--- title: Victoria yard waste collection and drop-off question: "Where does yard waste and brush go?" place: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/victoria category: Garbage, recycling and waste owner: municipal owner_body: City of Victoria sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/yard-waste/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/yard-waste.json" --- # Victoria yard waste collection and drop-off **Question:** Where does yard waste and brush go? **Short answer:** The City of Victoria's current pages say grass clippings, pruning waste, plants and small branches go in the green bin, collected every two weeks. You can also drop yard waste at the Public Works Yard, 417 Garbally Road, on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 2016 bylaw copy says otherwise; see below. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Victoria, https://www.victoria.ca) **Cost:** Free for Victoria residents at the Public Works Yard drop-off. The green bin is part of the user-pay garbage and organics utility, not property tax. No separate charge is stated for the seasonal leaf or branch programs. **How long:** Drop-off Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., year-round (closed some Saturdays). **Where:** - In person: Public Works Yard yard and garden waste drop-off, 417 Garbally Road, Victoria (Saturdays 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plan to arrive before 1:30 p.m. Closed some Saturdays, for example December 26, 2026.) - In person: Beacon Hill Parks Yard leaf drop-off, 100 Cook Street, Victoria (Sundays noon to 3 p.m., November 1 to December 6, 2026. Proof of residency required.) - Phone: Parks (leaf collection), 250-361-0600 - Email: Parks, parks@victoria.ca - In person: Hartland Landfill (invasive plants), 1 Hartland Avenue, Victoria, BC ## Key facts - **Curbside collection:** Yes, in the green bin: grass clippings, pruning waste, plants and small branches go in the green organics bin, collected every two weeks. In fall the City also collects piled leaves from the boulevard by neighbourhood zone, and offers one bagged-leaf pick-up per household on request (Oct. 19 to Dec. 11, 2026). Residential branch chipping was complete for 2026. (Sources differ: CONFLICT: the consolidated Solid Waste Bylaw on the City site (dated January 2016) says the City is not responsible for yard waste and bans yard waste from solid waste bins, but the City's current Curbside Collection page says yard waste goes in the green bin. That bylaw copy looks out of date; the value follows the current City page. 2026 leaf dates: James Bay, Fairfield, Rockland, Gonzales Oct. 19 and Dec. 7; Jubilee, Fernwood, Oaklands, Hillside Quadra Nov. 9 and Dec. 21; North Park, Burnside, Victoria West, Downtown Nov. 30 and Jan. 4.) - Source: [Curbside Collection, Organics - Green Bin](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/curbside-collection) - Official wording: "You can put food scraps and yard waste in your green bin." - Source: [Yard and Garden Waste, Leaf collection](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/yard-garden-waste) - Official wording: "Pile your leaves on the boulevard in advance of the collection start date for your neighbourhood." … "Call for bagged leaf pick-up service between Oct.19 and Dec.11 2026." … "The City's residential branch chipping service is complete for 2026." - Source: [Solid Waste Bylaw 12-086 (consolidated to January 2016), ss. 3(3), 13(2)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/solid-waste-bylaw-consolidated-12-086) - Official wording: "No person shall place construction waste, prohibited waste, recyclable materials, or yard waste into a solid waste bin." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **How to set it out:** Leaves: pile on the grass boulevard, visible and accessible from the street, away from trees, poles, signs and hydrants; bags not needed (use clear bags only). Bagged-leaf pick-up: clear bags, leaves only. Branch chipping: one loose pile per household no bigger than 1 x 1 x 2.5 m, branches 2.5 cm to 25 cm thick, not bagged or tied. Drop-off branches: no longer than 1.8 m or thicker than 50 mm. - Source: [Yard and Garden Waste, Preparation](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/yard-garden-waste) - Official wording: "Place leaf piles on the grassy boulevard, visible and accessible from the street" … "Leaves must be bagged in clear bags." … "Bags must contain leaves only" … "Avoid placing leaf piles on or against trees, power poles, signs and fire hydrants" … "Do not place leaves in other types of bags, boxes or containers" … "no bigger than 1 x1 x 2.5 metres or 4x4x6 feet" … "Branches greater than 1.8 m (six feet) in length or 50 mm (two inches) in diameter" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Drop-off:** Public Works Yard, 417 Garbally Road, Saturdays 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. year-round (closed some Saturdays, e.g. Dec. 26, 2026). From Nov. 1 to Dec. 6, 2026, leaves can also go to the Beacon Hill Parks Yard, 100 Cook Street, Sundays noon to 3 p.m. Proof of residency required for leaf drop-off; invasive plants go to Hartland Landfill. - Source: [Yard and Garden Waste, Drop-Off Program](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/yard-garden-waste) - Official wording: "Victoria residents can drop off branches and other garden waste for free, year-round at the Public Works Yard on Saturdays from 7 a.m.