the RDEK says yard waste is free to residents.","aliases":["fernie brush disposal","fernie leaves collection","fernie tree branches"],"cost":"Organics collection is covered by the monthly waste charge ($17.99 in 2026). The RDEK says yard and garden waste at the Fernie Transfer Station is free to residents. Land clearing waste is $40 per tonne on its August 2022 schedule.","how_long":"Organics cart weekly. Transfer Station open Monday to Sunday (hours below).","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Fernie Transfer Station (Regional District of East Kootenay)","value":"6000 Highway 3, Fernie (across from Home Hardware)","note":"Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Family Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Elk Valley Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (PDF)","url":"https://www.rdek.bc.ca/web/pdf/recycling/ElkValleySubregion-TippingFeeScheduleAug2022.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Fernie garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/garbage-collection/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/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, in the weekly curbside organics cart (120-L). It accepts grass, leaves and smaller twigs and sticks along with food scraps. Branches count as organics only if chipped to under 25 mm across and 0.6 m long.","short":"Yes, weekly in organics cart","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/garbage-recycling-collection.html","title":"Waste, Recycling and Organics Collection, City of Fernie","section":"Curbside Organic Collection","quotes":["It also includes yard trimmings such as grass, leaves and smaller twigs and sticks.","All the eligible items are picked up weekly by the same truck."]},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918","title":"Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845 (PDF), City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19)","section":"s. 2 \"organics\"","quotes":["shrub or tree branches which have been","chipped to less than 25mm in diameter and 0.6m long"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"preparation":{"label":"How to set it out","value":"Only organics may go in the organics cart, and the lid must close completely. Tree pruning, logs and scrap lumber may not be set out for collection. Branches must be chipped under 25 mm across and 0.6 m long to count as organics.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918","title":"Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845 (PDF), City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19)","section":"s. 5.2, 8.2, 4.8","quotes":["No hazardous waste, tires, tree pruning, scrap lumber, logs, metal, stone, brick,","Only materials defined as organics under this bylaw shall be accepted into the","cover cannot be securely fastened and completely closed."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"drop_off":{"label":"Drop-off","value":"Fernie Transfer Station, 6000 Highway 3 (across from Home Hardware). Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Family Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.","short":"Fernie Transfer Station, 6000 Highway 3","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/fernietransferstation/","title":"Fernie Transfer Station, Regional District of East Kootenay","section":"Fernie Transfer Station","quotes":["The Fernie Transfer Station is located at 6000 Highway 3","Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm","Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm","Yard and Garden Waste"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"cost":{"label":"Cost","value":"Curbside organics collection is covered by the monthly waste charge ($17.99 in 2026). The RDEK says yard and garden waste at the Fernie Transfer Station is free to residents; its August 2022 schedule charges nothing for under 6 inches in diameter, and larger items are land clearing waste at $40 per tonne.","short":"Curbside in $17.99 a month; drop-off free","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdek.bc.ca/web/pdf/recycling/ElkValleySubregion-TippingFeeScheduleAug2022.pdf","title":"Elk Valley Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (PDF, last updated August 2022), Regional District of East Kootenay","section":"Recyclable Materials","quotes":["Yard or Garden Waste - under 6” diameter","NO CHARGE","If over 6” in diameter, item will be charged as Land Clearing Waste","Land Clearing Waste","$40.00 per tonne"]},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918","title":"Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845 (PDF), City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Curbside Single Family Residential $13.58 $17.40 $17.99"]},{"url":"https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/","title":"Garbage and Recycling, Regional District of East Kootenay","section":"Yard and Garden Waste","quotes":["This service is free and available to all residents within the RDEK."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_accepted":{"label":"Not accepted","value":"Not allowed in the organics cart: ashes, pet waste (other than kitty litter), fruit and vegetable stickers, plastic bin liners, rubber bands, twist ties. Not set out for curbside collection: tree pruning, logs, scrap lumber, metal, stone, brick, concrete. Stumps are land clearing waste, not organics; the RDEK charges clean soil and land clearing waste $40 per tonne.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://letstalk.fernie.ca/organics","title":"Curbside Organics, Let's Talk Fernie","section":"Items Accepted in the Organic Bins","quotes":["Please do not compost ashes, pet waste (other than kitty litter), fruit and vegetable stickers, plastics bin liners, rubber bands, and twist ties."]},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918","title":"Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845 (PDF), City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19)","section":"s. 5.2","quotes":["No hazardous waste, tires, tree pruning, scrap lumber, logs, metal, stone, brick,","stumps, roofing materials, masonry and wire arising from"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918","title":"Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845 (PDF), City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19)","section":"Title","quotes":["THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF FERNIE CONSOLIDATED WASTE REGULATION BYLAW BYLAW No. 1845 Consolidated to Bylaw: 1864, Amendment No. 1 1909, Amendment No. 2"]}],"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\nThe City of Fernie takes grass, leaves and smaller twigs and sticks in the weekly 120 L curbside organics cart. Under the [Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918), branches count as organics only if chipped to under 25 mm across and 0.6 m long. Other yard waste goes to the RDEK's Fernie Transfer Station, which the RDEK runs.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Put organics in the cart, lid fully closed, and set it out on collection day.\n2. For other yard and garden waste, take it to the Transfer Station at 6000 Highway 3 during open hours.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Tree pruning, logs and scrap lumber may not be set out for curbside collection. Collectors may refuse a cart with non-organics.\n- Not allowed in the organics cart: ashes, pet waste (other than kitty litter), fruit and vegetable stickers, plastic bin liners, rubber bands and twist ties.\n- Stumps are land clearing waste, not organics. The RDEK's August 2022 schedule charges clean soil and land clearing waste $40 per tonne; larger wood over 6 inches falls under the land clearing charge. Ask the RDEK before bringing stumps or soil.\n- No separate yard-waste bundle or bag program was found. During the City's designated Spring Clean-up dates, yard waste left in public view is exempt from the Community Standards Bylaw.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/garbage-recycling-collection.html","title":"Waste, Recycling and Organics Collection, City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/fernietransferstation/","title":"Fernie Transfer Station, Regional District of East Kootenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/","title":"Garbage and Recycling, Regional District of East Kootenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdek.bc.ca/web/pdf/recycling/ElkValleySubregion-TippingFeeScheduleAug2022.pdf","title":"Elk Valley Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (PDF, last updated August 2022), Regional District of East Kootenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918","title":"Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845 (PDF), City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://letstalk.fernie.ca/organics","title":"Curbside Organics, Let's Talk Fernie","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/fernie/yard-waste/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/yard-waste.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/yard-waste.json"}}