{"title":"Merritt yard waste collection and drop-off","question":"Where does yard waste and brush go in Merritt?","slug":"yard-waste","place":{"path":"ca/bc/merritt","name":"Merritt","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"garbage-and-recycling","name":"Garbage, recycling and waste"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"Merritt has no regular curbside yard waste collection. Residents can drop yard waste off free at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District's Lower Nicola Eco-Depot, 2348 Woodward Road, open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The City also runs a free FireSmart curbside chipping program for some conifer branches, by registration.","aliases":["brush disposal merritt","yard waste drop off merritt","firesmart chipping merritt","grass clippings merritt"],"cost":"Residential yard waste is free at the TNRD Eco-Depot (commercial $42 per tonne, $10 minimum). FireSmart chipping is free.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"TNRD Lower Nicola Eco-Depot","value":"2348 Woodward Road (about 12 km west of Merritt)","note":"Open every day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. No cash; debit, Visa, Mastercard or TNRD Eco-Card."},{"type":"phone","label":"TNRD Solid Waste and Recycling","value":"250-377-2596"},{"type":"phone","label":"Merritt Fire Rescue (FireSmart chipping)","value":"250-378-5626"},{"type":"email","label":"FireSmart chipping","value":"firesmart@merritt.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"FireSmart Chipping Program 2026, City of Merritt","url":"https://www.merritt.ca/firesmart-chipping-program-2026/"},{"title":"Lower Nicola Eco-Depot, TNRD","url":"https://www.tnrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/depot-services-waste-drop-off/lower-nicola-eco-depot/"}],"related":[{"slug":"backyard-fire","title":"Merritt backyard fire and burning rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/backyard-fire/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/logan-lake","name":"Logan Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/princeton","name":"Princeton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ashcroft","name":"Ashcroft","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-kelowna","name":"West Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/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":"The City pages describe no regular curbside yard waste collection. Grass and hedge clippings and garden refuse count as residential solid waste for the weekly garbage (grass clippings in approved bags). The City runs a free FireSmart curbside chipping pick-up for cedar, juniper, mugo pine and conifer branches, by registration, for single-family homes only.","short":"No (FireSmart chipping by registration)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/City-of-Merritt-Solid-Waste-Bylaw-2183-2015-Consolidated.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Solid Waste Bylaw 2183, 2015 (PDF)","section":"s. 3, 5.9","quotes":["or other garden refuse or rubbish.","grass clippings, cold ashes, and sawdust or other granular materials must be enclosed in approved garbage bags"]},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/firesmart-chipping-program-2026/","title":"FireSmart Chipping Program 2026, City of Merritt","section":"How the Program Works","quotes":["offers free curbside pickup and chipping of flammable plant materials","Open to City of Merritt residents of single-family dwellings only."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"preparation":{"label":"How to set it out","value":"Chipping program only: pile branches neatly with cut ends facing the road, out by 7:00 a.m. on pick-up day, at least 3 feet from fences, mailboxes and parked cars, not blocking driveways or hydrants. The chipper handles up to 15 inches in diameter. For garbage, a bag or cart must not exceed 22.7 kg.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/firesmart-chipping-program-2026/","title":"FireSmart Chipping Program 2026, City of Merritt","section":"Preparing Your Materials for Pickup","quotes":["Chippers are capable of chipping up to 15” diameter.","Place branches and limbs in a neat pile with the cut ends facing the road.","Keep piles at least 3 feet away from fences, mailboxes, parked cars, or other obstructions.","All acceptable materials must be placed curbside by 7:00 am on the assigned pickup day"]},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/City-of-Merritt-Solid-Waste-Bylaw-2183-2015-Consolidated.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Solid Waste Bylaw 2183, 2015 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.4","quotes":["No person shall cause or permit the contents of a container or solid waste bin, for which he or she is responsible, to exceed the 22.7 kg weight limit."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"drop_off":{"label":"Drop-off","value":"TNRD Lower Nicola Eco-Depot, 2348 Woodward Road (about 12 km west of Merritt). Open every day 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. year-round, closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Phone 250-377-2596. No cash: debit, Visa, Mastercard or TNRD Eco-Card.","short":"TNRD Lower Nicola Eco-Depot, 2348 Woodward Road","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.tnrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/depot-services-waste-drop-off/lower-nicola-eco-depot/","title":"Lower Nicola Eco-Depot, Thompson-Nicola Regional District","section":"Lower Nicola Eco-Depot","quotes":["Address: 2348 Woodward Road","Site is closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day","Cash is not accepted.","TNRD Solid Waste and Recycling 250-377-2596"]},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/residents/solid-waste-recycling/recycling/","title":"Recycling, City of Merritt","section":"Local Recycling Locations","quotes":["TNRD Lower