-2 p.m." … "Between Nov.1–Dec. 6, 2026, leaves can be dropped off at the Beacon Hill Parks Yard, 100 Cook Street, on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m." … "Proof of residency required." … "Take your bags to Hartland Landfill, located at 1 Hartland Avenue" - Source: [Solid Waste Bylaw 12-086 (consolidated to January 2016), s. 23(a)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/solid-waste-bylaw-consolidated-12-086) - Official wording: "may also dispose of yard waste at the City's disposal site located at 417 Garbally Road on any Saturday during the designated operating hours" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cost:** Free for Victoria residents at the Public Works Yard drop-off. The green bin is part of the user-pay garbage and organics utility, not property tax. No separate charge is stated for the seasonal leaf or branch programs. - Source: [Yard and Garden Waste, Drop-Off Program](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/yard-garden-waste) - Official wording: "Victoria residents can drop off branches and other garden waste for free, year-round" - Source: [Curbside Collection, FAQs](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/curbside-collection) - Official wording: "No, the organics and garbage services are both a user-pay utility." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Not accepted:** At the drop-off: rocks, sod, soil, stumps, invasive plants, and branches over 1.8 m long or 50 mm thick. Green bin: soil, sod, invasive plants. Leaf collection also excludes ivy, pine needles, blackberry canes, lawn clippings, branches, stumps, compost and commercial contractor material. - Source: [Yard and Garden Waste, Items not Accepted](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/yard-garden-waste) - Official wording: "Branches greater than 1.8 m (six feet) in length or 50 mm (two inches) in diameter" … "Invasive plant and vine material should not be disposed of through the green bin program or through drop-off at the Garbally Road yard." … "any construction lumber or branch material from commercial tree contractors and landscaping companies" - Source: [Curbside Collection, What cannot go in your green bin](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/curbside-collection) - Official wording: "soil, sod and invasive plants" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Solid Waste Bylaw No. 12-086 (s. 23 on the Garbally Road yard waste site) - Source: [Solid Waste Bylaw 12-086 (consolidated to January 2016), s. 23](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/solid-waste-bylaw-consolidated-12-086) - Official wording: "An occupier of a residential property for which the City provides solid waste collection:" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The City's current Curbside Collection page says grass clippings, pruning waste, plants and small branches go in the green organics bin, collected every two weeks. However, the consolidated [Solid Waste Bylaw 12-086]() on the City's site (dated January 2016) says the City is not responsible for yard waste and bans it from solid waste bins. That copy looks out of date, but confirm with the City if unsure. ## Steps 1. Small amounts: use the green bin, as the City's page says. 2. Larger amounts: take them to the Public Works Yard, 417 Garbally Road, on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is free for Victoria residents. Branches may be no longer than 1.8 m or thicker than 50 mm. 3. Fall leaves: pile them on the grass boulevard, visible from the street and away from trees, poles, signs and hydrants. Bags are not needed (if you use bags, clear only). The City collects by neighbourhood zone: James Bay, Fairfield, Rockland and Gonzales on Oct. 19 and Dec. 7; Jubilee, Fernwood, Oaklands and Hillside Quadra on Nov. 9 and Dec. 21; North Park, Burnside, Victoria West and Downtown on Nov. 30 and Jan. 4. 4. Or ask for one bagged-leaf pick-up per household, Oct. 19 to Dec. 11, 2026: clear bags, leaves only. Call 250-361-0600 or email parks@victoria.ca. ## Good to know - Leaves can also go to the Beacon Hill Parks Yard, 100 Cook Street, on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m., Nov. 1 to Dec. 6, 2026. Proof of residency is required. - Not accepted at the drop-off: rocks, sod, soil, stumps, invasive plants, and branches over 1.8 m long or 50 mm thick. Not in the green bin: soil, sod and invasive plants. Leaf collection also excludes ivy, pine needles, blackberry canes, lawn clippings, branches, stumps, compost and commercial contractor material. - Invasive plants go to Hartland Landfill, in bags labelled "INVASIVE PLANTS". - Branch chipping: one loose pile per household, no bigger than 1 x 1 x 2.5 m, branches 2.5 cm to 25 cm thick, not bagged or tied. Residential chipping was complete for 2026; check the City page for future dates. - The drop-off limit is one pickup truck load or two car loads per day. ## Official forms and pages - [Yard and Garden Waste page](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/yard-garden-waste) - [Solid Waste Bylaw 12-086 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/solid-waste-bylaw-consolidated-12-086) ## Related questions - [Victoria garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/garbage-collection.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/yard-waste.md) - [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/yard-waste.md) - [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/yard-waste.md) - [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/yard-waste.md) - [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/yard-waste.md) - [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/yard-waste.md) - [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/yard-waste.md) ## Sources - [Yard and Garden Waste, City of Victoria](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/yard-garden-waste) (read 2026-11-05) - [Curbside Collection, City of Victoria](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/curbside-collection) (read 2026-11-05) - [Solid Waste Bylaw 12-086 (consolidated to January 2016) (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/solid-waste-bylaw-consolidated-12-086) (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 City of Victoria. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/yard-waste/_