---
title: Fernie yard waste collection and drop-off
question: "Where does yard waste and brush go?"
place: Fernie, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fernie
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: regional
owner_body: Regional District of East Kootenay
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/yard-waste/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/yard-waste.json"
---

# Fernie yard waste collection and drop-off

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Regional District of East Kootenay, https://www.rdek.bc.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Fernie Transfer Station (Regional District of East Kootenay), 6000 Highway 3, Fernie (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.)

## Key facts

- **Curbside collection:** 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.
  - Source: [Waste, Recycling and Organics Collection, Curbside Organic Collection](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/garbage-recycling-collection.html)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19), s. 2 "organics"](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918)
  - Official wording: "shrub or tree branches which have been" … "chipped to less than 25mm in diameter and 0.6m long"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to set it out:** 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.
  - Source: [Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19), s. 5.2, 8.2, 4.8](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Drop-off:** 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.
  - Source: [Fernie Transfer Station, Regional District of East Kootenay](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/fernietransferstation/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cost:** 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.
  - Source: [Elk Valley Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (PDF, last updated August 2022), Regional District of East Kootenay, Recyclable Materials](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/web/pdf/recycling/ElkValleySubregion-TippingFeeScheduleAug2022.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19), Schedule A](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918)
  - Official wording: "Curbside Single Family Residential $13.58 $17.40 $17.99"
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, Regional District of East Kootenay, Yard and Garden Waste](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/)
  - Official wording: "This service is free and available to all residents within the RDEK."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not accepted:** 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.
  - Source: [Curbside Organics, Let's Talk Fernie, Items Accepted in the Organic Bins](https://letstalk.fernie.ca/organics)
  - Official wording: "Please do not compost ashes, pet waste (other than kitty litter), fruit and vegetable stickers, plastics bin liners, rubber bands, and twist ties."
  - Source: [Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19), s. 5.2](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918)
  - Official wording: "No hazardous waste, tires, tree pruning, scrap lumber, logs, metal, stone, brick," … "stumps, roofing materials, masonry and wire arising from"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845
  - Source: [Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845, City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19), Title](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The 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.

## Steps

1. Put organics in the cart, lid fully closed, and set it out on collection day.
2. For other yard and garden waste, take it to the Transfer Station at 6000 Highway 3 during open hours.

## Good to know

- Tree pruning, logs and scrap lumber may not be set out for curbside collection. Collectors may refuse a cart with non-organics.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Elk Valley Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (PDF)](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/web/pdf/recycling/ElkValleySubregion-TippingFeeScheduleAug2022.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Fernie garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/yard-waste.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/yard-waste.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/yard-waste.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/yard-waste.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/yard-waste.md)
- [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/yard-waste.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/yard-waste.md)

## Sources

- [Waste, Recycling and Organics Collection, City of Fernie](https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/garbage-recycling-collection.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fernie Transfer Station, Regional District of East Kootenay](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/fernietransferstation/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Garbage and Recycling, Regional District of East Kootenay](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Elk Valley Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (PDF, last updated August 2022), Regional District of East Kootenay](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/web/pdf/recycling/ElkValleySubregion-TippingFeeScheduleAug2022.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Consolidated Waste Regulation Bylaw No. 1845 (PDF), City of Fernie (consolidated to Bylaw 2512, amended 2024-08-19)](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/49918) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Curbside Organics, Let's Talk Fernie](https://letstalk.fernie.ca/organics) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 Regional District of East Kootenay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/yard-waste/_