Nicola Eco-Depot, 2348 Woodward Road (12km west of Merritt)"]},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/residents/solid-waste-recycling/compost-facility/","title":"Compost Facility, City of Merritt","section":"Compost Facility","quotes":["For Yard Waste Composting, go to the Nicola Valley Eco-Depot, managed by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"cost":{"label":"Cost","value":"Residential yard waste is free at the TNRD depot; commercial yard waste is $42 per tonne ($10 minimum). The FireSmart chipping pick-up is free.","short":"Free residential","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.tnrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/depot-services-waste-drop-off/lower-nicola-eco-depot/","title":"Lower Nicola Eco-Depot, Thompson-Nicola Regional District","section":"Accepted Materials","quotes":["Yard Waste | Residential: Free to Recycle Commercial: $42/ tonne ($10 min. charge)"]},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/firesmart-chipping-program-2026/","title":"FireSmart Chipping Program 2026, City of Merritt","section":"How the Program Works","quotes":["offers free curbside pickup and chipping of flammable plant materials"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_accepted":{"label":"Not accepted","value":"No list of materials refused as yard waste is published for the TNRD Lower Nicola Eco-Depot (call 250-377-2596). The City's FireSmart chipping pick-up only does not accept deciduous trees and shrubs, grasses, flowers, bulk pine needles, roots, dirt, rocks, gravel, stumps or non-organic material.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/firesmart-chipping-program-2026/","title":"FireSmart Chipping Program 2026, City of Merritt","section":"How the Program Works","quotes":["This program does not accept deciduous (leafy) trees and shrubs, grasses, flowers, bulk pine needles, roots, dirt, rocks, gravel, or non-organic materials.","Do not include stumps, dirt, roots, rocks, or non-organic debris."]},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/firesmart-chipping-program-2026/","title":"FireSmart Chipping Program 2026, City of Merritt","section":"Preparing Your Materials","quotes":["Do not include stumps, dirt, roots, rocks, or non-organic debris."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"City of Merritt Solid Waste Collection, Disposal and Control Bylaw No. 2183, 2015 (garbage, including garden refuse in the cart).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/City-of-Merritt-Solid-Waste-Bylaw-2183-2015-Consolidated.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Solid Waste Bylaw 2183, 2015 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be cited as \"CITY OF MERRITT SOLID WASTE COLLECTION, DISPOSAL AND CONTROL BYLAW NO. 2183, 2015\"."]}],"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 Merritt's pages describe no regular curbside yard waste collection. Yard waste is taken at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Lower Nicola Eco-Depot. Grass and hedge clippings and garden refuse also count as residential solid waste under the [Solid Waste Bylaw 2183](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/City-of-Merritt-Solid-Waste-Bylaw-2183-2015-Consolidated.pdf), and grass clippings must be in approved bags if they go in the weekly garbage. Separately, the City runs a free FireSmart curbside chipping pick-up for the most flammable plants.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Drive your yard waste to the TNRD Lower Nicola Eco-Depot at 2348 Woodward Road, any day between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Residential loads are free. The depot takes debit, Visa, Mastercard or a TNRD Eco-Card, not cash.\n2. For cedar hedges, juniper, mugo pine and conifer branches and prunings, register for FireSmart chipping. Registration is first come, first served and only for single-family homes in the City.\n3. For chipping, pile branches neatly with cut ends facing the road, curbside by 7:00 a.m. on pick-up day, at least 3 feet from fences, mailboxes and parked cars, and not blocking driveways or hydrants. The chipper handles branches up to 15 inches across.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The 2026 chipping dates were May 11, July 13 and September 14. These have passed, and the page shows none for 2027. Email firesmart@merritt.ca or call 250-378-5626 to ask.\n- Chipping does not accept deciduous trees and shrubs, grasses, flowers, bulk pine needles, roots, dirt, rocks, gravel, stumps or non-organic material. Anything that does not qualify is left on site.\n- No list of refused yard waste is published for the TNRD depot. Call 250-377-2596 about stumps or soil.\n- The City's compost facility sells finished compost; its page sends yard waste composting to the Eco-Depot.\n- Burning yard waste is not allowed; see the backyard fire answer.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/residents/solid-waste-recycling/compost-facility/","title":"Compost Facility, City of Merritt","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/firesmart-chipping-program-2026/","title":"FireSmart Chipping Program 2026, City of Merritt","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.tnrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/depot-services-waste-drop-off/lower-nicola-eco-depot/","title":"Lower Nicola Eco-Depot, Thompson-Nicola Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/City-of-Merritt-Solid-Waste-Bylaw-2183-2015-Consolidated.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Solid Waste Bylaw 2183, 2015 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/residents/solid-waste-recycling/recycling/","title":"Recycling, City of Merritt","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/merritt/yard-waste/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/yard-waste.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/yard-waste.json"}}